In his first season of rodeo at Lakeland College, Virden’s Terrance Vodon demonstrated why it is important to never quit until it’s over, his coach said.
“Terrance and his (team roping) partner struggled a bit the first semester, and kept their confidence and made some awesome runs to have a qualifying spot to the (national) finals,” wrote Katelyn Ellis, Lakeland College’s Equineand Rodeo Operations Manager, in an email interview. “He should be proud of himself. Using some young horses part of the year makes things a little more challenging, and he was still able to pull through and have a great first year in college rodeo.”
Capping that year by competing in the Canadian Intercollegiate Rodeo Association finals was the cherry on the sundae for the son of Aurel and Rita Vodon. The event was held at the Calgary Stampede grounds.
“My favourite part about competing at finals would have been the atmosphere that was created there,” Vodon wrote in an email interview. “To be in Calgary on the Stampede grounds was cool enough, but to be competing there at a college-finals brought it to a new level.”
He was part of his Alberta school’s very strong rodeo team. Including Vodon, 35 Lakeland College student-athletes qualified for the finals – more than a third of the competitors hailing from 20 post-secondary institutions. At the CIRA finals, the Lakeland College Rustlers won seven of the 10 events and earned eight buckles.
“We had a talented bunch, that were very positive, and really seemed to feed off of each other,” Ellis wrote. “They were also provided with the practice time and stock they needed in order to become successful, along with some great coaching from many different people.”
She was impressed by the positive personality, willingness to learn, and desire to improve that Vodon demonstrated as a college rodeo rookie.
“No matter how good his practice was going, he always came with a question to learn and make himself better. He was open to hearing any opinions, and always tried to see if it worked.”
Vodon, who is studying agribusiness, greatly enjoyed his first season with the team.
“My favourite part about rodeoing at Lakeland had to have been the environment,” he wrote. “Everyone's there to always help out and lend a hand at any time as well as a great coach and teammates.”
As the year went on, Vodon formed a productive partnership with Maclin Anderson of Rockglen, Sask. The duo had never competed together before.
“I headed for him this year and I think it was both of our laid back attitudes and desire to get better that pushed us to the top,” Vodon wrote. “For us it was easy as we became good friends right off the beginning and travelled together all season.”
In addition to team roping, Vodon also calf roped the last half of the season. He had some good runs and placed 12th in the standings – just out of the finals.
Vodon emphasized that his family has been very supportive of him rodeoing in Alberta. His brothers lent him horses during parts of this past college season.
“My family has been a tremendous part of my rodeo career as my parents were driving me to rodeos before I could even remember. As well, my brothers Trevor and Tyler were there every rodeo helping me out and we were all learning off of each other in the practice pens at home.”
