"Let's rodeo!"
This call to action was the signature phrase always delivered by the late Dorine Kuzma at the start of every rodeo event in St. Paul over the years. Kuzma was a force to be reckoned with when it came to rodeo in this community, going above and beyond to ensure the event's success and so it seems only fitting that "Let's rodeo!" is the theme of this year's rodeo parade, according to Doug Drolet, president of the St. Paul and District Agricultural Society.
Yes, it is rodeo week in St. Paul. The Lakeland Rodeo Association is back in town bringing the best of the best cowboys, cowgirls and rodeo stock to the Clancy Richard Arena for five action-packed performances.
Hosted by the ag. society, the LRA Finals never fail to disappoint contestants and spectators alike. The sport of rodeo is still very much alive and well in Alberta and over the next several days will draw literally thousands of people to this community.
Drolet sees the event as an annual homecoming for the community, drawing people back to their hometown to reconnect with old friends and neighbours.
He'll also tell you there's a heck of lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to make it all come together. The ag. society just signed another three-year contract with the LRA, 2019-2021, which comes with a huge commitment of time and money from the volunteer organization.
"It’s a significant investment both time and money. We do have a three-year contract, so we do have to make sure that we can fulfill that commitment," Drolet said. "It’s a very busy time for us, of course. It's important to us because we are a volunteer association and we do work to make things better in St. Paul. For us it’s a way of giving back to the community. "
Drolet said with a volunteer group of about 70 people from the ag. society and others in the community stepping in to help with preparations, along with the Town of St. Paul and the County of St. Paul, the LRA Finals quickly become a community-wide effort.
Support from the business sector to the ag. society is vitally important to the success of the rodeo.
"The business community is onside. We always have some dropping off, but we always have additional ones coming on board, so we usually hold our own. Through these tough times, the last two or three years, it has been challenging but we’ve had great support, I’ve got to say that.”
Time never fail to be the biggest challenge in getting everything together.
"Time is a factor. There’s a lot of hours involved. We want to make sure we get things on time. Everybody is busy this time of the year. In our group, we have a lot of farmers so they’re doing their own thing as well. So they have to juggle that to make that fit with what’s going on with rodeo."
All the effort has a payoff and that, according to Drolet, is the people involved, from the volunteers to the contestants and the fans.
St. Paul Mayor Maureen Miller said the collaboration between all the parties is the key to success and commends everyone involved for the hard work that goes into the 101 details necessary to pull it off, describing them as the "champions of our community."
Miller is more than ready to rodeo this week, having "cleared my entire calendar" for the week. She said the Town will be putting in the "winning chili" in the chili cook-off Thursday and the secret ingredient, which apparently isn't so secret, is bacon.
"The challenge is on."
Brent Sandmeyer, St. Paul and District Chamber of Commerce president, said the LRA Finals and all the events taking place during Rodeo Week create a sense of community pride and they're a lot of fun.
"It's a first-rate event that everybody should be extremely proud of," Sandmeyer said. "It brings customers into town and it's a win-win for our businesses."
LRA president Cory Dunlop would agree the welcoming spirit of St. Paul is a huge factor in the LRA's partnership with the community.
"The atmosphere, the town, the ag. society, they all really get behind the rodeo. You know the rodeo's in town as soon as you drive into town."
The LRA's top 10 point-getters in each of the events through the season, 110 cowboys and cowgirls, will be competing for championship honours this week and Dunlop said the line-up offers some new faces and a few returning rodeo champions.
"We've noticed a lot more changes coming into the finals. A lot of the names haven't been there before or haven't been there for a couple of years."
Dunlop, who hails from the Boscombe area, expects to see some tough competition in all events. While he's competing in the team roping event, he said spectators should seem some strong competition in the steer wrestling event.
"Our steer wrestling competition this year is going to be really good. The whole lineup is a really tough field. We have some past CFR (Canadian Finals Rodeo) contestants in it this year, so that should be a good event to watch."
Rodeo continues to be popular sport in Alberta with the LRA experiencing an increase in membership sales this year putting the organization at about 400 competitor members strong.
"It's alive and well," Dunlop said. "Obviously with the economy, we've had some challenges the last few years. On our end, we are looking at thinks, thinking outside the box, to capture the attention of the younger generation."
Dunlop said he's pleased the LRA and ag. society reached another three-year agreement.
"I'd like to thank the town and the ag. society for their support and the Lakeland (area). We look forward to seeing them for another three years."
