The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth

Today marks the 100th Anniversary of the Calgary Stampede.  To many this may not be important as many cities have an annual fair that they celebrate.  But although this great event is hosted by the city of Calgary it belongs to all of Alberta and Canada. 

Steer Show 1985

The Alberta Beef Booth is
alway a popular spot.

My family has had a long standing association with the Calgary Stampede.  My dad along with my aunt, and cousins have been members on several agriculture committees. Dad for over 40 years.

My family have been exhibitors there in the livestock show, steer show, junior show and stock dog trials.

Showmanship Champion 2006

Our daughters were recipients several times of scholarships.

Scholorship winners

 I was a part of the grandstand show one year, along with other 4H members leading calves across the stage, showing the audiences all the different breeds of cattle.

My cousin is a driver in the world famous chuck wagon races.

Driver - Troy Flad

 Crystal worked in the Agriculture department for two summers on an internship.  She was also the youngest person to be a member of the judging panel for the supreme championships.

The first Friday in July marks the best 10 days of the summer.  Now that we don't live right by Calgary we only get there for a few days each year, but it is always something that is a part of our summer plans.
When we are traveling if we mention that we are from Alberta we are often asked if we have ever been to the Stampede.  We are envied when they find out that we go each year.  It's kinda like living next to Disneyland.

Here are a few fun facts about the Stampede:

We offer the largest purse in outdoor rodeo of over $2 million.

The Agriculture component has been a backbone of the of the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede since its formation in 1886 as the Calgary Agricultural Society.

The purse for GMC Rangeland Derby chuckwagon race is over $1 million

Over a million people attend the 10-day Stampede each July

70 per cent of Stampede patrons are local and 30 per cent are tourists

The Stampede Parade route is 4.5 kilometres

Over two million mini doughnuts are sold each year

Over 200,000 pancakes are served at community breakfasts each year

Stampede Park is comprised of 193 acres

Approximately 3.6 million people visit Stampede Park year-round annually.

Over 30,000 flowers are planted on Park each year

The Calgary Stampede is a not-for-profit organization and the Calgary Stampede Foundation is a   non-profit registered charitable organization.

The Stampede has over 2,000 year-round volunteers and over 1,200 year-round employees

The Calgary Stampede has a huge economic impact on Calgary's economy, contributing $127.2 million and also to Alberta's economy, contributing $166.3 million

I salute the Volunteers and those that have fought to keep the Stampede alive and growing over the last 100 years.  This is the one celebration that we have that keeps urban and rural people connected.  I can't wait to get there on Thursday.

Grated Coconut -
One of the greatest Stampede horses

The Price Is Right

Many of us grew up watching the game show `The Price Is Right``.  It was a fun innocent way to waste an hour trying to guess the right prices of the products and wishing that we were winning all of the cool prizes they were giving away.  Host Bob Barker seemed like a nice man that cared about dogs and cats and reminded us at the end of each show to spay or neuter our pets.  A good message on being a responsible pet owner.
                                                                                            

 Years later, Bob has shown his true colors.  He has been very vocal about Lucy the elephant from the Edmonton Zoo and how she should be relocated to an elephant sanctuary in California.  Again it seems like a practical thing to do........if you weren`t a very old elephant that may not survive the trip or the relocation.

This last week the Calgary Stampede came up with a creative way to get new visitors to come to the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth and to promote the 100 Anniversary of the Calgary Stampede.  A trip to the Stampede and 6 pairs of custom made cowboy boots offered in the final showcase on The Price Is Right.  The positive response and inquires to tourism Calgary following the broadcasting of the show has been huge.  When ever we travel through the US or around the world, we are asked about the Calgary Stampede once people know that we are from Canada.  It is known as an event that everyone should try to attend once in their lifetime.

World Chuckwagon Races

Following the broadcast, Bob Barker was interviewed and showed his disgust at offering a trip to an event in which he thinks animals should not be a part of.  He went on to say that when he was on the show he stopped the giving away of fur coats and leather products.  Now I respect that everyone is entitled to their opinions and choices that they make in their lives, but I am getting really tired of celebrities thinking that they always know best.  I thought that was why we lived in free countries, so we could listen to both sides of the story and make up our own minds.

Grated Coconut
The Greatest Stampede Horse ever.

