CALGARY – This year’s winners list from the Calgary Stampede reads like a who’s who of All-Americans.
From the rodeo to the champion livestock auctioneers, U.S. contestants dominated.
Ralph Wade of Greely, Colo., was judged the best auctioneer at this year’s competition. For his chatter, he received $5,000. Reserve champion was Jim Knopp of New Mexico.
Following this competition, a charity auction was held to sell the champions of the market livestock shows. This year, eight lots and one donated lot raised $45,651 with a large share of the money going to Alberta’s air ambulance service, Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society. Money was also donated to the Western Heritage Centre at Cochrane, Alta.
Read Also
Charges laid after cattle theft
Saskatchewan RCMP lay two charges against a man after six cattle went missing.
The grand champion steer classic was a Simmental entered by Michael Buchen of Lougheed, Alta. The reserve steer was a Maine Anjou entered by Kevin Bahler of Lundbreck, Alta.
Sold in the champion ring along with a donated Texas Longhorn steer, bids on these animals earned $10,925 for the air rescue society. They were purchased by a consortium of 10 local cattle and oil producers who join each year to buy the champions for charity.
The champion pens of five steers and heifers from the Alberta Fed Beef Expo were also offered for sale. The entries in this contest must represent three distinct colors per pen of five.
The grand and reserve champion pen of steers was won by Terry and Marg Giles of Airdrie, Alta. The champion group was purchased for $1.40 per pound by XL Beef.
XL also bought the reserve pen for $1.16 per pound.
The champion pen of five heifers came from W. A. Simpson, of Claresholm, Alta., and sold to Cargill Foods for $1.14 a pound. The reserve heifers were from Echo Springs Ranching Company of Granum, Alta. Norwich Packers were the successful bidders at $1.09 a pound.
At the $50,000 rodeo, one Canadian collected top money. Darrell Cholach of Okotoks, Alta., won the bareback round. Top calf roper was Shawn McMullan of Texas. Best saddle bronc rider was Australian Glen O’Neill. Californian Vince Walker won the steer wrestling round. Scott Breding of Montana won the big money in the bull riding event. Ward Willard of Vulcan, Alta., drove the fastest chuckwagon to win $50,000. His total winnings at the Stampede were $65,503.
