Click Here to follow Canby Rodeo’s latest events on 2012 Canby Rodeo Court (left to right) Princess Carly Keicher, Queen Haley Ann Marsh, and Princess Courtney Hartman Published in the Canby Herald, 1/9/12   The Women's Professional Rodeo Association and Justin Boots have awarded the Canby Rodeo the 2011 Justin Best Footing award.   The award is voted on by the WPRA membership and recognizes the committees, in each of the 12 designated rodeo circuits, that put forth extra effort to ensure their rodeo had the safest, most consistent ground conditions throughout the entire rodeo to ensure a safe and level playing field for the barrel racing competition.   "This award really is a reflection of the hard work of AJ Swaim, Dave McDonald and the rest of the arena crew," said Dan Mickelson, president of the Canby Rodeo board of directors. "They start work on the arena ground weeks prior to the Rodeo to be sure the moisture and depth of the footing is just right.   "Every night as I would hand out a special award to the nightly barrel race winner, each said 'this is by far the best ground I have ran on all season.' What a complement. These cowgirls ride horses that are four-legged athletes, that travel thousands of miles during the rodeo season, and they just can't afford to be injured. So. Justin Boots and the Woman's Professional Rodeo Association recognize committees for their hard work in making the footing the best it can be. We were awarded first place in the Columbia River Circuit."   The region Canby is in includes rodeos from Oregon, Washington and part of Idaho. At this year's rodeo, two arena records in barrel racing were broken on separate nights, highlighting the good conditions of the grounds, according to Mickelson.   This year's footing award comes on the heels of the Canby Rodeo being awarded the 2010 Large Rodeo of the Year for the Columbia River Prorodeo Circuit. Canby Rodeo wins WPRA 'footing' award Accepting the Justin Best Footing award at the recent PRCA? convention were, back row from left, Rick Kauffman, Dave McDonald, Sheri Cervi, a Women's Professional Rodeo representative and two time world champion barrel racer; AJ Swaim; Dan Mickelsen; Jim Williams; and Jeff Robinson. In the front are, from left, Paul Borgen; Clay Rhodes and Gary Linton.