36 Unknown Calgary Stampede Facts For Rodeo Lovers

Are you a fan of cowboys, finding some opportunity or the other to dress like a cowboy?

Well, aside from Halloween, you possibly couldn't dress up as such. Suppose you were to wear it to your school or place of work, people would probably laugh at you.

So when else can you be a cowboy? Imagine a 10-day event, where you can not only dress up as a cowboy, but no one will laugh at you for shouting 'yee-haw!' On top of this, you get to witness a rodeo, exhibition, and festival.

Does this sound like a dream come true to you? Then you must go to see the annual event of the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alberta, Canada! This is held every year in July.

Are you curious to know more facts about the Calgary Stampede?

History Of The Calgary Stampede

Here are some historical facts about the Calgary Stampede that you might not be aware of.

• The Calgary and District Agricultural Society, back in 1886, conducted its inaugural fair. Then three years later, it proceeded to buy Victoria Park.
• 13 years later, it hosted its first exhibition on the purchased land. Gradually, this became an annual show.
• In 1908, the Canadian government declared that Calgary would hold the exhibition, and the exhibition was a complete success.
• Almost a decade later, in 1912, the very first Calgary Stampede took place, which was attended by more than 100,000 people. The first rodeo only lasted for six days.
• The stampede rodeo seemed like a one-time thing only. The only person who thought that the event could provide economic benefit was a businessman named E.L. Richardson. He was the general manager of the Calgary Industrial Exhibition.
• The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, a combined event, was first held in 1923. This event only saw the light of the day because of the financial loss of the Calgary Industrial Exhibition.
• The tradition of pancake breakfasts was started by Jack Morton at the first stampede.
• The first stampede queen, Patsy Rodgers, was elected back in 1946.
• In 1959, the Big Four Building in Stampede Park was opened. This building held the largest exhibition in the city.
• Over the years, after the first Calgary Stampede, the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede were held annually, and it gained profits and suffered losses as per the attendance of people at the event.
• Mostly, the losses occurred were only during the Great Depression.

What happens at the Calgary Stampede?

Read on to learn about what happens at the Calgary Stampede.

• The greatest outdoor show on earth, the Calgary Stampede, holds six events in total, namely the parade, rodeo, rangeland derby, exhibition, midway, and market.
• The first event of this 10-day event is the Calgary Stampede parade. It starts a little before 9 am.
• The marching bands march on the stampede grounds. It also features more than 150 floats and horses from all over the world.
• After the stampede parade, the rodeo event takes place. It is one of the most prevalent and biggest rodeo events in the world. It includes saddle bronc, steer wrestling, bareback riding, bull riding, barrel racing, and tie-down roping.
• The stampede ranch, built back in 1961, is close to a town in Alberta, Hanna. It has been home to many bucking horses and bulls. It is the top producer of rodeo stock. It supplies to southern Alberta as well as throughout the world.
• The rodeo is followed by chuckwagon racing, but officially, it is known as the rangeland derby. In this sport, the chuckwagon is pulled by four horses. Back in 1923, only six teams played in the event.
• The Stampede Grandstand in the Stampede Park is a stadium that can hold around 30,000 people. The rodeo, chuckwagon races, and the Grandstand Show are held here.
• The next event is the agricultural exhibition. The event is not only for the competitions, but it also educates the public. Then, the midway event is conducted, solely for the profits.
• Stampede Park also has the BMO Center, you can find the Stampede Market here.
• The Calgary Stampede Showband, during the greatest outdoor show on Earth, appears more than 100 times to perform.
• Annually, there is the selection of stampede royalty by a contest. A queen and two princesses between the age of 19 and 24 are selected; the candidates must be residents of Alberta.
• Even youngsters take part in the events of the Calgary Stampede as Calgary kidettes.

Who started the Calgary Stampede?

You know that the Calgary Stampede started back in 1912, but do you know who was responsible for introducing the world to this incredible event?

• Guy Weadick is the person responsible for introducing the stampede to the world.
• When Weadick first proposed the idea, it was shot down.
• Had A.E. Cross, A.J. MacLean, Pat Burns, and George Lane, the big four stampede organizers, not contributed $100,000 for the first stampede rodeo, it might not have ever happened.
• After the success of the 1912 stampede, Weadick tried to convince the board to host another event, but they refused.
• The board members didn't even listen to E. L. Richardson, the general manager, who supported the idea.
• After suffering a huge financial loss, this was the last thing the board could resort to, and thus, the Calgary Stampede grew up to be an annual thing.
• Weadick handled most of the work, and in 1932, in rage, he quit after he got into an argument with Richardson.
• The board proclaimed that it relieved him of his duties, which just fueled his anger, and so he sued them. His claim of breach of contract and unfair dismissal was upheld in the court.
• For about 20 years, Weadick couldn't organize or attend the event he gave birth to, but then he was invited as an honored guest.

Importance Of The Calgary Stampede

Have you ever wondered why the greatest outdoor show on Earth is so important? Read on to find out!

• It originated as a desire to preserve and honor southern Alberta's ranching and cowboy history.
• It plays a vital part in raising the tourism of Alberta as more than a million people come to this event each year.
• It celebrates the long-lost western heritage of Alberta.
• It raises millions of dollars each year through the performance of not-for-profit groups for community charity and the Calgary Stampede Foundation.