BOWDEN --There was a new wrinkle at Bowden Daze, the 26th annual rodeo and all-around good time, which took place July 27-29 at the rodeo grounds.
Bowden Ag Society president Keith Bailey says this year, an Edmonton-area company was coming down with a bunch of bouncy castles for all three days.
This year's edition of Bowden Daze began on Friday, July 27 at noon, when the junior rodeo got underway. The team roping jackpot happened that evening.
In addition, the Bowden Daze kickoff party began in the beer gardens Friday evening. This year, it featured a jam session from local musician Charlie Britain and participants had the chance to win door prizes.
The annual Bowden Daze parade kicked off Saturday festivities. It was followed by the CARA (Central Alberta Rodeo Association) rodeo and freestyle motocross shows, sheep riding and a wild pony race.
The rodeo's big feature event, the CPRA (Canadian Professional Rodeo Association) bareback challenge took place Saturday evening.
"That's a $10,000 added bareback challenge. The money counts toward the CFR (Canadian Finals Rodeo)," Bailey says.
He says the challenge was expected to attract "the top 24 bareback riders in Canada."
The cabaret and rodeo dance, featuring Rooster In A Henhouse, followed that evening.
The CARA rodeo closed out Bowden Daze on Sunday.
For the third year in a row, a ball tournament was held in conjunction with Bowden Daze. Bailey said this year, 16 teams from across Central Alberta were entered, up from 12 previously.
Bailey was asked why it's been growing in size.
"I think it's just word of mouth, now that it's been (going for) a few years," he says.
