Our popular Stampede Packs will be back again for the 2011 edition of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth

Here is a sneak peek at the NEW 98.5 Virgin Radio Pack  for 2011.

Stampede packs can be purchased in the BMO centre, Hall A, Stampede Park during the festival, July 8 – 17, 2011

Post a picture of yourself or a family member wearing a past years “stampede” pack on the Calgary Stampede facebook page and you will be entered into a draw for free 2011 CS Stampede Pack.

Post your picture by May 6th, 2011, drawing to be made on May 9th, 2011

Stay tuned for a sneak peek and a chance to win a NEW CJAY 92 Pack

School is finally out for the summer, which means the countdown to Stampede is officially on the forefront of my mind these days! Now that I have more time on my hands, I am occupying my days mainly with riding, riding and, well…more riding! In the morning I will jet out to give my own horse a workout, and more evenings out of the week are now occupied with exercising the Stampede Prince’s (Kansas, Snoopy and Hawk) to make sure everyone is in peak condition for when the 10-days rolls around. However, all of us not only need to be ready for our Grand Entry at the Stampede, but the rodeo season that will be kicking off very soon! Make sure you keep an eye out for the royalty at local rodeos in the area this spring…more likely than not you will see us galloping in and giving a wave!

In other news, we are incredibly excited to be attending an event this Thursday at A.E. Cross School for the reveal of the Parade Marshall for this year’s Stampede Parade! We have been diligently hounding our new President and chair of the board, Mike Casey, to give us a clue as to who will be chosen…Unfortunately, even having a white hat and sparkly crown could not crack this President! He did assure us, however, that he was very excited for the announcement and thought that this year’s Marshall would be very well received. We are all really looking forward to Thursday.

Stay tuned to see who will be chosen! As well, our royalty schedule is getting busier by the day, so expect many adventures to come!

Shot from Aggie Days - Storybook corner!

This week at Stampede Park features a performance from Lil Wayne at the Saddledome, plus returning favourites like the Spring Festival of Crafts and the Calgary Woman’s Show. Also this weekend, auditions will be held for the 2011 edition of the Calgary Stampede Talent Search.

Details on that and more here:

• Calgary Stampede Talent Search Auditions: The Stampede Talent Search is an annual talent competition held during the Calgary Stampede in July. Performers ranging in ages from 6 to 21 perform almost every night of Stampede in disciplines as varied signing, dancing, musical theatre and contortionism. Auditions for the 2011 edition of the Stampede Talent Search will be held in the Boyce Theatre on April 29 and 30, as well as on May 7 and 8. For more information about the auditions and how to register, see here.
• Lil Wayne: Grammy award-winning artist Lil Wayne will be bringing his brand of music to the Scotiabank Saddledome this week with his I’m Still Music tour, along with special guests Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Travis Barker and Mixmaster Mike. Friday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Saddledome, and tickets for the show are available through Ticketmaster.
• Spring Festival of Crafts: For 24 years, the Festival of Crafts has wowed the public in the Fall and now, the spring event is timed perfectly for visitors to find the best products to usher in the new season. For three days only, see the works of over 130 of Canada’s best and most talented artists, artisans and designers. April 29 to May 1 in the Big Four Building. Tickets for the show are available at the door.
• Calgary Woman’s Show: Discover all that is fabulous in fashion, food, fitness and fun for all the layers of your life at the Calgary Woman’s Show. Learn about the various services and products that appeal to women and are available in Calgary and the surrounding areas. Featuring special guests such as Michelle Stafford who plays Phyllis on TV’s The Young and the Restless and Teresa Giudice, star of TV’s The Real Housewives of New Jersey. April 30 to May 1 in the BMO Centre. Tickets available at the door, and advance tickets available online.
• Stampede Casino: Open all year-round and featuring all your favourite slots, tables, a 24 hour poker room, as well as excellent food and special events throughout the year, there’s always something going on down here so why not drop by for a visit? Here’s a taste of what’s happening this week:
  • UFC 129: Catch UFC 129 and see Jake Shields take on Montreal’s own Georges St-Pierre for the UFC Welterweight title in the Big Sky Showroom. Featuring three large screens and a complementary snack buffet with $10 admission, doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets available from Stampede Casino Guest Services.
  • Weekly Specials: Every week features specials to make your stay at the Stampede Casino more enjoyable. On Sundays, table and slots players can enjoy Afternoon Tea featuring assorted teas, coffee and biscuits from 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays are Neighborly Tuesdays where if a player wins a hand play slot jackpot of $250 or more, their neighbor to the right wins a prize as well. On Wednesdays, patrons aged 55 and over can take a Garden Getaway in the Grasslands Cafe where they can enjoy a $3.99 soup, salad, and sandwich from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Finally, Thursday is Ladies Night at the Centre Bar and the 1912 Bar & Grill as ladies can enjoy half-price wine and appetizer specials from 4-8 p.m.
  • Players Zone: Every home game night, come be a part of the action with six themed blackjack tables, Flames ticket giveaways, food and drink specials, and much more.

Make sure to sign up to become a Stampede Insider for first-access to exclusive news, contests and other insider information, and be sure to keep an eye on our official Twitter account at @calgarystampede and our official Facebook fan page for giveaways, special announcements, and more! Finally, make sure to visit our website and continue to tune into the official Stampede Blog to learn more about all of the things happening Here. All Year.

Only 73 days to go until The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth!

