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PSA president Bruce Harbin re-elected for one more year

The Ponoka Stampede Association held their AGM on Nov. 12
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The Ponoka Stampede Association held its AGM on Nov. 12. (Emily Jaycox/Ponoka News)

Cowboys know how to get things done.

Shooting out of the gate promptly at 7 p.m. on Nov. 12, the Ponoka Stampede Association’s annual general meeting was a total of 12 minutes from start to finish.

Town of Ponoka Coun. Ted Dillon was also in attendance.

Directors Blake Butterfield, Rick Wierzba, Jim Harbidge, Keith Kjenner, Cole Butterfield and Murray Schur were re-elected by acclamation for another three year-term.

President Bruce Harbin, vice president Jason Cline and past president Blair Vold will continue in those roles for one more year, due to COVID-19 and the missed 2020 stampede.

The Ponoka Stampede is down about a half million in cash, but still has enough working capital to put on a Stampede in 2021.

That was the report given to the board by Gord Parker of Rowland, Parker and Associates.

The report was substantially shorter than usual, because there was no Stampede in 2020.

“Unfortunately, you guys had to experience what your cash burn without any revenue coming in besides the little bit of gaming revenue,” said Parker.

The cash burn was 550,000 after the $280,000 in gaming revenue from casinos and the cattle raffle.

“So that tells you roughly what it takes to operate the Stampede without having a Stampede.”

“I’d really like to take my hat off to this group of individuals in the room, all the members of this board of directors and the representatives from the town and county,” said Harbin in his president’s message.

“Even though there was no rodeo held, there was a lot of glue that came together in all the trying times of cancelling of the Stampede for 2020, and the support of everyone was great.

“Going forward, we hope and pray that the restrictions are relaxed and 2021 will be business as usual.”

He than asked that everyone goes forward with the attitude of expecting to have a Stampede in 2021.

“If we have to tap the brakes we will, but not until they make us.”

Coun. Ted Dillon representing the town, thanked the association for their patience with transferring land titles.

“I think that was a great move, for both of us, the town and the Stampede Association and the community as a whole,” said Dillon.

“We had a few stumbling blocks but we got through it.”



Emily Jaycox

About the Author: Emily Jaycox

I’m Emily Jaycox, the editor of Ponoka News and the Bashaw Star. I’ve lived in Ponoka since 2015 and have over seven years of experience working as a journalist in central Alberta communities.
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