‘Rebooting our western spirit’: Cochrane Rodeo returns
Posted Sep 4, 2021 7:00 am.
Last Updated Sep 3, 2021 1:14 pm.
COCHRANE, Alta. (660 NEWS) — A Labour Day tradition is back for the 54th year this weekend in Cochrane.
“(The Cochrane Lions Rodeo is) the largest community event in the town of Cochrane, and everybody’s jumped onboard, supporting us,” said Cochrane Lions Rodeo Chairman Kevin Firkus.
He explains, much like other major rodeos, including the Calgary Stampede, they will have all of the rodeo events you’d expect.
“Bull-riding, your saddle bronc, your break-away roping, your calf-roping, bull-dogging,” he said, adding there will also be mini broncs, muttin’ bustin’, and wild pony races for children.
Firkus says there will also be breakfasts hosted throughout the weekend and a whole host of other entertainment to enjoy.
“We have the Canadian Mounted Shooters coming in, we have the Man of Vision Bronc riding, which is an old-fashioned bronc riding, we’ve got Indigenous dance troops coming in,” he said.
“It’s not just a rodeo, it’s the entire town that’s doing things to reboot.”
Firkus says this event will provide them with a major boost as they look to continue supporting the community in the future.
“I think it’s very important for all of the communities. I keep going back to rebooting our western spirit. We’re still in a pandemic but lets start moving forward,” he said, adding 100 per cent of their proceeds will go back into the community and surrounding areas.
“So this, to us, is very important to have a community event and then at the end be able to help a bunch of people out.”
