The upcoming 15th annual Bulls and Wagons weekend will be packed with more community-based events than ever before.
For the first time, Sundre Petroleum Operators Group rescheduled the annual Neighbours' Day, which had traditionally been held in September, to run in tandem with the rodeo event.
Tracey McCrimmon, SPOG’s executive director, said the organization is excited to enhance efforts to support not only the municipality and the Sundre and District Chamber of Commerce, but also the professional bull riding event's organizing committee.
Among the main objectives is to grow Neighbours’ Day into more of a community-wide event instead of just an oil and gas industry expo, said McCrimmon.
When she spoke with the Round Up a couple of weeks ago, McCrimmon said SPOG remained in the process of getting booths registered, but anticipated reaching capacity at the Sundre Arena. The total number of companies and groups that could be accommodated depends on whether some sign up for larger spaces that require more than one booth, she said.
“We always try to bring in something different,” she said, adding the change of date is not all that’s new this year.
“We’re trying to make it more of a family-friendly event.”
To that end, she said organizers made arrangements to bring in some animals — including goats, llamas, chickens and rabbits — from Butterfield Acres near Calgary to have a petting zoo for kids out in the arena’s parking lot.
SPOG is not just strictly about oil and gas, and the organization also wants to focus on bringing the community together to have more dialogue and support one another, she said.
“It’s always important to discuss what’s happening,” she said, adding the organization’s mandate is to make every effort to continually nurture and maintain relationships among industry partners, municipalities and other stakeholders.
McCrimmon said she looks forward to seeing people come out to the arena for Neighbours’ Day, which starts at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast and takes place all day Friday, Aug. 9 ahead of the evening performances of Bulls and Wagons.
Shortly after the doors at the arena close, people will have about an hour to grab a bite and rest up before the first Bulls and Wagons performances at the rodeo grounds start at 6 p.m., said Jack Nichol, chair of the event’s organizing committee, which is a subcommittee of the Sundre Rodeo and Race Association.
Plans are coming along well, with sponsorships in good shape and the livestock all lined up. When he spoke with the Round Up about two weeks ago, Nichol said wagon racers were in the process of determining who would be coming and how many.
But although the process of taking entries remained ongoing, Nichols confirmed the main events would include mini chucks and chariot races courtesy of the All Pro Canadian Chuckwagon and Chariot Association, wild bucking action thanks to Professional Bull Riders, as well as other traditional staples such as junior steer riding, wild cow milking and the wild horse race. The kids' wild pony race will also be back, he said.
Meanwhile, the weekly farmers market that usually runs 5-7:30 p.m. at the Sundre Curling Rink will be starting earlier at 1:30 p.m., he added.
The rodeo program on Saturday, Aug. 10 will pick up again at 5 p.m., wrapping up later that night with a dance featuring Smoking Country from Rocky Mountain House.
An earlier 1 p.m. kickoff for Sunday’s last performances will feature a new event with mini broncs followed by junior steer riding and then the races before the big finale when professional bull riders will test their mettle, he said.
The Model T races will also be back this year, but under the banner of another group that organized a car show for Saturday starting at 10 a.m., he said.
“It’s nice to see that much more going on,” said Nichols, adding he was pleased that organizers of multiple community functions were able to work side by side, along the way helping one another.
Cody McAllister, one of several organizers behind the car show and Model T races, had previously helped prepare plans for a car show in 2017 and more recently also worked on arrangments for the Canada Day car show at the Sundre and District Museum.
“I thought, ‘let’s do a second show,'" said McAllister, adding the car show will complement the Model T races and offer people that much more to see.
“Bulls and Wagons decided to take us under their wing — that simplifies things for all parties.”
The car show, which is going to feature vintage to new models, takes place only on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the rodeo grounds. Any enthusiastic vehicle aficionados who are keen to display their labours of love for everyone to see is welcome to do so at no cost and without having to worry about registering, he said, calling the event informal.
“If you want to bring your car, it’s free. We’re not charging anything,” he said.
“We’re just looking for people to come out, park their vehicles and socialize.”
While the car show is also free to the public, there will be a modest admission fee to check out the Model T races from the rodeo’s grandstands, he added.
Organized by Paddy Munro, who has previously participated in the Bulls and Wagons Model T races these past few years, at least half a dozen racers are expected to do time trials around the dirt track followed by a few races, said McAllister.
“They’ll be doing races from 1 to 3 p.m.,” he said.
