The Jasper Heritage Rodeo is back for it鈥檚 87th year.
The annual event kicks off Wednesday, Aug. 14 with a stick pony parade that begins at the Jasper Activity Centre at 10 a.m.
That night, the excitement will continue with the Jeans and Beans Affair, a Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce fundraiser at the Jasper Legion.
This is the second year for the popular shindig that serves up down home Western beans, salads and buns, while country tunes pour out of the sound system.
鈥淭he event is meant to be a bit of an apres rodeo,鈥� said Pattie Pavlov, executive director of the chamber. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a big dance floor and we鈥檒l have the biggest, brightest and best of country music being played. Basically we want to metaphysically transport Cook County to Jasper.鈥�
The rodeo will start that same evening and will run each night from Wednesday through Saturday, beginning at 7 p.m.
There could be up to 70 cowboys and girls in town competing in everything from bareback to saddle bronc and steer wrestling. Each night there are seven events with different riders competing for the best four-day score.
On the last evening of competition, Bill Boyd a long-time cowboy who competed in bareback will be inducted into the Canadian Cowboy Hall of Fame. Boyd has been coming to Jasper since 1983 both to compete and to help out as a pick-up man鈥攖he person who helps cowboys off the animal after they鈥檝e ridden.
鈥淐owboys get asked where they want their induction ceremony to be held and [Boyd] chose to have his in Jasper. So that鈥檚 special,鈥� said Gail Lonsberry of the rodeo committee.
Following the induction and events Saturday, there will be a dance in the curling rink to wrap up the 87th heritage rodeo. Taking the stage to ensure everyone two-steps the night away will be Canadian country artist Blake Berglund. Between sets, DJ Tommy K will keep the tunes flowing, so dancers don鈥檛 have to miss a beat.
During the dance, two tickets to the Canadian Finals Rodeo will be given away to the ticket holder who鈥檚 number is drawn. The CFR is held in Edmonton in November.
The prize also includes a tour behind the chutes.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a really neat tour,鈥� said Dallas Klassen, president of the rodeo committee. 鈥淵ou get to see what the cowboys go through when they鈥檙e getting ready to get on their animal.鈥�
Rodeo tickets will be on sale Wednesday through Saturday. They鈥檒l be available in the lobby of the Athabasca Hotel from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. they鈥檒l be on sale at the door.
The purpose of the rodeo is to raise funds for other community organizations. On Saturday, some of the funds will be donated to the local Cancer Action Group. 鈥淎nd if we come up in the black, we鈥檒l be donating the rest back into the town,鈥� said Klassen.
The rodeo is volunteer run and could always use more people to lend a hand. To find out how to help out, email Klassen at [email protected].
Nicole Veerman
[email protected]
