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Olds College rodeo program back in the saddle after spring bucking

The reload comes after cancellation of Olds' spring 2026 rodeo in March. Tie-down prompted the college to look much broader at its rodeo program, and how it functioned.

Published Sep 10, 2026  •  Last updated Sep 14, 2026  •  4 minute read

Olds College is ready for the 2026/27 rodeo season Photo by Olds College /Postmedia

Olds College is turning the page on a difficult spring for its rodeo program, rebuilding with new administrative oversight, spurred on by multiple coaches and a closer connection to its own agriculture programs.

The reload comes after the cancellation of Olds’ spring 2026 rodeo in March. Jay Steeves, dean of the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology, said the tie-down prompted the college to look much broader at its rodeo program, and how it functioned.

Steeves told Postmedia Wednesday the college spent the summer examining what went wrong and how the college program should operate heading into the 2026-27 season.

“Things went sideways on us. It brought about a systemic change in the way we go about rodeo that is more collaborative, and changing how we communicate.”

For students returning this fall, Steeves said one of the most significant changes will be a direct line between athletes and college administration.

“As far as communication between rodeo team, farm staff, animal care, leadership — now everyone is on the same page first,” he said.

The rodeo program now sits within a new Olds College Agriculture Group, under the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology.

Steeves added coaches will have a direct connection to the day-to-day operation of campus, with leadership running through the school and dean of agriculture.

“Students will see that heading back,” he said, adding that this puts the team back, ensuring all parts of the operation and program are pulling in the same direction.

The 2026-27 coaching staff includes Rachel Kerr, Chanse Switzer and Tanner Girletz, with Michael Frankiw serving as manager of the Olds College Agriculture Group.

Kerr, originally from Kamloops, B.C., brings professional rodeo, horse-training and academic experience. She is a former Canadian All-Around Cowgirl and three-time Provincial All-Around Cowgirl who competed collegiately for Montana State University in barrel racing, breakaway roping, team roping and goat tying.

Switzer brings multi-discipline rodeo experience, including tie-down roping, team roping and bull riding. He has competed professionally in rodeo and PBR Canada and was named PBR Canada Rookie of the Year in 2024.

Girletz returns to the Broncos after coaching from 2017 through spring 2025. He led Olds to two national championships and is a former Canadian Bull Rider Champion with nine Canadian Finals Rodeo appearances and 10 PBR Canada Finals appearances.

Girletz said he is looking forward to returning and being part of the next chapter of the Olds College Rodeo Program.

For Steeves, bringing experienced rodeo people back into the program while adding new staff is part of a larger rebuild. He also credited the network of other Alberta college rodeo programs.

“We looked at what was working at each other college rodeo,” Steeves said. “The best things that work at each are part of our rebuilding certainly.”

The overhaul comes as the college’s rodeo program approaches the new season with considerably more students than many thought might return following spring problems.

2026 saw roughly twenty-three students graduate, while 11 of 12 returning students came back. The college also recruited more than 20 new students before the beginning of the 2026/27 season and college year. This puts the team back around the same mid-30s level.

“Our recovery is much more positive than I anticipated,” Steeves said. “We were worried a bit about fallout.”

Steeves described the recovery as a success story, while noting there is now greater diversity and balance among the events represented by the team, including rough stock.

“It’s interesting to see how the rodeo culture did rally around us and help us step up and back,” he said. The college also intends to keep hosting rodeo events, competing in the Canadian Collegiate Rodeo Association season with the season opener scheduled for Sept. 12-13 in Benalto, Alta.

Olds will host a CCRA fall-season rodeo Oct. 24-25 and will also continue with a March rodeo.

“We will continue with both and will be in really good spots for both of the events,” Steeves said.

The first weeks of the school year are focused on team bonding among returning athletes, new recruits and coaches, while establishing operational and safety protocols. Athletes will also attend weekly structured classroom sessions covering animal-care standards, safety guidelines, competition scheduling and travel logistics.

The changes extend beyond rodeo. The college’s Smart Farm, with more than 3,300 acres, provides the broader agricultural setting for that work, including crop and forage production, equipment and technology, a 1,000-head-capacity feedlot, commercial cow/calf herd, purebred Red Angus herd and sheep flock.

For Steeves, the changes are ultimately about putting more institutional skin in the game and making sure students have a consistent rodeo experience.

With students back on campus, the herds healthy and practices underway, Steeves said the operation is moving at full speed.

“We are full tilt around here.”

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RBrown@postmedia.com

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