Guy Weadick Days Event Guide

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* Gates open at 6 pm * Chuckwagons at 7 pm * Beer Gardens Open

* Gates open at 5 pm* Beer Gardens Open

* Rodeo at 6 pm Chuckwagons to follow

* Bull Riding under the Lights

* Gates open at 5 pm* Beer Gardens Open

* Rodeo at 6 pm * Chuckwagons to follow

* Bull Riding under the Lights

* Gates open at 3 pm * Chuckwagons at 4 pm * Beer Gardens Open

* Gates open at 1 pm

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* Rodeo at 2:30 pm * Bull Riding * Chuckwagons to follow

* Beer Gardens Open

Saturday, June 16

Friday, June 22

Saturday, June 23

* Night Cabaret - Julian Austin, 9pm–1am, at the Western Financial Arena

Sunday, June 17


Sunday, June 24


CHUCKWAGON

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Heat Sponsors

Chuckwagon Drivers

Kurt Bensmiller Jerry Bremner Colt Cosgrave Rae Croteau Jr.Cliff Cunningham Troy Dorchester Jordie Fike Darcy Flad Troy Flad Rick Fraser Dave Galloway Jason Glass

Gary Gorst Logan Gorst Chad Harden Tim Haroldson Barry Hodgson Doug Irvine Jason Johnstone Reg Johnstone Larry MacGillivrayCodey McCurrach Roger Moore Obrey Motowylo

Grant Profit Cody Ridsdale Evan Salmond Hugh Sinclair Kelly Sutherland Kirk Sutherland Mark Sutherland Mitch Sutherland Luke Tournier Chanse Vigen Mike Vigen John Walters

Although there are many legends pertaining to the history of chuckwagon racing, all seem to be some variation of the following: Back in the dusty days of old, cowboys lived and cooked out of the back of their chuckwagons that would accompany the cattle drives. Each cook would be responsible for feeding a dozen or so cowboys. The faster the chuckwagon got to the next campsite (best sites were closest to the water source) the faster the cowboys assigned to that wagon would get to eat. Naturally, bets and challenges would ensue. On occasion, to speed up the process, a few cowboys might even assist the cook and the night wrangler in loading the stove and cook tent, hence the ‘outriders’ who follow their wagon around the track in today’s Chuckwagon Race.

Each chuckwagon is pulled by four horses (an outfit), and is accompanied by two outriders. There are four wagons in each race (heat). When the starting horn sounds, one outrider (the leaderman) releases the lead team; the other throws a rubber tub (stove) in the back of the charg-ing chuckwagon before both riders mount their horses. Each wagon and its outriders must cut a figure 8 pattern around their respective barrels. They then proceed to race around the track. A chuckwagon’s running time ends when the nose of its first horse crosses the finish line. Each outrider must finish within 150 feet of its wagon or the driver will be penalized one second per late rider. Final times are tabulated based on running times plus any penalties incurred during the race (i.e. 1 second penalty for a false start, 5 seconds for knocking over a barrel). In this sport, penalty seconds can cost drivers thousands of dollars, and in some cases, championships.

Chuckwagon History

Chuckwagon Basics

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* Gates open at 5 pm* Rodeo starts at 6 pm* Beer Gardens Open

* Ladies Barrel Racing* Bareback* Tie Down Roping* Steer Wrest ling

* Saddle Bronc* Team Roping* Bull Riding under the Lights

* Gates open at 2 pm* Rodeo starts at 2:30 pm* Beer Gardens Open



From the earliest days, ranch hands have challenged one another at everyday tasks (similar to today’s Ranch Rodeo). The first rodeos saw top horsebreakers from various ranches ride to see who could ‘stick’ a bronc the longest, while ropers tossed loops to see who could catch and tie a steer or a calf the fastest.

* Gates open at 5 pm* Rodeo starts at 6 pm* Beer Gardens Open




Friday, June 22

Saturday, June 23

Sunday, June 24

Rodeo History

RODEO



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Guy Weadick was born in Rochester, NY in 1886. His natural gift for showman-ship dexterity in roping turned him to vaudeville and rodeo. In 1906 he married Grace Maud Bensell (1883-1951) also known as Flores (or Florence) La Due, also a trick rider and roper.

In 1912 he gained the financial backing of the Big Four: A.E. Cross, Patrick Burns, George Lane, and Archibald J. McLean, and staged the first Calgary Stampede. Weadick also managed the next Calgary Stampede, held in 1919. It became an annual event in 1923 and Weadick managed it from then until 1932 when he was fired over a dispute with the Stampede Board.

In 1920 he bought a ranch in Eden Valley west of High River. He turned the Stampede Ranch into a dude (guest) ranch in the 1930s and entertained many famous peopleincluding Edward, Prince of Wales. In 1950 the Weadicks moved to Arizona for his wife’s health. She died in 1951, and in 1952 Weadick married Dorothy “Dolly” Mullins (1890-1985) who had also competed in the first Stampede. Guy Weadick died the follow-ing year (1953) and was laid to rest in High River beside his wife Flores LaDue Weadick was inducted into the Canadian Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1982. Guy Weadick School in Calgary was named in his honour in 1979. (source: Glenbow Museum)

The High River Agricultural Society was incorporated in 1907 to promote agriculture in the foothills of southern Alberta. What began as a horse rac-ing society is now complete with racetrack, fair grounds, an indoor arena and conference centre on the outskirts of High R iver. T he mandate of the Society is to promote agriculture as a business and way of life while providing events that celebrate its western roots, from horse and chuckwagon racing to professional rodeos and the Little Britches Rodeo.

In 1920, master showman Guy Weadick introduced chuckwagon racing and rodeoevents to HRAS. His association with the Society lasted only one year but by 1989 the Guy Weadick Memorial Rodeo was a tradition at High River and Districts Agricultural Fair Grounds. In 2011, the Society adopted the name Guy Weadick Days.

High River Agricultural Societywww.hragsociety.ca

Photos by Allen Gimblett

Who Is Guy Weadick?

the high river agricultural society

A Routes Media Special Publicationwww.routesmedia.ca

Documents

Guy Weadick Days Event Guide