Swift Current will be cowboy and cowgirl central this coming week during the four-day Canadian Cowboys’ Association Finals Rodeo on October 18 to 21.
The highlight event on the CCA calendar will provide fans with a chance to watch the best of the best competitors in seven rodeo events, with the top 12 contestants vying for top honours over five rodeo performances.
Swift Current City Council proclaimed the week of October 15 to 21 as Canadian Cowboys’ Association Finals Rodeo Week in order to showcase the importance of this event to the community.
The initial Finals Rodeo in 2016 attracted 15,200 people, and event organizers are anticipating 2017 to have a bigger impact in the community.
“The event put Swift Current on the entertainment map. This year’s event promises to be equal or stronger than last year,” explained CCA Finals committee members Robin Poirier during a presentation to Swift Current City Council on October 10.
The Canadian Cowboy’s Association is the largest semi-professional rodeo association in Canada, boasting nearly 1,000 members who compete at 60 different sanctioned rodeos across Western Canada.
A field of just under 100 competitors will be in action during the five performance event which Poirier describes as “the ultimate annual competition of the rodeo season”.
He saluted the behind the scenes efforts which have gone into making the Finals Rodeo a reality again in 2017.
“There is considerable work involved in marketing, advertising, promoting, sponsoring, producing and getting the Innovation Credit Union iPlex converted from a hockey rink into a rodeo arena, all in a short time frame. And then turning the facility back into a hockey rink in two days.”
Poitier also tipped his hat to the many event sponsors who are helping make the four day Finals a memorable one for participants and rodeo fans.
“Sponsorships are very critical and very much appreciated. They allow us to keep this event’s ticket prices as low as possible. We extend a very sincere thank you to all our sponsors.”
Organizers have also taken the opportunity to promote the sport to a new audience. This year they will again be holding a Rodeo 101 event before the afternoon Novice/Junior rodeo which will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday. The first year attracted 300 students to this opportunity to learn more about rodeo, and this year an expected 650 students are expected.
“We describe the rodeo events and the safety concerns for the livestock. And then we bring in the junior and novice contenders, and then they put on a rodeo,” explained Lenora Bells, Production/Marketing for the Canadian Cowboys Association Finals Rodeo Committee.
“We hope to answer a few questions and just encourage them to enjoy the sport.”
The second annual Southwest Showcase Tradeshow, which boasts a total of 26 exhibitors, will be hosted at the iPlex on October 19 from noon to 9 p.m., October 20 from noon to 9 p.m., and again on October 21 from noon to 7 p.m.
Volunteers can still sign up to help with the event, and advance tickets can still be purchased at Swift Current City Hall. Ticket sales and event information is also available online at http://swiftcurrent.ca/what-s-new/canadian-cowboys-association-finals-rodeo/tickets.
CCA Finals Rodeo Schedule:
Wednesday, October 18
12:30 p.m. – Pre-Rodeo info.
1 p.m. – Novice/Junior Rodeo (free admission)
5 p.m. – Peavy Mart Rodeo Uncorked (until 7 p.m.).
5 p.m. – Budweiser Saloon (until midnight).
7 p.m. – CCA Finals Rodeo (Family Night, 12 and under free with an adult).
Thursday, October 19
Noon – Southwest Showcase Tradeshow (until 9 p.m.).
12:30 p.m. – Pre-Rodeo info.
1 p.m. – Novice/Junior Rodeo (free admission)
5 p.m. – Peavy Mart Rodeo Uncorked (until 7 p.m.).
5 p.m. – Budweiser Saloon (until midnight).
7 p.m. – CCA Finals Rodeo, Performance #2.
Friday, October 20
Noon – Southwest Showcase Tradeshow (until 9 p.m.).
12:30 p.m. – Pre-Rodeo info.
1 p.m. – Novice/Junior Rodeo (free admission)
5 p.m. – Peavy Mart Rodeo Uncorked (until 7 p.m.).
5 p.m. – Budweiser Saloon (until midnight).
7 p.m. – CCA Finals Rodeo, Performance #3.
Saturday, October 21
Noon – Southwest Showcase Tradeshow (until 9 p.m.).
1 p.m. – CCA Finals Rodeo, Performance #4.
4 p.m. – Buffet (until 6:30 p.m.).
1 p.m. – Budweiser Saloon (until 1 a.m.).
7 p.m. – CCA Finals Rodeo, Championship Performance.
9 p.m. – CCA Rodeo Cabaret (Kinetic Park Stockade, featuring Sweet Tequila).
