By: Reginald Tiangha

You may have heard about it leading up to Stampede.  You may be wondering how it could possibly work.  You might even be curious on what the taste experience will be like.  However, you (and/or your friends) may not be willing to fork over some $$ just to find out, and even if you were, you may be hesitant on using yourself as a guinea pig.

So, how can you possibly find out what all the hype is about without trying to swindle a sample or a taste from a stranger or the food vendors?  Well don’t worry, because Reggie’ll Try It!

Today’s food item:  The deep-fried jelly bean. (more…)

Well its the last day for Pool B then it will be wild card sat. for 6 of us.  Hopefully not me, I have placed all three days. I split 3/4 the first to days and won fifth yesterday, Todd Suhn has $10,000, Lee Graves has $9000, Dean Gorsuch has$8,500 and then i have $7500 and with a win to day i  should be in on championship Sunday.

The weather at the  rodeo this year has been less than desirable, it has been cold, rainy, and just not much fun.  But it could be snowing and i still would be here running at the money the Calgary Stampede puts up. What a great rodeo and committee, the ground is great considering the way the weathers been.  The crowds have been good. 

Hopefully the weather will turn today and it will warm up and the sun will shine. 

Thanks for reading

Luke Branquinho

Chuckwagon drivers sign autographs

Stop by the GMC Tent located near Agrium Ag-tivity for chuckwagon driver autographs. Signings are daily from noon to 1 p.m.

Big names on stage

Kenny Chesney performs tonight at the Pengrowth Saddledome. Joe Diffie hits the Nashville North stage at 9 p.m. The Coca-Cola Stage has big acts tonight with Karl Wolf, Elise Estrada and Kreesha Turner all taking the stage with the first show starting at 7:30 p.m.

Heavy Horse Pull Competition

The Heavy Horse Pull Competition is an exciting event featuring true working horses pulling up to five times their bodyweight. This action-packed event demonstrates the power and skill of these magnificent horses.

Hungry?

Try one of the Stampede’s 2,000,000 mini-donuts sold on Park each year.

New “Must Sees”

This year’s new Lions Groceries for Life lottery gives the winner $700 a month for 20 years. Also don’t miss Les Vitamines. This utterly hilarious pair of juggling acrobats has made it their mission to dazzle audiences of all ages with their extraordinary technical abilities and burlesque-style staging.

On Stage for Friday, July 10, 2009

Nashville North: Joe Diffie 9 p.m.

Coca-Cola Stage: Karl Wolf 7 p.m., Elise Estrada 8:30 p.m., Kreesha Turner 9:30 p.m.

Saddledome Plaza Stage: Treaty 7 Native Dancers and Les Vitamines (show times throughout the day)

Today’s Rodeo Results

http://cs.calgarystampede.com/events/rodeo/results/

Tonight’s GMC Rangeland Derby Race Results (available after midnight)

http://cs.calgarystampede.com/events/chuckwagon-races/results.html

The 2009 edition of the GMC Rangeland Derby has been nothing short of spectacular. Remarkable skills, horsemanship, desire, and a touch of reckless abandon have all been on display around the “Half Mile of Hell.”

The onslaught of rain has created a track that’s been sloppy, dangerous, and ridiculously exciting to watch.

An interesting battle that is taking place going into race night 8 is the one between veteran driver Kelly Sutherland and the rookie, Obrey Motowylo. The drivers are mere seconds apart on aggregate times and the final nights should be a pretty great thing to watch as these two go at it for the big time money that the winner will take home in the end.

Kelly is a 10-time Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Champion and a 10-time World Champion Chuckwagon Driver.Kelly is a 10-time Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Champion and a 10-time World Champion Chuckwagon Driver.Sutherland is a 10-time Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Champion and a 10-time world Champion Chuckwagon Driver. Motowylo on the other hand, is making his first ever appearance at the GMC Rangeland Derby and is a relative newbie on the WPCA circuit.

Everyone expected Sutherland to be at the top of the pile but few predicted Motowylo to be competing for anything other than the Orville Strandquist award for Top Rookie Driver……oh how things can change in a hurry. Coming into night eight, the two are battling for top spot, top money, and maybe most importantly of all, the bragging rights for an entire year of winning the biggest prize and The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.

By: Heather Ilsley

This year most people are watching their pennies a little more than usual.  I decided to see if I could still enjoy Stampede but stick to a budget of $25 while doing it.

Sounds ambitious doesn’t it?  Well, there are a few tips and tricks that’ll make your Stampede experience a little more wallet friendly.  I rounded up two partners in crime for this challenge as they wanted to save money at Stampede too!  We agreed to a couple of ground rules.  We’d bring water bottles with us and would try to see new things instead of doing the same things we do every year.

Our first stop was a pancake breakfast. We used the Flapjack Finder app for our iPhone and navigated our way there in no time!  Heading to the grounds on a full stomach was a good idea as we had lots of energy and weren’t as tempted by those darn mini donuts.

