NORTH OR SOUTH, ALBERTA RODEO DESTINATIONS ABOUND
April 29 , 2009

Whether you’re in you’re northern or southern Alberta this weekend, there’s sure to be plenty of rodeo action within driving distance.

The 40th annual Leduc Black Gold Rodeo is set for a weekend full of rodeo and family entertainment at the Black Gold Centre in the small city just south of Edmonton, Alta. Seating is limited due to construction taking place onsite, and with tickets just $15 for reserved seating, they’re getting picked up fast. Tickets for each performance are available through Ticketmaster.

Doors to Friday and Saturday’s rodeo performances open at 5:30 p.m., with the performances themselves set to roll at 7 p.m. Sunday’s performance starts at 2:00 pm.

Be sure and check out the Black Gold Rodeo’s website for more details on the all the other exciting activities scheduled to compliment the rodeo and to help them celebrate 40 successful years.

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Celebrating 52 years of rodeo this spring is the southern Alberta town of Stavely, about an hour and half’s drive from Calgary.

From May 1 through 3, the Stavely Indoor Pro Rodeo will see all the efforts of countless volunteers come to fruition.

“It just goes from generation to generation, and they keep coming out so we can keep putting this event on,” said Stavely Indoor Pro Rodeo committee chairman Kim Cochlan about the 30+ volunteers who help make the rodeo a reality. “Everybody has their own job, and they go ahead and do it, so it sure makes my job a lot easier.”

According to Cochlan, planning the rodeo begins just after Christmas and includes deciding which events will be featured, organizing the entertainment, and reaching out to sponsors.

Friday and Saturday’s performances begin at 7:30 p.m., while Sunday’s starts at 2 p.m. And with fan-favourite Dennis Halstead clowning around the arena, laughs should be as plentiful as all the thrills and spills of the rodeo athletes themselves.

“He’s very good. This is the third year we’ve had him, actually, and he’s got so many bags of tricks that you never see one twice, so he’s been awesome. He went to the school in Stavely here the other day and brought down his pet Brahma bull and I’m sure the kids really enjoyed that,” he said, agreeing that pre-rodeo appearances like this is an excellent way to get the younger crowd excited about rodeo.

Last year’s rodeo drew a nearly full house for both the Friday and Saturday performances.

 “Our presale tickets are going pretty well, and anybody who buys a presale ticket is entered into a draw for the Frontier Lifestyle Centre in Claresholm, Alta., so we’re hoping that boosts our presale. Plus, they’re $5 cheaper than at the door.”

Tickets will be available for $20 each at the door or in advance at the following locations: Cattlemen's Corner & Cowboy Country in Nanton, Alta., Foothills Ford & Frontier Western in Claresholm, Alta., Country Depot in Okotoks, Alta., Stavely Town Office & Stavely Hotel or online at www.stavely.ca. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.

The Stavely Indoor Pro Rodeo and The Leduc Black Gold Rodeo are both dual-approved by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) and the Professional Cowboys Association (PRCA).

“I think it really helps us advertise and show that we really want to help our pro Canadian cowboys that are trying to make it to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Vegas,” Cochlan said. “And who knows? Maybe the 12 or $1,500 they can win at our show might help get them there.”