ST. PAUL - As the Lakeland Rodeo Association (LRA) gears up for the season finals in St. Paul from Aug. 28 to Aug. 31, President Dean Lawes is reflecting on the success of the season to date.
According to Lawes, it was a good year for rodeo with approximately 20 events taking place all over Alberta.
“We have approximately 300-and-some members, good sponsorship support, and [it] looks like we’re going to have a great finals,” said Lawes.
The LRA Finals consists of five rodeo performances that includes events like tie-down roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, bareback and saddle broncs, and of course bull riding. Cowboys and cowgirls compete for points and prize money in front of the crowd at St. Paul’s Clancy Richard Arena.
“The grand entry is going to be all new. There’s a new format for the grand entry with some special effects and it’s going to be different for every performance,” said Lawes.
Pressed for details of the changes, he said he didn’t want to give it all away, but they’ve hired someone who works with the Oilers who will have some “spotlights, and some pyro activity, and some fireworks, and a few skits.”
He confirmed Ricky Ticky and Casey Wanchuk will once again be clowning around throughout the weekend.
The published schedule of events for Rodeo Week includes the staple pancake breakfasts, chili cook-off, barbecues and beef-on-a-bun supper, as well as markets, races, and the annual parade.
“I think we’ve got pretty good rodeo spirit this year. We’ve got lots of decorating going on uptown and people seem excited again this year, so it should be a good week,” said St. Paul Ag Society President Sean Dolan.
Dolan noted the St. Paul Ag Society doesn’t organize a lot of the associated events, but they are very glad to have such strong support from the community, with businesses, local municipalities, and others who take on organizing a lot of those events.
