The sound of thundering hooves and the clanging of wagons will be filling the Bonnyville Rodeo Grounds.
The Spirit of Bonnyville Chuckwagon Races is making its annual return from Friday, June 28 to Sunday, June 30. Hosted by the Bonnyville Ag Society, the three-day event will see Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association (CPCA) drivers and their teams competing for the championship belt buckle.
One of those competitors is Bonnyville-native Danny Ringuette, who currently sits ninth in the CPCA standings.
”Bonnyville has got one of the best facilities for chuckwagon racing, I would think, and to be in front of a hometown crowd that has a big chuckwagon community (is great). It’s pretty exciting to hear people cheering your name when you come past the finish line, that’s for sure,” Ringuette said.
Being able to cheer on local drivers is one of the reasons why Carol-Ann Cameron, ag society sponsorship coordinator, believes the weekend is a highlight of the summer.
”We’re going to cheer them on because you know them, they’re local, and it’s really cool,” she explained.
Kicking-off the weekend will be the Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce’s Chili Cook-off. Participating groups will set-up at the Town of Bonnyville parking lot, all hoping to cook up a pot of award-winning chili. Residents will be able to taste the creations for themselves from noon until 2 p.m., with all of the proceeds going to the Bonnyville and District SPCA.
Once chili cravings have been fulfilled, the chuckwagons will hit the track. Gates open on Friday and Saturday at 5 p.m., with the races starting at 7 p.m. On Sunday, everything starts at 1 p.m.
The band Branch One Eighty Three will be taking to the stage on Friday evening at 9 p.m. to keep the party going at the rodeo grounds. Local group Mid Life Crisis will be entertaining attendees on Saturday.
Corey Styba, ag society president, said the weekend showcases the traditional wagons and a sport that has stood the test of time.
”The idea was, somewhere along the line, it came to a point when you had to move in a hurry. They would fire up the wagon, and away you go,” he noted, adding a friendly competition to see who could go the fastest was how the chuckwagon races were born.
Whether you’re a lifetime fan or new to the sport, Styba invited everyone to make their way down to the rodeo grounds.
”Come out and enjoy a historical event that’s been part of Bonnyville for ages,” he encouraged. “If you’ve never seen chuckwagons, it’s definitely something to come see and enjoy. If you’re a follower, come out and cheer on the local boys along with the other racers in each of the heats that are showcasing their driver talents as well as their horsepower talents.”
Ringuette added, “It’s such a great sport, and I think everybody likes watching it. It’s good for the community. We put a lot of time and effort into this, and it’s good to have people come out and cheer us on.”
For more information, visit the Bonnyville Ag Society on social media or at www.bonnyvilleagsociety.com.
