Ponoka rodeo fans will have a chance to celebrate a local barrel racing legend at a special screening at the Canadian Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame at the Calnash Ag Event Centre on April 18.
Living her life in the saddle, 2015 CPR Hall of Fame inductee Dee Butterfield's story is now being told through a mini-documentary.
"Dee has quite a following of barrel racing students and clients who have purchased horses from her who would enjoy the screening," said Brenda Vold, CPR Hall of Fame director.
Produced by the Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry Foundation thanks to an Alberta Heritage Grant from the Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Status of Women, the 25-minute film is the first in a series about women in rodeo.
The foundation came to Ponoka County to interview Butterfield at home, capturing her and her horses in their element. A preview has been released on the foundation's Facebook page.
Credit for the music composed for the documentary goes to Don Kletke.
Born and raised on a ranch in Williams Lake, B.C., Butterfield learned to ride when she was just three years old. She started barrel racing at age 12 and was a serious competitor by 14.
She's made Ponoka County her home for 40-plus years, starting a barrel-racing breeding program with husband Craig Butterfield, competing in barrel racing all the while.
She won the Canadian barrel racing championship in 1992, and in 2006, the Ponoka Stampede named her the Bill Kehler Award recipient, which are just a couple of examples of her accolades over the years.
Butterfield continues to teach barrel racing clinics in Canada, the United States and Australia.
Admission for the screening will be by donation, with the proceeds going to the hall of fame. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the showing will start at 7 p.m.
Light refreshments and a cash bar will be available.
Butterfield will also be there to greet people and mingle, and her son, pro rodeo athlete Chance Butterfield, will be the master of ceremonies for the evening.
Read more about the life and career of Dee at canadianprorodeohalloffame.org.