Calgary Stampede's support of
Youth and Agriculture through
Scholarships

I hope the winner of the showcase, chooses to attend the Calgary Stampede this summer.  I hope that she enjoys our Canadian hospitality and the events that are unique to our province.  I hope that she also appreciates that the Stampede always has the best interest of everyone that is part of this great event, whether they are humans or animals.

Good Bye Summer

On this first official day of fall I thought I would look back to what we did during the summer.  2011 was the summer were we didn't plan anything.  Some how though it all went by very quickly. 

June started off with taking a quick trip to Iowa to visit Crystal and to meet Jon's family.

Randy & Rob fishing on Sunday morning.

We also took a few animals to the Drayton Valley Livestock Show.  It's a good thing this show happens early on as this is the only way that we get those first few calves halter broke.


July the weather did not cooperate and our swath grazing was very delayed being planted and then got washed away with 4 inches of rain, two days after planting.  Sure not the success if was last year, so the cows have already been turned into it.

  We did fit in a couple of days to the Ponoka Stampede and the Calgary Stampede for the rodeos, chuckwagon races and the CS Steer Show.

In August we were honored to attend the wedding of Stefon and Becca Beechinor.  The wedding was held in their hip roof barn that is on their farm and over 100 years old. 

Becca & Stefon

 



                      Then we headed to BC to judge the Vanderhoof 4H Show and the Open show that hosted the Angus Gold Show.  Some really good cattle and met some great people. (even some from Kansas!)

Tom and his Kansas helpers brought out
a great string. 

Supreme Champion Female

The trip continued with us doing some golfing in Williams Lake prior to judging the Williams Lake 4H Show.  Again an awesome group of kids and cattle to work with over the two days.  We were able to meet the leaders of the only First Nations 4H Club in Canada.  These ladies are doing a wonderful job with these kids.  We also visited the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame.  It was interesting to see all of the old brands in the area. 

Then at the show that night some of the cattle were carrying those brands.  Lots of Agriculture history and good cattlemen in that part of the county. 

The Before picture

We also fit in a few of those jobs on the to do list.  Painting all of our steel fences was on my list.  The weather cooperated in August and September so I was able to get most of them done.  Rob has started to work on the show and sale cattle.  It was a good summer to get caught up on a few things and to enjoy being at home.  Visitors are welcome at High County any time of the year.

Summer Time

Well summer is almost half over.  I know that it officially doesn't change until September but it seems like when August is done and kids go back to school, summer is over for the most part.  We are heading into our third long weekend of the year.  It will be fun as we are heading to a family reunion on Vancouver Island.  This is the first time in 27 years that we have made it to one of the BC Reunions.  Rob will be in his glory with all the shrimp and smoked salmon that is promised to be there.  The BC relatives get equally excited when we host them in Alberta, with all of the steak, burgers and ribs that we cook up.  Here is what we think of when we think of summer. What do you treasure the most?

Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth

When you grow up in Alberta and in particular close to the city of Calgary, summer involves attending the Calgary Stampede and for usually more than one day.  I am not sure that I have missed a Calgary Stampede in the last 40 years.  It is a part of my family with my dad being a volunteer for the Calgary Stampede for over 40 years.  When the Stampede held a livestock show he was also the Barnboss for all of the cattle, horses, sheep and displays.  Crystal and Stacy have grown up with the Stampede as well.  Crystal's first steer show was at the CS.

Both the girls also competed in the Junior Livestock Scholarships program and over the years were awarded several thousand dollars in scholarships.

Crystal was also a member of the Agriculture Department staff for 2 summers and a part of the judging panel for the Supreme Interbreed Champions in 2006.

The Calgary Stampede runs from July 9 - 18, 2010.  Although we will only get down there for a couple of days this year, it is something we always look forward too. 

This year we will be exhibiting a steer in the Steer Classic,  hopefully going to the rodeo, the World Famous Chuckwagon Races, the Western Art Show is a must see and there is no better fireworks show for 10 days running.   

We have attended 2 World  Simmental Congress's hosted on the CS show grounds, one in 1978 and the other in 2006.  There is a lot of history in those barns.  Many generations have exhibited cattle there.  Showing that the cattle producers of Alberta are families that are committed to Agriculture for the long haul.  If you are in the Calgary area or just need a really great holiday plan to attend the 2010 Calgary Stampede or one in the near future.  You won't be disappointed.