Entertainment

Cowboy George Canyon is very excited to be playing at this year’s Ponoka Stampede and is looking forward to performing in Alberta. Canyon got his first big break on the USA Network/CMT Canada television show Nashville Star and was the Canadian breakout from the show.

A good announcer will inform you of all of the stats, trivia and other goodies. A great announcer is filled with passion and excitement that will keep you on the edge of the seat for the entire rodeo performance.

The Thurston Gang is a western extravaganza who are performing for the crowd at the Ponoka Stampede June 25 to 27. For the second time in three years they have been voted the Specialty Act of the Year in the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association.

The Canadian Armed Forces have always played a vital role in defining what Canadians stand for. Canadians should always be proud of the good work and positive things that Canadians serving do and have done to make our world a better place. At the 2008 Ponoka Stampede the theme is a Salute to the Armed Forces, recognizing and honouring the work members of the armed forces have done.

The Ponoka Stampede Grand Entry girls get each rodeo performance off to a roaring start. The girls carry sponsor flags into the arena while carrying out intricate patterns at a very fast pace. This year’s Grand Entry team is: Mandy Matheson, Shelby Matheson, Lori Matheson, Dawn Bilsborrow, Sam Bilsborrow, Ashley McCaughey, Paige Stuart, Cheryl Miller, Allison Miller, Nicole Dievert, Cheyenne Hok, Lisa Nault, Jessi Westling, Krista Anderson, Lori Johnson and Kelly Jorgenson.

The biggest smiles that you find at the Ponoka Stampede won’t be from the cowboys winning the big money it will be from the children who will be participating in the ninth annual Ponoka Stampede Rodeo Challenge. The Rodeo Challenge will take place on June 28 at 11 a.m. in the infield of the stampede grounds.

On behalf of the Ponoka Stampede board of directors. I would like to welcome everyone to the 72nd annual Ponoka Stampede. We are very pleased to be honouring our Canadian Armed Forces. Brigadier General Kelly L. Woiden, CD, the Deputy Commander Land Force Western Area and Lieutenant (Navy) David Paszek will be leading out parade.

The Ponoka District and Chamber of Commerce is set to shuttle Stampede visitors and residents to all the great events at this year’s Stampede and take visitors to Ponoka’s vibrant downtown.

Spectators at the Ponoka Stampede will see something spectacular on June 29. In addition to the horses, cowboys and chuckwagons there will hopefully be a whole arena of support. The Ponoka Stampede Association has declared June 29 Wranglers Tough Enough to Wear Pink Day to enhance breast cancer awareness and everyone that comes out is encouraged to wear pink.

he Ponoka Stampede Association has a notable woman in the community. Laura Wierzba, an active volunteer in the community, will be the honorary president for the Ponoka Stampede and the first woman to have this title.