BONNYVILLE - It's going to be a busy few days filled with lots of action as the Bonnyville Ag Society gets set to host a pro rodeo and chuckwagon races at the Bonnyville rodeo grounds, starting this Thursday.
The event will take place from June 5 – 8 and will include events like calf roping, bull riding, bareback and saddle broncs, barrel racing, and steer riding. Food trucks, vendors, and a beer garden will be available.
Dances will be held on the evenings of June 6 and 7, with live performances from the bands Southern Cross and Dirt Road Maniacs.
Corey Dows, president of the Bonnyville Ag Society, explained that the event is a professional rodeo sanctioned by the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association.
“We’ve been on a professional rodeo circuit for a lot of years now. With a pro rodeo, you can expect some talented riders to show up . . . You get competitors coming from all over, even up from the states,” said Dows.
Dows said the calibre of stock is also important to host a pro rodeo, and this year they are using the company Northcott and Yule Rodeo, from Gleichen.
“You have to have good stock for the competitors. We are using a new company this year that brings their stock to the Calgary Stampede,” said Dows.
While the rodeo and chuckwagon races used to be separate events, they decided to have them all at the same time so “you’re getting two events in one.”
The chuckwagon races are sanctioned by the World Professional Chuckwagon Association.
The event includes more than just rodeo and chuckwagon action.
For example, the Chamber Chili Cook-off hosted by the Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce is on June 6. The event will take place in Bonnyville on 50th Avenue and 50th Street at 12 p.m.
When asked why he felt it was important to volunteer with the Ag Society and for this event, Dows spoke about the importance of community volunteers who make small town events like the rodeo happen.
“[If] you like having the chucks come to town and having rodeos, if you like going to the dances with all your friends and having a great time - that takes volunteers from the community to step up and make it happen. It’s about giving back to the community,” said Dows.
The Bonnyville Ag Society is a non-profit organization, and Dows said the proceeds from the event will be used to support the Bonnyville Rodeo Grounds.