Total cost – $11 each (We checked out the deals on the Stampede website and saved $3 each on gate admission.) (more…)

Day 3 for Pool B was actually better than expected after last night’s rain.  It was rather cool outside, but the arena conditions weren’t bad and there were fast times and high scores in every event.  Tammy Fischer smoked through the barrel pattern once again to win the round.  A few of the horses ran a little scared, more than likely from the previous days poor conditions.  It takes some horses a few runs to get their confidence back after a bad go around the barrels.  I put my horse, Repete in this category.  She is only 6 years old and not seasoned in the world of rodeo yet.  The ground has been completely different each of out three runs so far.  That being said, she still placed 4th today for another $2500 check.  I was not thrilled with her run, but am proud of her for trying.  This is a lot to ask of a horse her age and she is a trooper!!!  So far we are 5th  for total money won in our pool, so if we don’t kick it up a notch tomorrow we will be running on “loser Saturday” as the cowboys are calling it!!!  Thanks again to the committee here at Calgary for working at making the conditions safe for us contestants.

I got to watch some wagon races last night and meet some people who were watching them for the first time.  It is amazing how we get sucked into the excitement of them.  There is so much going on at one time on the track…20 men, 32 horses, 4 wagons…all fighting for the lead!!!  The crowd certainly does love it and its easy to see why.

I have also been enjoying my share of fair food since I have been here.  My favorites?  Mini Donuts and Pineapple whip.  I haven’t been out and about in the city yet.  I think I am still wore out after a busy 4th of July rodeo run and it has been nice relaxing in the trailer at night…well, trying to.  I am parked right next to the backstretch of the track so there is a lot of noise.  The upside is that I can watch the wagons come around the corner in the races!

If you’re reading this and not here to experience the Calgary Stampede for yourself, YOU ARE MISSING OUT!!!  It really is the greatest outdoor show on EARTH!

By: Justin

There is no doubt that the Stampede puts on a great rodeo. The stock and cowboys are all top notch.  However the rodeo is more than just a rodeo…it’s ONE BIG PARTY!!! The atmosphere is undeniably electric with everyone in the grandstand looking to have a great time and meet new friends. Where else can you be sipping wine with dignitaries then turn around and slam a beer with the guy that just rode the horns off of a two thousand pound farm animal to the tune of 90 points!!!  Everyone from politicians, to cowboys, to city slickers, to that special someone you met last night in Nashville North can be seen taking in the rodeo. Stampede is not complete without a trip down to the afternoon grandstand and if not for the rodeo, go for the party and the people watching. I guarantee you will not regret it! (more…)

By Nicole Mosher

Looking for a little Western Culture without boots? The youth Stampede Talent Search is a great event with some serious talent. Hosted by Beezley (radio personality), this high caliber event in the plush seating Boyce Theatre (yes, a great place to go to let those feet recover) add some serious entertainment value for your Stampede dollar! The competition takes place all week at 7:30pm (except Wednesday) as well as additional performers at Jaycee Park and the Window on the West Stage throughout the daytime. I was really impressed, and I’m sure you will be too. Swing by to pick your favorite and cheer them on through the week.

Auditions for the competition took place in the spring. Seventy contestants were chosen to compete during Stampede for cash prizes.  Judges select 28 semi-finalists for Thursday and Friday night, and 14 Finalists on Saturday night. (more…)

No wonder everybody loves this rodeo. It is a favorite for every contestant here. Everyday I get to rope for lots of money, and they pay the top five out of ten guys. The last two days have been good for me, I was able to win 5th both days and earn $3000.  My family has a great tradition here also. My grandfather competed here in the 1920′s and won the Bareback Riding and Bull Riding twice each. In fact he gave me the saddle that he won in 1923. My father also roped calves here all through the 1970′s and 1980′s. I am very proud to compete at the Calgary Stampede and I appreciate everyone that takes part in the production.

See you soon

DEAN

By Sarah

One of the best parts about walking around the Stampede grounds is the random comings-and-goings of acts, artists and performances. Just yesterday I turned a corner and stumbled upon the Stampede Outrider Band performing for a growing crowd just outside the Dream Home. Playing popular tunes like “Wild Wild West” and “Rebel Yell”, they certainly got the crowd moving!

