It’s been a very exciting few weeks for rodeo fans and now that the dust has settled, things are starting to get back to normal. Ponoka hosted an excellent rodeo and it should be something that everyone is very proud of.
Although this was only my second Ponoka Stampede it was a great feeling to be involved in the event by reporting all of the results, stories and pictures for all of our readers. When I moved to Alberta I didn’t know anything about rodeos, cows or horses and although I still don’t know a lot, I am learning. The Ponoka Stampede was a great learning experience for the editorial staff here at the Ponoka News. I learned to continue to work on my patience and writing skills. It was great to pass on some of my rodeo knowledge to our reporter here, Eraina Hooyer. She is like a sponge eager to learn as much as she can. Some of her pictures the last few weeks have been stunning and as she continues to work hard they will just get better.
It sometimes is a tough job reporting and editing stories and pictures for publication. This is a community paper and we need the community to support us. Just like the Ponoka Stampede the Ponoka News needs the community to continue to be successful.
Stampede memories
On a few occasions I was able to take time to enjoy watching some of the topnotch rodeo action. I heard so much leading up to the rodeo about Grated Coconut the great bareback bucking horse and he did not disappoint. Travis Whiteside of Longview scored a 92.5 winning $5,000 in the final showdown. It was so exciting watching him and all of the stock at the rodeo thoroughly entertain the crowd. The months leading up to the stampede I had traveled to a few other rodeos but in Ponoka there were the best cowboys and cowgirls and it was a real treat to watch the champions of the sport compete.
This year the most embarrassing stampede moment for me was not losing a five dollar bill but was trying to get some information for a story. I was looking for a chuckwagon driver and had been directed to his trailer. I knocked on his door and was looking up waiting for him to answer. All of a sudden he opened the door and all I could see was his bright red underwear because that is all that he was wearing. I think my face went as bright as them as he quickly apologized ran back inside and put on a pair of jeans. Watching the chucks zoom around the half mile of hell took my breath away, I think each time I see the races I get more interested in the nuts and bolts of the technique.
I absolutely love fireworks and couldn’t wait for the concert to see two great country stars perform and have the evening finish off with a bang. I had seen Shane Yellowbird once before in a very small establishment and at stampede he put on a very different show full of energy and excitement. With George Canyon, I didn’t know what to expect but I think I found an excellent performer and singer to continue to watch over his singing career. I even made it out to see Gord Bamford perform and he was another great singer for the week of jam packed entertainment.
As the Ponoka Stampede closed I ventured up to the Calgary Stampede to take on ‘the greatest outdoor show on earth.’ The rodeo atmosphere was more of a production than a down home rodeo like Ponoka but it was still a fun time. It was an added bonus to watch Dean Edge, auctioneer from Vold, Jones and Vold and tie-down roper compete live and watch as he battled to the top four. The biggest thrill for me was watching the Grandstand show late into the night. The dancers, the singers and the band; it was definitely a spectacular show almost a broadway-type experience.
In the last few weeks I have had over 10 fresh lemonades, five candy apples a few orange drinks and enough hot dogs to last me until the next rodeo. As Ian Tyson and Corb Lund say ‘the rodeo’s over, the folks have gone home and the cowboys are all down the road well boys, she was a good one, we kicked a hole in the sky and even the rank ones got rode,’ for me I’m looking forward to the finals and counting down the days until next year’s Ponoka Stampede — the best show in the world.