Blackfoot Rodeo to showcase new facility

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

Siksika’s Agricultural Society is gearing up to welcome cowboys and cowgirls from all over North America to compete in the Siksika Blackfoot Rodeo which will showcase the brand new indoor rodeo arena over the course of the four days.
For many of the riders, it will be a chance to compete for a spot in the championship event in Las Vegas in the fall.
“First Nations contestants can come and qualify for the finals in Las Vegas in November,” said Jack Royal, board member with the Siksika Agricultural Society.
“What we’re expecting is professional Indian cowboys from all over Canada and the USA to come on the Friday and Saturday and compete in the tour rodeo.”
The rodeo will include all the major events such as bareback, breakaway roping, steer wrestling, mutton busting, team roping, steer riding, bull riding, wild horse races, tie down roping, ladies barrels, junior barrels and pole bending.
Competitors from the Indian National Finals Rodeo (INFRT) and the Siksika Rodeo Cowboys Association (SRCA) will get to participate in a special rodeo the day before the festivities begin at the rodeo grounds and the Siksika Agra Centre.
“We’re having a grand opening rodeo in the new rodeo arena on the Friday,” said Royal.
One of the major reasons that the Siksika Agricultural Society wanted to build this state-of-the-art facility was to help the youth and adults in the riding community and to bring back the horse culture that the area is known for.
“There’s a lot of young people that want to do some riding,” said Royal.
“Some have livestock, horses, some just want to get into it and don’t have anything. They don’t know where to go and they need some encouragement and somewhere they can hone their skills.”
The focus will be on the therapeutic aspect of riding, by assisting youths and adults that need to deal with issues they may be trying to overcome.
“We’re open to equine therapy,” said Royal.
“Where we actually work with youths who acquire therapeutic treatment on some of the issues that they’re dealing with in their lives. It’s not only working with the youths, but also adults in having various agricultural functions.”
The Summer Series rodeo will take place from Aug. 6-9 at the Siksika rodeo ground that is just south of Gleichen.