THREE-YEAR-OLD TO RAISE STAKES AT BONNYVILLE PRO RODEO
May 21, 2009

The Bonnyville Pro Rodeo is the longest running annual event in the Alberta town of 10,000, located just two hours northeast of Edmonton. Celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year, the event runs from May 22 through May 24 and is expected to draw at least 500 spectators to the Bonnyville rodeo grounds each of the three days. And one thing is for certain: the Bonnyville Pro Rodeo and Chuckwagon Association always tries to make the rodeo weekend as fun-filled as possible.

“Something that is new for this year is we’ve organized a game of Mexican cowboy poker. We’ve got DJs from the local radio stations that are going to try their hand at playing poker. And then we’re going to let out a little three-year-old Mexican fighting bull. That should be entertaining,” laughs Russ Griffith, who has been president of the Bonnyville Pro Rodeo and Chuckwagon Association for the last eight years.

“I like to put on as professional and first class event as I can, and that goes hand in hand with filling the seats. I always like to see full bleachers and good weather, and hopefully everyone has a good time,” says an enthusiastic.

According to Griffith, the Bonnyville Pro Rodeo is always on the same weekend, so it’s pretty well known around town, and the buzz surrounding this year’s rodeo is at full force, not to mention the army of volunteers that contributed their time and energies to helping make it happen.

“We have a very strong volunteer base. We probably have about 25 hardcore volunteers [starting in January] and then we have another 25 that kick in getting closer to the event and through the weekend of the event,” he explains.

Their hard work can be seen in the three rodeo performances, each featuring all six major events, as well as novice bareback riding, novice saddle bronc riding and team roping, and a host of other exciting things to see and do.

“We’ve got a chili cook-off on Friday, we have the parade and pancake breakfast on Saturday, a heavy horse pull right at the arena Saturday afternoon. Of course, there’s the Saturday night rodeo dance with [country singer] Tracy Millar, Sunday’s cowboy church, and stuff like that,” Griffith says.

Performance times are Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Adult admission is just $12, while youth ages eight through 12 are $8. There will also be a midway and concession all weekend at the rodeo grounds.