When the Calgary Stampede rolls into town, for ten days it seems that everyone becomes a cowboy. Regular city folk, some that have never even seen a cow in real life, trade their suits in for jeans, throw on a cowboy hat and two step their way through the ten days of Stampede. Tourists come from countries around the world to check out the phenomenon that is the Calgary Stampede.
However, when the Strathmore Stampede comes to town, it has a much different feel. On a slightly smaller scale, where the authenticity of the country life shines through, pickup trucks and horse trailers as far as the eye can see, which is just another day in Strathmore – not just the four days of the event. Families jump in their truck from working on their farm, to come watch a family member ride in the rodeo. Families that have grown up in this small town for generations gather to cheer on their local hero’s.
Since 1966, Strathmore has hosted an annual fair and “Heritage Days” Rodeo on the long weekend in August. In 1985, the Heritage Days Rodeo turned professional and become sanctioned by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association. In conjunction to hosting Pro Rodeo that weekend, 1988 saw the addition of the World Professional Chuckwagon Association to our grounds.
The 1990’s focused on a change of image to provide a family weekend by incorporating children’s entertainment, local entertainment stage, craft/bench show, livestock show, outdoor family entertainment show ring, machinery show, trade show, parade, midway and fireworks. The hosting of these events annually each August long weekend created a major tourist attraction to the Town of Strathmore and surrounding areas as indicated by its growing attendance. In 2003, organizers started their signature event, Running with the Bulls.
Now called, the Strathmore Stampede, this event has become the largest community project hosted by the Agricultural Society and promoted by the 12,000 residents of Strathmore. This event encompasses a major part of the Ag Society’s planning time and has community support with over thirty volunteer committee chairpersons and six hundred volunteers.
The Strathmore Stampede is the third largest rodeo in Canada. During the long weekend event, the rodeo and Chuckwagon races are held each day to determine who rides in the finals on the Heritage Day Monday. The Running With The Bulls, which if you have not seen this – you need to, takes place on the Saturday and Sunday. In the rodeo and chuckwagon events, the winner is typically decided by time….the fastest or the cowboy you stays on the longest….but in the Running With The Bulls, there are judges on hand that watch the runners to see who actually runs with the bulls and who climbs the fence for dear life and stays away from the bulls. The runners participate in three heats, each heat bringing in a new set of bulls. The first set of bulls are a bit younger and are more confused than mad. Set two brings in the slightly larger, bit more mature and a little more agitated bulls. The final set brings in the biggest, badest, angriest bulls they could find…… and the runners are encouraged to ‘interact’ with the bulls to score points with the judges. A runner up is then announced and the winner, which it could just be said that if you survive, you win.
This four day event is always a popular one with not only residents of Strathmore but in surrounding communities and those that travel the rodeo circuit. With the weather fully cooperating and the stands sold out, this forty nine year tradition is one to be continued for years to come.
