The time of year and the start time may have changed, but rodeo fans can expect much of the same at the 60th annual Daines Pro Rodeo.
The COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to several rodeos earlier this spring, including the Daines Pro Rodeo which typically goes ahead in June.
Not to be deterred, organizers have moved the event to Sept. 2, 3 and 4, and is set to take place once again on the Daines Ranch between Innisfail and Penhold.
“We just want to continue the tradition that Jack started. We’d love to be able to take this rodeo another five-plus decades and hand it down to our kids, and theirs,” said Kyle Daines, chair of the Daines Ranch Pro Rodeo committee.
Often an afternoon show, the rodeo will also take place at night, under the lights. The Daines rodeo arena can hold close to 2,000 spectators.
“There’s nothing like the atmosphere and vibes of a night rodeo,” Kyle said.
Rodeo events will include bareback riding, saddle bronc, barrel racing, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping and bull riding. There will also be a nightly Rodeo Cabaret Dance after each rodeo performance.
The rodeo was originally brought to life in 1961 by saddle bronc rider Jack Daines with the help of his brothers Jim, Norman, Glen, Ivan, Franklin and Danny. Jack was inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2009.
“It was really important to us to carry on tradition and this year (after COVID) our main goal was just to have a rodeo. Next year we will begin growing it as large as possible,” said board member and organizer Rayel Daines.
Rayel, Kyle, Wyatt, Danny and Michael Daines have worked extensively for the rodeo to go ahead in 2021 after COVID-19 restrictions postponed the 2020 event.
“There’s 40 Daines’ within six miles of the rodeo grounds, this rodeo means so much to our family’s legacy and the amazing people of our community, ” Rayel said.