By Tiffany Williams
Editor
The Ponoka Stampede Cattle Raffle was again sold out and the lucky winners were Ray and Elsie Berreth from Strathmore. The couple decided to take a cheque for $40,000 instead of the 50 bred heifers.
The couple have been coming to the Ponoka Stampede since 1999 and they both agree that it is an awesome rodeo.
“I was literally shocked. I couldn’t believe it,” said Elsie after their names were drawn. They bought ticket number 1166 on June 25 before the evening show. They were discussing the two rainbows that were in the sky during the chuckwagon performance and a pot of gold.
“We’ve never won anything and now this is our pot of gold,” said Elsie.
Ray said that his brother-in-law was more excited than them and was jumping up and down in the seats and that they were all excited and very happy.
“We’ve been to a lot of different rodeos in the United States and Canada and Ponoka is the best,” said Ray.
The couple’s names were also drawn last year and they are going to put the money into their retirement fund.
The funds raised from the Cattle Raffle go towards making improvements at the stampede grounds. This year the money will go to pay for the new showers that were recently put in the campground.