The 77th Cloverdale Rodeo and the 134th Country Fair officially opened May 15 with the annual rodeo luncheon.
Hosted by the Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce, the luncheon is the official kickoff to Rodeo Weekend.
Rodeo producer Kynan Vine, Mayor Brenda Locke, city councillors, members of the Cloverdale Rodeo Association, members of the business community, other community members, and other dignitaries were on hand in the Stetson VIP Suite in the Stetson Bowl.
Duane and Chase Kesler of Duane Kesler Championship Rodeo Stock were also guests. The father and son duo supply roughstock animals, bulls and bucking horses, to 19 rodeos a year. Cloverdale is always a big event on their calendar. They also supply roughstock for the Calgary Stampede.
Kathy Sheppard, president of the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association (CREA), called the Kesler stock “second to none” and said it elevates Cloverdale as a rodeo.
“We trust them,” she added. “They are part of our association. They are part of our family.”
She also said she was “excited” to get rolling on what will be her third rodeo as president of the association.
“In 24 hours we'll have a rodeo performance going on (in the Stetson Bowl) and, hopefully, we’ll have 5,000 people in the stands for that,” Sheppard said. “We have Steven Lee Olsen on the main stage tomorrow night, Trooper on Saturday, and Corb Lund on Sunday.”
She added CREA has also enhanced security and safety all over the grounds for this year’s rodeo.
Sheppard said the Association has come a long way in three years after missing three consecutive rodeos and country fairs.
“After the COVID break, we have a new board of directors,” she explained. “We’ve got our volunteers back—we weren't sure they were going to come back—but they've come back fantastically. We have over 300 volunteers.”
She said she was happy to know so many support the rodeo and happy to know both Cloverdale and the city are behind the rodeo association.
Sheppard credited the CREA team and all the volunteers, contractors, business partners, and sponsors they work with as keys to the success of the rodeo and fair and its strong return after three years away.
Rick Hugh, 1st vice-president of the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association said at the luncheon the Stetson has new bucking chutes this year. They’ve all been freshly painted with Cloverdale Rodeo logos and colours.
“One more special sign has yet to go up,” Hugh noted. “It will go up over the main gateway [into the arena] and it’ll be a tribute to both Will Senger and Jamie Rogers.”
He said the Mustang Lounge is new and will be a VIP area. The lounge is set up right next to the alleyway (where barrel racers enter the arena ground) and right next to the arena fence.
“In the Mustang Lounge, you’ll be right on top of the action,” he added.
Hugh, who used to be president of the Cloverdale Rodeo Youth Initiative Foundation (CRYIF), said the foundation is also running a 50/50 draw during the rodeo and fair. CRYIF gives out scholarships to students based on an applicant’s community service works. The lion's share of their bursary money comes from the 50/50 draw. Tickets can be bought online at cloverdalerodeo.com or at the rodeo and fair.
Hugh said since the inception of CRYIF several years ago, the Foundation has provided more than $80,000 in scholarship money to local high school students as well as financial support to youth-focused programs in the Lower Mainland.
Two examples of the youth-focused programs CRYIF supports are “You Wear It Well,” which provides graduation wear to high school students who face financial challenges and “Hold High The Torch,” a project developed at École Salish Secondary School to recognize veterans for their service to Canada throughout the entire year and not just on Remembrance Day.
More than 130 people attend the luncheon—by far the biggest number in recent years. Scott Wheatley, executive director of the Cloverdale Chamber, thanked luncheon sponsors Elements Casino and B.C. Lottery Corp.
“We were able to offer a great price for the lunch because of their sponsorship, which attracted even more people from Cloverdale and the surrounding areas,” Wheatley said. “That allowed more people to come out, welcome the rodeo, and give it a good push and a good start."
