Editor’s note: This article has been updated with a clarification around submissions.
Williams Lake Stampede Association president Court Smith is defending recent decisions to hire a new stock contractor and go with a poster featuring an Alberta rodeo image.
After 30 years with local contractor C+ Rodeo, the association will be using C5 Rodeo Company out of Lac La Biche, Alta, confirmed WLSA president Court Smith Tuesday.
“It was a difficult decision to make,” Smith said, noting the Stampede and C+ Rodeos had a three-decade relationship and C+ Rodeos was part of the Stampede’s growth and success for all those years. “We are grateful for their efforts.”
The replacement of C+ Rodeos came to light last week over discussions on social media surrounding WLSA’s 2024 Stampede poster, although Smith said the decision was made in December.
Plans were in the works to acknowledge C+ Rodeo publicly, but those were “hijacked” by the heated social media discussion, said WLSA director Melissa Normandin.
“We still plan to acknowledge them,” she added.
Smith said the decision to go with a new contractor was the result of trying to attract CPRA cowboys from rodeos in Alberta with top-rated livestock.
“We’ve spent a number of years trying to solve this question and we had to ensure we get the contestants to come here.”
This week, Roy Call of C+ Rodeos declined comment other than to say he wishes the best for the Williams Lake Stampede.
“I’ve enjoyed my time with the Stampede and I wish them well.”
Founded in 2010 by Vern McDonald C5 is located in Lac La Biche, Alta and Helena, Montana.
Smith said Virgil, one of C5’s bareback horses, is world renown and he believes cowboys will want to ride him.
“We are very excited that the Stampede will have something of a new look and hope people will give it a chance.”
Another decision that raised eyebrows was that WLSA featured an image taken at an Alberta rodeo for the 2024 Williams Lake Stampede poster.
When asked if they anticipated so much push-back from the community about the poster, they said they did not, noting this is not the first time a Stampede poster will be featuring an image from another rodeo.
The 2010 poster featured former Williams Lake resident Lee Graves steer wrestling at another rodeo.
Normandin said the slogan “Smoke Show” depicted on the 2024 poster was submitted by the artist, Lucy Sager.
Since the 90s, the poster has been chosen through a community contest and the WLSA engages the community to provide submissions.
From the submissions this year, which included local submissions, the one chosen was the best depiction of rodeo and was a big enough resolution to be reproduced for merchandise, Normandin said.
“It depicted what our event wants to convey for anybody who buys a poster or a postcard. From our submissions that was, honestly, given that criteria, the one that resonated with our board and our committee.”
Smith said the selection committee wanted to move away from the trend of the latest posters, featuring specific personalities and maybe feature something that speaks to the rodeo and animal athletes.
“That’s what the focus or theme was for this year and it was the best one we got.”
When asked if the WLSA will stipulate the poster should feature the Williams Lake Stampede, Normandin said the board will be reflecting on how to do things better and in a way that works well for the community.
“That might be deciding the community contest has run its course, or that could be being very stringent on the criteria. We will have to review what we do moving forward, for sure,” she said.
Historically the first five posters, featuring a red truck, were commissioned by the WLSA in conjunction with Miller Brewing Company.
“Those are in my opinion iconic of the Williams Lake Stampede poster,” Smith said.
It changed into a contest when the WLSA could no longer afford to commission an artist.
Artists whose image is selected today do win a cash prize and some tickets.
READ MORE: Williams Lake Stampede Association unveils 2024 poster
READ MORE: Outgoing Williams Lake Stampede Queen acknowledged as ‘wonderful advocate’
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