The annual Sundre Pro Rodeo continues to improve after 37 years, said the Sundre Rodeo and Race Association president.
“This year — I say it every year — I think we had the best rodeo ever. But I truly believe this year was our best yet,” said Shane Crouch.
“It seemed like everybody that I looked at was just in a great mood. It was in the air, everybody seemed extremely happy.”
Aside from a flood of positive feedback from rodeo fans he spoke with, Crouch told the Round Up last week a new attendance record was set.
About 3,000 people came out for the Saturday, June 25 afternoon program alone — up from the past record of about 2,500 — plus another 2,000 or so that evening. That doesn't even include the Friday evening and Sunday afternoon programs. Organizers estimate about 11,000 people came throughout the weekend, he said.
“I've never seen that place that full. There was nowhere to sit.”
The rodeo needed support from the community, businesses and people from all over, and everyone came through in spades, he said.
“I'm so humbled by the way the community came to support us. It's mind- boggling — especially considering the economy.”
The rodeo organizer expressed pride in the community as well as the volunteers who stepped up to make the event possible this year, when there are other municipalities that had to cancel plans for their annual rodeos. With many Albertans out of work and others struggling to make ends meet, it was huge to nevertheless see so many people find not only the time but dollars to spare, he said.
“That's why we do it, is to put on a show.”
Contributing a great deal to that show this year was rodeo clown and crowd entertainer Dennis Halstead, who last performed at the local rodeo some five years ago, he said.
“He was a huge addition to our rodeo — he's the best we have in Canada.”
To keep things from getting stale, Crouch said organizers try to arrange a variety of entertainment — last year was the Young Gunz trick riders and Niki Flundra, a horse tamer who performed a show called Unbridled. This year, Halstead kept the crowd engaged and entertained, and the Lord Strathcona's Mounted Troop demonstrated fine horsemanship.
“They did a great job,” he said.
The rodeo and race association, which is a non-profit organization, is also particularly grateful for the continued backing of longtime sponsors as well as some new ones, he said.
“We can't rodeo without the support of our sponsors.”
Of course a major event like Sundre's pro rodeo requires a lot of preparation, planning and work.
“It takes a year to plan it and get everything in order.”
Organizers already have their thoughts revolving around potential plans for next year, but the association has yet to get the chance to sit down and throw some ideas around, he said.
Crouch wants to run for president again at the association's upcoming October annual general meeting, but said he has every intention of remaining involved regardless of whether he is re-elected.
The one variable organizers have no control over — the weather — even largely co-operated, despite some intermittent rain and wind. Heavy rains during the early morning hours on parade day subsided just in time and the clouds broke, allowing the sun to shine through.
“It was almost like we were getting looked down on for the parade,” said Crouch.
Co-parade organizer Heidi Overguard told the Round Up the parade, which had almost 100 floats plus an additional 50 dignitaries, was a great success.
“We were very happy,” she said.
“The (Lord Strathcona's Mounted Troop) musical ride was a very popular addition to the parade, as well the (Sherman) tank. We were really glad to have those people be able to be a part of it.”
Parade organizers also appreciated the participation of the VIPs — local servicemen and women with a connection to the Sundre area, which tied in with this year's theme Salute to Men and Women in Uniform, she said, later adding the rodeo association was again a great help this year.
While it was too early to begin speculating on next year's theme for the parade, she said organizers are looking forward to another successful year.
By the sounds of it, many rodeo fans are also eager to return for the 38th annual Sundre Pro Rodeo.
“We really enjoy it, it's better than the Stampede,” said Elisse Bagnall, who came to Westward Ho from Leduc with her husband Lloyd Bagnall to spend time with their two-year-old grandson Easton Bagnall, from Thorsby. She told the Round Up the local rodeo is not overly crowded but still offers plenty to do.
“We can go to the parade and just set up our seat and we don't have to get there at five in the morning, it's great.”
Local residents Paul and Melissa Shippy came out with their infant daughter Maya and Paul's mom Carole Shippy, from Kinsella, Alta.
“We've got some friends that have built some floats — it's always cool to see what they've done,” said Paul.
“It's good to see what people in the community create.”
The family also planned to take in some of the rodeo action and festivities, but wasn't particularly concerned about the potential for rain.
“It's going to be a little bit rainy, but we're not made of sugar, we can handle it!”
There are also those who enjoy being a part of the western way of life and wouldn't think about skipping Sundre's main event.
“I like rodeos in general — it's very Canadian; it's very Albertan. It's a type of a lifestyle, and I like to experience it and be a little part of it,” said Hilke Beuck, who's lived in Sundre since 2007.
The Sundre Pro Rodeo is “very good. It's all professional, so you get the best of the best here.”
