SUNDRE – Organizers of the 2024 edition of Bulls and Wagons have introduced a couple of new elements to this year’s lineup that boasts three days of adrenalin-packed rodeo action.
Dale Young, event organizer and a director with the Sundre Rodeo and Race Association, told the Albertan earlier this week during a phone interview that all of the last-minute details were coming together nicely for the event that takes place Aug. 23-25 at the Sundre Pro Rodeo grounds.
“The entries are coming in for all of the events and people are getting excited about the weekend,” said Young.
The first round of performances begin on Friday at about 6 p.m. with chariot races followed by mini chucks, the wild pony race, wild cow milking, and chuckwagons to wrap up the evening.
Saturday’s performances will get started at around 5 p.m. with a similar lineup but with bronc riding action to cap the evening. And finally on Sunday, the thrill ride gets going at 1 p.m. featuring the same main lineup that will ultimately lead up to the bull riding finale.
Although the overall number of contenders had not yet been finalized when Young spoke with the Albertan, he said plenty of entries had already begun to come in and anticipated at the least 20 outfits in each of the chuckwagon as well as chariot racing events.
“The competitors that are coming that I know of for sure with the chariots and the chuckwagons, because that’s what I’m most associated with, they just finished a show up in Westlock and most of them will be coming down to Sundre this weekend. It’s always competitive,” he said, adding it’ll be anybody’s race.
While the Sundre Rodeo and Race Association ensures the grounds and grandstand are well prepared to welcome and accommodate the contenders, Young added that the Alberta Professional Chuckwagon and Chariot Association as well as the World Professional Bull Riders Association are largely behind organizing their respective entries.
“It’s a contract act – they come in and they look after their whole side of the event,” he said. “We look after the facilities.”
As for the new elements to this year’s lineup, Young said that for the first time in Bulls and Wagons’ history, there will be a sheep riding – or mutton busting – event. A staple of the Sundre Pro Rodeo in June, the event has never before been included on the docket for Bulls and Wagons. The mutton busting, which will be a part of all of the performances throughout the three days, as well as the wild pony racing events were already full-up with entries when Young spoke with the Albertan.
And also being introduced for the first time this year on Saturday morning will be some demonstrations put on by the Wild Horses of Alberta, he said.
“They’re going to be having what they’re calling a trainer’s challenge where they’re basically going to be displaying some wildie horses that have been re-homed,” he said, explaining that some trainers with the organization have been able to work with the free-roaming steeds and taught them some new tricks.
“So, they’re basically putting on a demonstration as to how much these wildies have learned,” he said.
While Bulls and Wagons has a cost of admission at the gate, children ages six and under get in free.
Visit www.sundrerodeo.com/bulls-wagons for more information.
