Strathmore Stampede hits it bigger and better
By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor
The Strathmore Stampede and Heritage Days didn’t hold anything back this year, meeting expectations with various food trucks, attractions, the second annual Lip Sync Contest, the tradeshow and wine cellar, the newly introduced trackside bar, the much-anticipated Wild Rose Shows midway, the single-header format rodeo, chuckwagons, and a gripping two days of Running with the Bulls.
“We had a lot of compliments on the event and the competition… and were very gratified by the response of the public,” said Herb McLane, general manager for the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society. “We’re thrilled with the performance or rather the weekend and what transpired here. A big thank you to the fans, sponsors, certainly our volunteer and our staff. They did an outstanding job of delivering quality service. I couldn’t be more happy in the role that all these people played in our success.”
McLane added the trackside bar was reasonably well attended and received and will most likely make a comeback next year. The society is also in discussions with Wild Rose Shows regarding their return in the future.
The four-day event was the product of countless hours of overtime by nearly 400 volunteers, committee heads and staff members. Thousands of people watched in awe as athletes held on tight during bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding events, roped their calves during the tie-down events, wrestled steers, cheered the ladies running the barrels and felt the vibrations of the chucks thundering down the track in the evening.
Scott Schiffner, who mounted his last bull in Strathmore on Aug. 6, was one of several local athletes who took to the arena during the signature event, including Tate Hartell-MacDonald (bareback), Dawson Johnson (tie-down roping), Kirsten Gjerde and Marci Wilson (ladies’ barrel racing), and Denver Johnson and Riley Roy (team roping). The Calgary Stampede Showriders also made their appearance, followed by a thrilling performance of three generations of trick riders.
On the grounds, patrons also welcomed back hypnotist Colin Christopher and magician Aaron Matthews, while the Indigo Circus, Little Ray’s Nature Centre, stunt ventriloquist Tim Holland, and Country Kaos Line Dancing also took to the Freeman Audio Visual Stage.
In chorus with the fan favourite rodeo and chuckwagon events, the Heritage Arena featured a stock dog demo, draft horse hitch, Hearts of the West, the heavy horse pull and gymkhana.
The event also recognized Saturday as Salute to Our Armed Forces while Sunday was Tough Enough to Wear Pink day in honour of the fight against breast cancer.
“It was absolutely one of the best years that Strathmore and District Ag Society has pulled off, they did a super job,” said Strathmore’s Deputy Mayor Lorraine Bauer. “It brings money into Strathmore and makes everyone feel that this really is a quality place to live. This just allows us to show it off. It takes a lot of people in order to make something like that a success and it puts Strathmore on the map.”
The Strathmore Heritage Day Rodeo and annual fair first came into existence in 1966 before it turned professional in 1985 and added the World Professional Chuckwagon Association in 1988.
Then, 15 years ago, Strathmore was introduced to its first Running with the Bulls event – an adaptation of the famed Running of the Bulls event in Pamplona, Spain.
Now that all buckles have been handed out and the grandstands have cleared, the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society is already busy planning for next year’s event.