WPCA hosts annual auction
Mario Prusina
Times Editor
The World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA) hosted their annual canvas auction April 5 at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino in Calgary.
A total of eight stops in the WPCA Tour, including the Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede later this summer, sold prime advertising space on the tarps carried by the best 36 chuck drivers in the world.
The total for all eight shows came in at $1,602,750 – up $326,500 over the 2010 total of $1,276,250. The Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede sold the fourth most, totaling $216,000, which is up from the 2010 total of $185,250.
“We were hoping to break the $200,000 mark and we did,” said Pascal Del Guercio, Rodeo and Chuckwagon Chairperson. “We have gone from $152,000 in 2009 to $185,250 last year to $216,00 this year, (so it) definitely is a sign that our economy is turning around. We feel this may result in higher attendance on our weekend and possibly more money from our sponsors.
“Hopefully a larger spectator turnout will add more money to the local economy.”
The average bid for Heritage Days was $6,000, while the highest bid went to Wildflower Ranch, who supported veteran chuckwagon driver Jerry Bremner to the tune of $15,000.
“We are a sponsor-driven sport and it is just critical,” said Bremner of the auction. “If the sponsorship is not there (it’s tough). Our expenses don’t change, so it is huge to get that sponsorship because it elevates our sport. That’s what drives us and it’s great to see people jump on board.”
The Wildflower Ranch, a new development by Cancorp Property Group, has supported Bremner for the past five years at the Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede.
“Jerry is a well-known driver and he is very personable,” said Ken Struss, principal of Cancorp Property Group. “It’s been very good for us (to) help him out with sponsorship.”
Other shows up for sale included the Grande Prairie Stompede, Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede, North American Chuckwagon Championship in High River, the Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship, the Badlands Dinosaur Derby in Drumheller, the Battle of the North in Dawson Creek and finally the Battle of the Rockies in Rocky Mountain House.
According to Darcy Ledene, General Manager of the Strathmore & District Agricultural Society, he is optimistic for Heritage Days.
“Having a tarp auction as successful as that is just a good sign of things to come,” said Ledene. “We’re hoping that those tarp sponsors, as well as the other sponsors that make Heritage Days happen … make the event bigger and better than it’s been.”