Alternative rodeo comes to Strathmore
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
For the third year in a row, a different type of rodeo will be coming to Strathmore from July 1 to 3 when the Canadian Rockies International Rodeo, CRIR, comes to Strathmore. The rodeo consists of representatives from the Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association, ARGRA, and the International Gay Rodeo Association, IGRA. The event is three days of fun and two full days of rodeo. The rodeo will have some of the usual events which can be seen at any small town rodeo. One of the biggest differences is men and women can compete in all events. Some events – steer decorating, goat dressing and wild drag, for instance – were created specifically for the gay rodeo.
“Our rodeo pretty much is the same, not a lot has actually changed with events and that sort of thing. The thing that’s probably changed the most is our midway,” said Judy Munson, Communications Director for the ARGRA
“We’ve focused a little more on some of the things that are going on, on the midway. We have people that attend our rodeo that don’t really care about rodeo, believe it or not in Alberta. They come for the party, so what we’ve done is, we’ve added some dances, and we’ve added some events in the midway so there’s more going on.
“Our theme this year is kind of a country-western midway ghost town kind of thing, we’re painting little facades and stuff like that, so that should be fun.”
They have turned the EnCana stage into a showboat stage with entertainment taking place all day long. Friday night will be the big cabaret dance.
Munson said in conjunction with that, the little barn called the strobe light barn will have a set of DJ’s that will be playing club music.
“So we have both options. We have the country-western cabaret where you can two-step, and line dance and do all that. Or you can go down to the other end of the area and go into the strobe light barn and dance to club music,” said Munson.
All day Friday July 1, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be a rodeo school. Last year was the first year for the rodeo school. It’s a way to teach some of the easier rodeo events to people who may be interested in participating but don’t know where to start. The only requirements are the competitors must be at least 18-years-old and a member of one of the gay organizations/associations.
Munson said they have a lot of people who come every year and want to get involved but didn’t know how to, which is why the rodeo school was formed.
The Country Carnival on the midway has fun games, and originated because ARGRA wanted to open it up to non-profit groups. Munson said the rodeo brings in a lot of people, and it’s a great way for them to be able to raise money for their groups. There will also be a number of booths with people selling goodies.
“That’s one thing we’ve found this year, is that the businesses in Strathmore have really come on board with sponsorships, and being involved,” said Munson.
Some of the Heritage Days volunteers help with the gay rodeo and volunteers from the gay rodeo will lend a hand with the Heritage Days rodeo.
Tickets are available at the gate. There will be a board listing what events will be taking place and what time, so that people can just go up to the gate to see what time the events they are interested in are taking place.