The World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA) has pulled their Bonnyville event for 2018.
Due to the WPCA's strict policies against racing in communities where the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association (CPCA) races are held, the WPCA announced they won't be hosting an event in Bonnyville this year.
According to Tina Michaud, former chuckwagon chair of the Bonnyville Pro Rodeo and Chuckwagon Association (BPRCA), the Bonnyville Ag Society has taken over the rodeo and chuckwagon events, and was in discussions earlier this year to run both the WPCA and the CPCA for 2018.
The Bonnyville Ag Society signed a contract with the CPCA, resulting in the WPCA pulling their event.
Michaud said the WPCA has been hosted in Bonnyville for the past 11-years, and will not run in the same community as the CPCA due to “sponsorship dollars being spread thin, making it unfair for the drivers in either association.”
“The ag society had a meeting with the WPCA before Christmas where this was made very clear,” Michaud noted.
Ag Society president Marguerite Vallee said, “To dispel rumours that our society didn't want to host the WPCA in July 2018, we would like to advise that it was quite the contrary. Our board did want to host WPCA, however, we were unable to successfully negotiate a contract.”
This announcement follows the merge of the BPRCA and the Bonnyville Ag Society.
“Our new board, which was elected at the end of October 2017, will continue to host primarily agricultural and related activities as mandated by the agricultural society. Events at our grounds will include chuckwagon races, pro-rodeo, 4-H Show and Sale, fall fair, and the farmers' market,” explained Vallee.
The CPCA is scheduled for June 8, 9, and 10 of this year.
“We intend to bring the pony chuckwagons with a larger rodeo for the last weekend in July,” Vallee said. “Our organization is excited about the future, and we hope everyone will continue to support our events.”
