Strathmore Stampede wraps for 2025

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

With the Strathmore Stampede now in the rearview mirror, the interim CEO of the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society, Doug Raycroft, commended the organization on another great event.

Despite internal organizational shifts, the Strathmore Stampede saw over 300 volunteers helping out to make sure everything ran as smoothly as possible during the Aug. 1-4 event.

“It was a big learning curve for me for sure with the rodeo part, but the Strathmore Stampede rodeo committee is amazing. They have got some really great guys and a team that is world class. The organization to get this rodeo going … has been pretty impressive,” said Raycroft. “I stepped in about, I think it was July 3, just interim to kind of – you know, the goal was to try to just help out and get through the rodeo season here as best we can. There is so much to do to get ready for it. It has been fun, and we have been really lucky with the weather here.”

As of Monday, attendance numbers had not yet been calculated, but both mainstage performances were completely sold out – a reflection of the droves of people coming out to be a part of the festivities. 

Raycroft added that despite the Sunday morning downpour, the excess water was cleared largely before the Stampede went into full swing for its third day. 

“There are so many moving parts … there are just so many people who work together and it all came together. We had some real challenges with the weather the week before. I know our rodeo committee, they did a lot of work to get the water out of here last week and to get the track ready,” he said. “During the week, even preparing it, there was a lot of rain too, so just a lot of work and to see the weather just break apart at the right time and let us have a successful weekend has been amazing.”

Though Saturday’s Running with the Bulls was met with discontent for the lack of action and excitement, Sunday’s run garnered much more crowd engagement and satisfaction.

Raycroft said safety for all those in attendance was a primary concern from the committee.

“It is a real balancing act. Everybody wants to see interaction with those bulls, so I think the big thing was just trying to keep only the people that needed to be in there so that if we needed to step in and give medical attention to someone, we were quick to be there,” he explained. “Every year you tweak a few little things to make sure it runs well.”