The 2024 season is underway for the Foothills Cowboy Association.
This year’s slate of six FCA events began on the Victoria Day long weekend with the Village of Caroline’s 90th annual Bighorn Stampede.
FCA President Andy Hall explains how things have progressed for them as they move past the pandemic years and try to get back to normal in 2024 and beyond. He says “I would say not as close as we would like it to be. We have lost a few rodeos that committees just haven’t come back from since COVID and we have lost some contestants that have done other things as well besides rodeo. So things are down a little bit but slowly continuing to improve.”
Hall discusses their importance to rodeo in Alberta as the Foothills Cowboy Association. He says “We’re a stepping stone between amateur rodeo and professional rodeo. Just a place for contestants to hone their skills and get some experience and graduate to the pro level.”
Hall was asked about the importance for them to have so many long standing events in the communities they tour through each year. He says “It’s everything to us. That’s what this association was built on was committees and that, that’ve been putting these rodeos on for, like you said you know, I think the minimum rodeo we’ve got is over 25 years old. You know, these guys have been doing it a long time and they’ve stood behing the FCA and we stand behind them. It’s a great way to promote rodeo in Alberta.”
The second and third events of the year for the FCA are coming up this week.
The 47th annual edition of Pete Knight Days is set for this Friday, June 7th at 6pm and Saturday, June 8th at 2pm at the Crossfield rodeo grounds.
The 70th annual Water Valley Stampede will include FCA performances on Saturday, June 8th and Sunday, June 9th. Start time both days is 1 o’clock and the action will all take place five miles west of Water Valley.
Listen to 96.5 CKFM’s Community Hotline conversation with Andy Hall.