After the Saturday night Prescott Rodeo performance, I rushed home, unpacked, repacked and left for the airport. I was headed to Calgary, Canada for the Calgary Stampede. The Stampede experience starts as soon as you set foot on Canadian ground. Every airport employee had a cowboy hat on, a live band was playing country music at the baggage claim, and ladies in western outfits were going around stamping people with Stampede stamps while saying “This is going to be hot…. tssssssssssss!” as they pretended to brand us.
I am not going to lie– I have heard so much about the Calgary Stampede, I thought there was no way it could live up to the expectations I had for it. Could it really be the greatest outdoor show on earth? I can now excitedly proclaim that it lived up to all of my expectations. It wasn’t just a rodeo, even though the rodeo itself was incredible. But then you add in the motocross, the chuck wagon races, the dancers, the fireworks, the music, the food, the art show, the trade show, the singers, the rides, the pig races, the dog shows, the exhibits, the stagecoaches, the hypnotists, the performers…… it was a conglomeration of some of the best entertainment in the world, an entire cross-section through which everyone can be entertained.
I was so excited they let me bring a chaperon. I chose to have my dad come along and we sure had a blast. We met up with Miss Rodeo Utah 2008 Renae Cowley, Miss Rodeo Montana Lesli Furniss, Miss Rodeo Kansas Meredith Holland, and Miss Teen Rodeo Kansas, Kara Hackney.
Each day, it was a struggle to decide what to watch next. With about ten different stages or arenas, there was too much to choose from. Miraculously, we were able to direct our feet from destination to destination despite our ambivalence towards which of the incredible events we were going to choose to witness next.
We were able show our sorry pancake flipping skills at a pancake breakfast, through which 20,000 people were fed for free. There we also tried to atone for the pancakes we mutilated bu line dancing to the live band.
We also made out way downtown to enjoy some square dancing. Man, those Calgarians sure know how to party! They had me tuckered out by the second dance! I think square dancing is in my blood. The skills were lying dormant within me, and they were obliged to be released within the bounds of the imaginary square of our square dance.
The one thing we made sure see each day, the rodeo. The stands alone were breathtaking and there were like 30 bucking chutes! Contestants like Lindsay Sears, Will Lowe, Justin McDaniels, Fred Whitfield, and stock like Grated Coconut made for some good scores and times. Not even the torrential downpour got me to unpeel my eyes from that rodeo arena.
One of the mornings, my dad and I drove to Bamf, the mountain town about an hour out of Calgary. It was absolutely gorgeous. The breathtaking views and the crisp mountain air were very rejuvenating.
Overall, it was incredible experience. One of my favorite things about it was seeing how involved the entire town was. Many people have work and school off for the stampede. Those who do have work wear cowboy hats. Everyone had so much pride in the Stampede. That was one thing that really drove home the idea that the Calgary Stampede might just be the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Hoofprints in History 