The Wood Mountain Stampede shows no signs of slowing down.
Billed as Canada’s oldest continuous rodeo since 1890, this year’s event takes place from July 12 to 14 in the scenic and historic Wood Mountain Regional Park, about 70 kilometres southwest of Assiniboia.
According to the rodeo website, as early as 1890, the North West Mounted Police (NWNP) promoted the “Wood Mountain Sports” to celebrate Dominion Day. They invited local ranchers and cowboys to participate. In the early years, the action consisted of foot races, ball games, and horse races. The sport of rodeo was evolving during this period and it became the natural event to put on at the sports.
The Wood Mountain Turf Club was incorporated as a non-profit company in 1925. The purpose of the club was to conduct sports of all kinds: rodeo, horse racing, ball games, and so on. The club obtained a lease on the same site where the arena is now located. To the buildings already on site — bucking chutes, race track, ball diamonds and bowery — the club added a grandstand and stables.
Under the direction of the Turf Club the Wood Mountain Sports became one the main attractions in southern Saskatchewan. Crowds of 15,000 people were reported. The convenience of the automobile contributed to the high attendance. Campers stayed for a week and a circle of cars outlined the race track.
This year’s rodeo kicks off on Thursday, July 11 with the Old Post Summer Series starting at 6 p.m.
On Friday, July 12, the Little Britches Rodeo takes place at 10 a.m. and sees young children compete for a $1,000 scholarship. That event is followed by the CCA Slack at 2 p.m., and then the world’s greatest roper event at 7 p.m. featuring the 10 best cowboys invited to show their stuff. The beer gardens and cabaret take place at 9 p.m. and feature the Badlands Country Band.
The Team Roping Jackpot kicks off Saturday, July 13 at 9 a.m. That is followed by the Ranch Rodeo at 2 p.m., the CCA Rodeo at 6 p.m. featuring act trick riders during the intermission, with Badlands Country Band closing out the night.
There will be a church service at the grandstand at 9 a.m., with Tarrant Cross Child as the special guest. The day finishes up at 2 p.m. with the CCA Rodeo event and act trick riders at intermission.
Attendees to the rodeo will be able to sit under a new brush-covered grandstand. It costs $15 to attend each day. A weekend pass costs $40, while children under age 12 get in free.
More information can be found at www.woodmountainstampede.com or on Facebook.
