Dear Editor
I want to thank and congratulate the Ponoka Stampede organizing committee for the amazing online coverage this year during the rodeo and chuckwagons.
The cost was affordable and gave people across the country a chance to watch the rodeo live, I really enjoyed all of the coverage, recaps and the fact I can now go back to watch it recorded. With two kids under two I will be honest I did not get to watch it all live but I am really looking forward to watching more of it now! Please keep it online for those who have paid!
It was a very smart idea to have the Jace Harty Memorial Bull riding event free as this gave us a chance to check our internet connection and hook it up to our big screen television.
I felt like I was there watching it live with Les calling and hearing all about the Bonnett and Butterfield brothers, I felt a little old as I remember them high school rodeoing. I remember watching Jake Vold at the CFR win in novice and he’s still going. Such fun to see Trigger Pugh still going strong with the steers! And my favourite; tie-down roping and watching Dean Edge make it to the top 12, thank you for being such great friends over the years. The only thing better than the live coverage would have been sitting there playing quarters!
Ponoka is still my home and I brag about it to everyone who will listen to me about it. This week I called a friend for advice in Ponoka, the first time he was sitting watching the rodeo live so I had to call him back, but the second time I called it was like I saw him yesterday walking down Chipman Ave.
Congratulations to the staff, volunteers and all of Ponoka for making the stampede such a success. I hope to visit home again soon.
Tiffany (Williams) Lepack
Former Editor of the Ponoka News
Arnprior, ON