Strathmore Stampede Chuckwagon Committee recognized by WPCA

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Strathmore and District Agricultural Society was recognized by the World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA) with their Committee of the Year award. 

Members of the WPCA, including drivers, outriders, and employees, vote for the race committee of the year, which is presented at their annual banquet. 

“We were very excited when we won it. I did not even know what to say when I got up to the podium so I kind of stumbled a little bit,” said Sandra Green, wagon advisor for the Strathmore Stampede. “It shows that all of the hard work that we have put into the track and the infield and the stands and the suites have paid off.”

This award marks the first occasion that the Strathmore Stampede has been recognized in this way by the WPCA. 

Green added any committee which hosts an event that is a part of the WPCA circuit throughout a given year is eligible to be nominated to receive the award. 

“We have had a lot of feedback in the last few years of me just taking on this role that our track needed work because it has been a few years since we have put money into our track and then we finally did have somebody to do that,” she explained. “It was great to see that the drivers who were upset about the track in the past years were very happy with the track now.”

Green explained there is effectively a complex formula which goes into maintaining the track for hosting chuckwagon races in order to have both quality races, and make the event safer for drivers, outriders, and the horses. 

This includes keeping it wet at the proper times, dry at the proper times – rain is a factor to consider when allowing enough drainage to keep the track operational, and keeping the right equipment available to maintain the track between heats. 

“We try our best to never have any accidents for the horses or the drivers and back in the chuckwagon village, just trying to do a little better back there and make sure everyone is happy and on the same page and make sure there is clean and nice runs for the wagon drivers,” she said. “Every year we are going to add a little more product onto the track because with wind and mother nature, you lose a little bit of that.”

The Strathmore Stampede is aiming to continue their momentum and shoot to potentially continue earning recognition in this fashion from the WPCA in future years.