The Calgary Stampede and Exhibition is rich in tradition and is also known for the cowboy atmosphere that takes over the city, everyone breaks out their cowboy boots and Stetson hats for 10-11 days of good fun. This year (2006) begins with the Calgary Stampede Parade on July 7. Dedicated volunteers and supporters from the Calgary community present the World’s Largest Western Parade as the “World’s Greatest Outdoor Show” to more than 350,000 en route spectators and a global television audience.

In 1912 the great Stampede was born from Guy Weadick’s vision. Guy was a famous hard-working cowboy and vaudeville performer who appeared in the traveling Wild West shows that were popular around the world in the early 20th century. He was a man with a dream of celebrating the romance of the old west. The Stampede we enjoy today has evolved from Guy’s vision. He was successful because he understood that as much as things change, we need to believe in how things were. Every year Stampede reminds us that Guy was right; We fundamentally believe today in the same Western values ​​as our grandparents did in 1912.

In the early 1920s, the Show portion was added to the Stampede, providing Western farmers and ranchers with a show venue for their horses and cattle. This was also later expanded to include all farm cattle, whether two-legged or four-legged. This year, 2006, the agricultural portion of the Expo has been labeled “City Activity Day” to help celebrate Alberta agriculture. Cattle, canola, chicken and even egg producers will be in attendance. You’ll see standing beef, enjoy some Alberta beef, and be able to grab a bumper sticker that says “I Love Alberta Beef.” That should impress the people of Long Island, though perhaps you should exercise discretion when exhibiting in Texas cattle country!

Every year there are hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world who come just for the Stampede and Expo. Among those visitors are several caravans of RVs heading north from the US on the long journey to Alaska. Some of these caravans number over a hundred units of all shapes and sizes and their tour is scheduled to arrive in Calgary the day before the Parade, which is always a Friday, and stay through the weekend, leaving Monday morning.

A highlight of the show is of course the Rodeo. The Calgary Stampede Rodeo pays out some of the largest prize money in the sport, always attracting the best riders and ropers from around the world, and many of its winners have gone on to win the Rodeo National Finals in the fall.

Like any sport, rodeo has its fair share of spills and thrills, talented athletes and unsung heroes. In addition to horseback riding and bareback events, bull riding is always a big draw. The ladies have barrel racing competitions. For comic relief (except for the contestants) there is a wild cow milking event. There are wagon races every night, followed by the Grandstand Show.

In case you don’t know about rodeos, here’s a little “Rodeo 101”. There are two main categories of events, bucking and timed. Bucking off is where most of the thrills, spills and crashes happen. Bucking events cover bareback and saddle bronco riding and bull riding. In all three events, the cowboys hold on for dear life as they try to control the movements of their animal and themselves. By the way, the contestants’ “spurs” were nothing more than a smooth disk and have no effect on the animal. They are used because the rider is judged on the smoothness of his riding and his spur technique as he holds on to a saddle or rope with one hand. These represent half of his points, the other half being awarded for how hard the horse or bull tried to bring him down. To complete the ride, it must stay on for 8 seconds; that’s a long time from the back of a horse or a bucking bull.

Barrel Racing, Steer Wrestling, and lassoing are the timed events at rodeos. Steer wrestling and lassoing are inspired by the real work that goes on every day on the ranch. In steer wrestling, a dazed steer (hit on the rear with a straw hat) is released from his pen. As he reaches the end of his lead, a breaking rope automatically releases the rope from the barrier in front of the cowboy, allowing him to run after the steer on his horse. He eased down the right side of his horse, reaching for the steer. Having seized the horns, he leaves his horse (which is at a gallop) and digs his heels into the ground to slow the animal down. Using the leverage and momentum of the moving steer, the steer wrestler rolls the animal onto its side.

Being fast and accurate with a rope are not the only requirements in Tie-down Roping (also called Calf Roping, but they are big calves!). A successful roper must also be an experienced horseman and a fast sprinter. After lassoing (throwing a lasso, again at full gallop – every rodeo event is done at full gallop!) the tether, the cowboy quickly dismounts as his horse backs up just enough to keep the tension on the rope, runs toward the animal, picks it up and lays it on its side and ties any of its three legs together. Once he completes his tethering, he remounts his horse and allows the lasso rope to slack, the animal remaining tethered for six seconds. It is important to note that contestants are fined for any unnecessary rudeness.

For the final timed event, Barrel Racing, the contestants must circle three barrels in the shape of a cloverleaf. Either the rider or the horse can move a barrel, but a five second penalty is imposed if either knocks over the barrel. The fastest time wins in this extremely athletic event for both horse and rider.

The wagon races were taken from the actual cattle drives, when the cart was loaded, the tent would be taken down and the cook would lead his team past the drive to where the herd would spend the night. Sometimes there were two or three ranches driving together. The cooks competed with each other to get the best place to set up camp. Chuckwagon racing at Stampede is advertised as “Hell’s Half-Mile.” Each wagon has its driver, a team of four horses, and four escorts (cowboys riding their horses). There are four wagons, four drivers, 16 horses and sixteen escorts, all vying for the same space by the rail as they gallop around. a half mile track. There is a very loud air horn being blown to start the race, there is an announcer going crazy over the PA system as he calls the race, the chariots and horses are thundering around the track and the crowd is on their feet in the end screaming like crazy. Sound crazy? Yes. Exciting? You have to see it to believe it. There is nothing like that. And in five minutes, the next race is on and it starts all over again!

People travel thousands of miles each year to attend “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.” They will reserve their rooms for next year before they go home this year. It’s fans like these, from near and far, who continue to make the Calgary Stampede and Exhibition what it is.