Cowboy Up Weekend set to kick off

By Lorenzo Gavilan Vargas Times Reporter

The Strathmore and District Agricultural Society is holding its inaugural Cowboy Up Weekend, where businesses and residents decorate their buildings to showcase their Strathmore Stampede spirit and also win some prizes. 

Marlene Risdon, a director with the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society, explained the idea came from her experiences growing up in Strathmore.

“The whole town used to get involved in Heritage Days; they used to get decorated up and all this stuff, so we’re trying to bring that back,” she said. “We want businesses and residences to get decorated this year.”

Risdon is hoping to get as many people to participate as possible, just like she saw when she was younger.

“I just hope people get more into the Stampede spirit.”

Cowboy Up Weekend will take place from July 30 to Aug. 2. Participants will decorate their place of business or residence for the Stampede, and judges will determine their favourite. 

The judges have not been picked yet; however, Risdon said there will be six people to judge the businesses and six different people to judge the residences. 

During the Stampede weekend, people may also submit their addresses to a list compiled on the Cowboy Up Weekend Facebook page for people to drive around and see the decorated homes and businesses. 

Risdon said more information about the prizes will be forthcoming, but the two prizes announced already have a total value of almost $2,000.

“The top business will get two years on the fence at the ag grounds, which is worth $1,000 advertising. Residences will win a year Town of Strathmore recreation pass which is worth $900.”