Medicine Hat Stampede Queen competition underway

asmith@medicinehatnews.com The 2026 Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Queen Competition is officially underway, with two brilliant young women vying to be the next to wear the crown. The Family Barbeque event was Wednesday, following a long day of visiting different areas around the community, including daycares, the CORE Association and the Cypress View Foundation, before The post Medicine Hat Stampede Queen competition underway appeared first on Medicine Hat News .

Medicine Hat Stampede Queen competition underway By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on July 10, 2026. News Photo Anna Smith MHES Princess Joleigh Wood, contestants Peyton Booker and Grace Sippola and MHES Queen Mila Stuut pose inside Hidgon Hall on Wednesday. asmith@medicinehatnews.com

The 2026 Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Queen Competition is officially underway, with two brilliant young women vying to be the next to wear the crown. The Family Barbeque event was Wednesday, following a long day of visiting different areas around the community, including daycares, the CORE Association and the Cypress View Foundation, before gathering at Higdon Hall surrounded by friends, family and sponsors. With the horsemanship, public speaking and fashion show components to come, the reality of things is starting to kick in for contestant Peyton Booker.

“Nerves are starting to kick in a little bit, but I’m excited to see where this takes us, and see how I change throughout the competition,” said Booker. “I know I’m definitely growing as a person and learning to overcome some of my fears, like talking in public, over the last couple days. So, I’m excited to see where this takes me.”

Staring down all of the events, she admits she is most nervous about public speaking, though she believes she has a solid speech and is most confident that she and her horse, Aspen, will be able to prevail in horsemanship. Booker doesn’t come from a rodeo background, being the first in her family to own a horse. She hopes her time as a competitor will show little girls that they don’t need to come from a family with a cowgirl legacy to become cowgirls themselves.

An original hatter, Booker spent time in Colorado and Texas with her family, before eventually returning here, where she intends to stay for the time being. Currently, she is attending school to become a registered nurse, with hopes of working in labour and delivery. Grace Sippola, the other contender for the 2026 title, expresses her deep gratitude for the opportunity to compete and make all of the connections that have already come from participating.

“I’ve been having a lot of fun meeting new people and making new connections, and I think I feel ready,” said Sippola. “The fashion show fittings and all the small little things definitely helped me personally and prepare for what we did today and for what’s to come for the rest of the week.” Like Booker, Sippola is feeling most prepared for horsemanship alongside her horse Ducky, who has been her, “heart horse” for a long time.

However, she also has some nerves regarding the fashion show component, as she is, “not big on strutting anything.” Regardless, with the support of her friends, family and current MHES Princess Joleigh Wood, she feels ready to rise to the occasion. Sippola is originally from British Columbia, but came to Medicine Hat to be with family and for school several years ago.

Currently, she is attending college for Business Administration with plans to go into business management. “What people need to know about me is that I’m just hard working, and I believe in killing everything with kindness, and I guess they’ll learn more about me when they come to the events,” said Sippola. The Horsemanship competition was held on Thursday night on the Stampede grounds, and the Speech Night continues competition week tonight at Higdon Hall.

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