Well we just passed the midway point of this years Stampede and things just keep changing.  Obrey Motowylo keeps burning up the track, that could be the best outfit on the grounds right now.  There were some costly penalties last night for a few of my drivers, and a few other guys that I am not riding for.  Rae Croteau took 5 seconds last night, but he is still not out of it, and Doug Irvine took 3 seconds which really set us back.  We ran in the mud again, but I think the anticipation of it is worse thatn the actual running through it.  The infield footing was good so all in all, things were pretty good.  I see my good friend Dustin Gorst hobbling around on crutches, which is amazing in itself.  Dustin has been the top CPCA outrider that past few years, and he survived a brutal wreck here about 2 weeks ago.  He was run over by 2 wagons, broke his femur on one leg and shin bone on the other.  He is lucky to be alive, so we can all thank our lucky stars for that, the thought of it makes me cringe.  Whats funny about chuckwagon competitors is when you get hurt, which will happen eventually, the first thing you do is thank the Good Lord, and the second thing you do is try to figure out how quick you can get back on the track again.  I know it is driving him nuts to have to sit and watch, but he will be back, that man is a cowboy.  Another guy who defines tough is Chad Cosgrave.  He broke his back this winter, and nobody expected him to even be close to riding this year, but, there he is back in the saddle like he never missed a beat.  I know he is still hurting, but you will never hear him complain.  I guess we all take Ron David’s chuckwagon prayer to heart, when it says “the life we choose and the life we live.”  I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Thank You. 

By: Heather Ilsley

There’s no question that the rodeo is one of the more popular things to do during Stampede. It’s pretty exciting to watch the cowboys/cowgirls compete against the clock and each other. I decided to check it out and brought a friend who has never seen the rodeo before.

His first question was “Are these guys crazy?”  And, to be honest, sometimes I think they are! Rodeo is a sport with a high injury rate and you’ve got to be pretty brave to get on the back of a bucking horse, hang on for dear life with one hand, all while making sure your technique and style is impressing the judges. (more…)

Entertainment

Reba performs at the Pengrowth Saddledome tonight and Terri Clark is putting on a show free with admission on the Coca-Cola stage at 9 p.m. Also on the Coca-Cola Stage are some favourite children’s characters including a Playdate with Max & Ruby, Miss Spider and Bananas in Pyjamas hosted by the Fairly OddParents at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Hide your Deep-Fried Oreos, the Cookie Monster will be at Jaycee Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.

Rodeo

Rodeo continues today at 1:30 p.m. with all six major rodeo events including Wild Pony Racing. In Wild Pony Racing, teams of three youngsters have a blast as they take to the arena in a timed version of the Stampede Horse Race.

Western Art Auction

The Western Art Auction features 85 pieces of original art by Canadian and American artists including the magnificent newly-unveiled piece by Don Oelze that inspired the 2010 Calgary Stampede poster. The auction begins with a light buffet dinner at 5 p.m. in the Palomino Room in BMO Centre. The bidding begins at 6:30 p.m.

Heavy Horse Pull Team Auction

Today at 7 p.m. in the Victoria Pavilion of the Agriculture Building, bidders have a chance to become a Stampede event supporter. Winners of the auction will have their name displayed on the chosen team as they compete for the title of Grand Champion in The Big Top.

All Canada Sheep Classic

Three hundred head of sheep from across Canada will begin competing for top honours in their breed and for supreme titles. The Market Lamb classes are from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Victoria Pavilion of the Agriculture Building.

Music

Friends, family and music-lovers will come out and cheer on Calgary’s newest up-and-coming country talent as they compete for the title of the Calgary Stampede’s first “Nashville North Star”. Performances start at 6:30 p.m.

Hungry?

Try the Calgary Stampede’s new cricket or alligator pizza, located in the “pizza on a stick” booth on the Midway. Served daily at 7 p.m.

New “Must-Sees”

The Winners of NBC’s Superstars of Dance Competition, “The Groovaloos”, are performing daily at 1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. in the Bell Getaway.

New for 2009 is the Freestyle Extreme Motocross show that performs daily in the Midway Circus (located east of the Big Four Building). Crazy jumps and stunts have been thrilling packed audiences. Showtimes today are 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 8:30 p.m. An additional show at 10:30 p.m. has been added for Friday and Saturday night only.

On Stage for Thursday, July 9, 2009

Nashville North: Jason Blaine 9 p.m.

Coca-Cola Stage: Terri Clark 9 p.m.

Saddledome Plaza Stage: The USA Break Dancers 5:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Today’s Rodeo Results

http://cs.calgarystampede.com/events/rodeo/results/

Tonight’s GMC Rangeland Derby Race Results (available after midnight)

http://cs.calgarystampede.com/events/chuckwagon-races/results.html

By Brenna Trann

I made my way into the Ag-tivity in the City tent. Besides getting to see the cutest piglets and chicks, I actually learned  about Alberta farming. Yes the tent is set up for kids interactive learning, but I found it pretty interesting. Where else could you try your hand at “milking” an artificial cow.

Image from Calgary Stampede on Flickr

Last night at the grocery store I had the Alberta Pork producers slogan running thru my head: Alberta Pork from Farm to Fork – then I had to pick up some ribs for supper. Hmm baby back ribs.

By: Heather Ilsley

Stampede can seem a little overwhelming and crowded to veterens and newbies alike. One of my favorite places to go to escape the craziness and, let’s be honest, the rain – is the Western Oasis.

Located in Halls D & E of the BMO Centre, the Western Oasis is a calming place to take a break during a long day on park.  With low lighting, fountains, lots of plants, and many places to rest your feet, the Oasis really lets you recharge and relax. (more…)