For Calgarian Elora Kiddle, the third time was the charm as her painting entitled Grit to Greatness was revealed to the public on Nov. 6 as the 2025 Calgary Stampede Poster.
She based her work on an intense moment during the 2021 Calgary Stampede Rodeo, where racer Kellie Jorgensen was on her horse Salty in barrel racing.
“There are so many things that I love about Stampede, but one thing that I love more than anything is that competitive spirit and sense of like action,” said Kiddle.
“I actually had my first job at the Stampede.
The work, done as part of the Stampede’s Youth Poster Competition, was selected as the seventh in the contest’s history to become one of the preeminent symbols of The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Posters from past years have become everything from prints to concrete reliefs outside of the BMO Centre, and have even inspired the design of cowboy boots.
Grit to Greatness combined several artistic styles in acrylic paint, including a realistic depiction of Jorgensen, mixed with more abstract and colourful representations of GMC Stadium’s rodeo field and the dirt kicked up by Salty.
“When I started this competition, I very much focused on hyperrealism. But the more that I completed, I was like, ‘oh, I want to start experimenting, try something new.’ I decided this year to experiment with splatters. I wanted to put that grit into the painting,” Kiddle said.
“I like to work in acrylic paint. For me. I just love it because I get to layer things, especially when I was working on this one with all the splatters. It was really fun and exciting. I started out working in hyperrealism because I wanted everything to look just like a picture. But then the older I got, the more I realized it’s about that feeling that I want to portray.”
Kiddle said that when she received the call that her work had won the competition, she was beyond excited.
“I still remember when they told me, and I didn’t expect it. I kind of got to my car, and immediately I was just like happy crying. I called my mom up, and she was doing the same. This to me is the start of my career,” she said.
“I’ve known for the longest time I’ve wanted to be an artist, and now I get to finally do that.”
As a result of her winning the contest, Kiddle was also given the $10,000 Dustin Peers Memorial Scholarship.
“This competition is an incredible platform for young Alberta artists to showcase their talent and be part of the Stampede’s history,” said Stuart O’Connor, First Vice-Chair of the Calgary Stampede Board of Directors.
“Elora’s artwork celebrates the passion, courage and commitment that drive our competitors and community alike. Her vivid portrayal of barrel racing speaks to the heart of our events, making this poster a powerful emblem for the 2025 Calgary Stampede.”
