It's time to rodeo, Innisfail.
The 52nd annual Daines Ranch Rodeo runs this week from June 14-17 just outside of Innisfail. The popular event pulls in cowboys and cowgirls from all over Alberta, Canada, and even some international competitors.
Performances start on June 13 at 5 p.m. On June 14, the junior barrel race starts at 5 p.m., other junior rodeo events start at 6 p.m. and the professional rodeo events start at 6:45 p.m. On June 15 junior rodeo starts at 6 p.m. and pro rodeo starts at 6:45 p.m.
Saturday June 16, the Rotary Parade will start at 10 a.m. in downtown Innisfail. The afternoon junior rodeo performance starts at 1 p.m. and the pro rodeo events start at 1:30. In the evening junior rodeo runs again at 6 and the pro rodeo at 6:45.
The rodeo wraps up on June 17 with junior rodeo starting at 1 p.m. and pro rodeo starting at 1:45 p.m.
“The rodeo right here will be as good as any rodeo in the world,” said Jack Daines on June 5 during a press conference.
Local cowboy Denver Daines will be riding in the rodeo on Friday night.
“My main event is saddle bronc,” Daines said. He said this is probably his 12th year at the Daines Ranch Rodeo, which he's been attending since he was 17.
While he's placed at the local rodeo before, he said there's some stiff competition that is attracted to the event, calling it “a big, prestigious rodeo.”
Kirk Robinson, 19, is the son and grandson of professional calf ropers and will be in the ring on Thursday night.
“I'm pretty excited,” Robinson said. He won at the Big Horn Rodeo in Caroline over the May long weekend.
This will be Robinson's sixth professional rodeo, and he's placed at two of those.
“It's nice to get some money,” he said.
This is Robinson's debut at the Daines Ranch Rodeo.
