The Ponoka Stampede chuckwagon tarp auction has taken in about the same as last year.
The auction, held May 3 at the Stampede’s Stagecoach Saloon, raised an additional $500 than in 2018 after the final numbers were released by the World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA).
The 36 wagon tops drew a total of $376,250 for the competitors at the 2019 Ponoka Stampede that will run June 25 to July 1. The average bid for the night wound up at just over $10,400.
Read More: 2018 Ponoka Stampede tarp auction breaks $375,000 mark
Ponoka Stampede president Bruce Harbin was happy with the outcome.
“The Ponoka Stampede and the WPCA are fortunate to have the support of all these tarp buyers. It was also great to see a lot of local tarp buyers as well,” Harbin said.
“And 2019 promises to be a great edition with the addition of the Wild West suites grandstand alongside the world class rodeo featuring world champion cowboys, cowgirls, bucking stock and the chuckwagon racing.”
Harbin added that this year’s entertainment concert line up featuring LeAnn Rimes, The Washboard Union and Lee Brice will make the Stampede the place to be for the start of summer.
The top wagon sold will be run by the 2018 runner up in Ponoka, Kurt Bensmiller, which went to Sylvan Lake based Versatile Energy Services for $25,000.
It was the only rig to eclipse the $20,000 mark. Although, the next four best wagons took in $18,000 each with Codey McCurrach going to Red Deer’s King Oilfield Construction, Troy Dorchester to Team Rig and Supply from Nisku, Chad Harden to Image Distributors out of Calgary and Obrey Motowylo going to M4 Ranch Group of Colorado.
There were plently of local bids with Eagle Builders and Sims & Associates Insurance each plunking down the most cash at $13,000 for Luke Tournier and Dustin Gorst respectively.
Other locals that had successful bids that cracked the five digit barrier included Calnash Trucking (Evan Salmond, $11,500) and Family Meats (Chad Fike, $10,000). The rest of the local companies bidding were: VJV (Wade Salmond, $8,500), Morskate Manufacturing (Logan Gorst, $7,000), Rai-Lynn Trucking of Lacombe ($7,000), Siding 14 Brewery (Mitch Sutherland, $6,500), Horseshoe Paving from Clive (Bob Van Eaton, $6,000), Stagecoach Saloon (Blaid Flad, $6,000) and the Wild West Suites (Roy Romannow, $6,000).
