Agricultural Society president Clint Weston
Fort Macleod Midnight Days Pro Rodeo was honoured at the last Canadin Finals Rodeo as the best small town rodeo.
That’s a proud achievement the Fort Macleod Agricultural Society hopes to replicate when the rodeo returns this week.
“I think we just give it all we’ve got,” agricultural society president Clint Weston said. “We try extremely hard to make it the best experience, not only for the community and the spectators, but also for the competitors who are coming from all over.”
The pro rodeo runs Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, June 24-26 more than $30,000 in prize money on the line in Fort Macleod.
Fort Macleod was up against about 15 other towns of similar size, and Weston said it is the people in the community that give his town the edge.
“Absolutely,” Weston said in an interview. “We have a great group of people who all try really hard. We want it to be as perfect as possible.”
“I think the rodeo really sparked a lot of interest in the ag society, and so a lot of people came forward wanting to be a part of it.”
The desire to be part of the action includes the business community, whose members came forward to provide the agricultural society with needed financial support.
“We couldn’t do it without the sponsors and all the businesses who step forward to help,” Weston said. “It costs so much money to put on these rodeos, the prize money and all the things that come with the rodeo, and without our sponsors we simply couldn’t have the rodeo.”
The Midnight Days Pro Rodeo is sanctioned by both the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, which ensures some of the top talent will be in Fort Macleod.
The rodeo starts at 6 p.m. each day, with competition in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, breakaway roping, tie down roping, barrel racing and bull riding.
Weston said Fort Macleod’s rodeo fits in well during a time of the year known as “Cowboy Christmas,” when competitors have the chance to make a lot of money by attending several rodeos.
This week, for example, there are rodeos in Fort Macleod, Ponoka, Airdrie, Raymond and Williams Lake, B.C.
On the weekend there was rodeo action at Wainwright, Sundre and High River.
“It just made sense to have the rodeo at this time and catch all the people driving by,” Weston said. “Having it during the week works because they are already here to hit the other rodeos on the weekend.
“It’s very exciting to be a part of it and the contestants, they love it.”
Children aged 12 and under get free admission to the rodeo.
In addition to the rodeo action, Danielle Friesen and Paige Walgenbach will give trick riding demonstrations on all three nights.
There is a western market all three days from 12 noon to 9 p.m.
Food trucks will arrive at Midnight Stadium at 4 p.m. daily.
The rodeo beer garden gets under way at 5 p.m. each day.
On Friday, a cabaret gets under way following the rodeo featuring the local band Don’t Tell Mama. A rodeo ticket gets you in the cabaret, and tickets are also available at the door.
The Fort Macleod Chamber of Commerce will add to the show with its annual Battle of the Businesses.
Teams representing local businesses will compete in a variety of events beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The Midnight Days Pro Rodeo last year attracted between 4,500 to 5,000 spectators, a number the agricultural society would like to see grow to 6,000 this year.
“We’re looking forward to having a good week here and hope everybody comes out to support it, and that they enjoy it,” Weston said.