Last weekend our sponsor Eamor’s Saddlery opened their new location in Nanton, Alberta. We were so excited to attend the grand opening and enjoy a beef on the bun and visit with JD and the gang. It was a great turn out, despite the lovely spring snow we have been getting lately. Members from the Nanton community and southern Alberta came to send their best wishes and check out the new store.

In the store we admired all the photographs of the past Calgary Stampede Royalty with their Eamor’s saddles. At the end of May we have our photo shoot with another sponsor T Dawson Photography, which will soon be up on the wall next to other royalty. The hard work JD puts into each our saddles is astonishing, and we greatly appreciate the beautiful craftsmanship. He showed us the tools he uses and explained how he carves all the flowers and designs on the leather of our saddles. Now each time I ride in my saddle I think about all the hard work that was put into it.

It was a pleasure to visit with our sponsor and we will have to come out again soon. Hopefully we can have the BBQ outside this time!

Unfortunately Jenna could not join us because she had an exam that morning

Three grade two classes from Christ the King Catholic School in Calgary visited Aggie Days this year at Stampede Park as part of a school field trip. The week after their trip, the students were asked to share what their favorite parts about Aggie Days were, and they were happy to share them with us.

Here are a few of their responses:

Cheyenne writes: “My favorite thing at Aggie Days was when I saw the rodeo because there were horses and bulls.”

Skylarr writes: “My favorite thing at Aggie days was the rodeo. I learned that chicks need warmth. I learned that bulls can be aggressive.”

Tamesh writes: “My favorite thing at Aggie Days was rodeo and saw the girl on the horse.”

All together, 46 school children submitted their thoughts on what their favorite part of Aggie Days was. If you’d like to see everything the children had submitted, check out the Flickr set below:

Special thanks to all of the grade two students at Christ the King Catholic School for participating, Principal Mike Bolder for giving us permission to do the project and for helping with coordination, grade two teachers Wilma Delos Reyes, Ada Abinales and Irene Maitz for allowing the students to participate, and Calgary Stampede Promotion committee volunteer Mark Brennan for helping to pull all of it together.

The girls and I had an incredible time at Aggie days last week. We were invited to be part of the mini rodeo the Aggie Days committee puts on for students that come to enjoy the exhibition. It was extremely exciting for us as it was our first grand entry as royalty. I had such a build up in my head to what it would feel like hearing my name being called while galloping around an arena in front of tons of people, but the reality of it was WAY better. Unfortunately we were not able to ride our beloved princes, Kansas, Snoopy, and Hawk, but we still had fun riding three great Calgary Stampede horses. After the rodeo finished we were able to go into the arena and hand out some of our post cards and sign autographs for the students in the audience. This was great for two reasons: 1) being around kids is always awesome – especially everyone who came out for Aggie Days 2) I get to legitimately sign “Princess Stephanie” over and over again . On the Saturday of Aggie Days we showed up in the morning to the always fantastic Queen’s Alumni Giddy Up breakfast. The four of us were asked to pose with the kids who came out while also being able to hold a baby goat or lamb. The little animals were so precious that I literally needed to remind Eva to share as she didn’t want to let go. We were also able to walk around and enjoy the exhibits and I was actually blown away by how incredible the lay out was, and all the different stations they had. If you did not make it out to Aggie Days this year I definitely recommend you make an effort for next year!
On a personal note, when I was travelling a couple of years ago I met a woman who was a teacher that had taught in many different developed countries. She told me that it shocked her to find out how many students did not realise that their dinners were coming from animals and not just from the grocery store. This story had always bothered me as it is so important (now more than ever) for our youth to have a full understanding of where our food comes from. After seeing Aggie Days for the first time and being amazed at the hard work and dedication that goes into it, I can honestly say I have never felt more proud to be part of such an incredible organization that is able to put on an event that values animal care, education, and entertainment. It is these moments and hands on learning that will stick with students forever to make them educated and self aware adults. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers that put on Aggie Days and make it such a wonderful success!

Highlighting the week ahead at Stampede Park is the AACCA Antique Guns & Military Collectors Show.

• AACCA Antique Guns & Military Collectors Show: This annual show is Canada’s largest and finest. Featuring antique and modern firearms, knife makers, military and related collectables, and the return of the popular indoor laser range. In the BMO Centre, April 22 to 23. Tickets available at the door.
• Stampede Casino: Open all year-round and featuring all your favourite slots, tables, a 24 hour poker room, as well as excellent food and special events throughout the year, there’s always something going on down here so why not drop by for a visit? Here’s a taste of what’s happening this week:
  • The Silvertone Devils: Single Release Party: Local band The Silvertone Devils will be hosting a party to launch their latest single with special guest Scotty Hills. April 21 in the Big Sky Showroom. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from Stampede Casino Guest Services.
  • Weekly Specials: Every week features specials to make your stay at the Stampede Casino more enjoyable. On Sundays, table and slots players can enjoy Afternoon Tea featuring assorted teas, coffee and biscuits from 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays are Neighborly Tuesdays where if a player wins a hand play slot jackpot of $250 or more, their neighbor to the right wins a prize as well. On Wednesdays, patrons aged 55 and over can take a Garden Getaway in the Grasslands Cafe where they can enjoy a $3.99 soup, salad, and sandwich from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Finally, Thursday is Ladies Night at the Centre Bar and the 1912 Bar & Grill as ladies can enjoy half-price wine and appetizer specials from 4-8 p.m.
  • Players Zone: Every home game night, come be a part of the action with six themed blackjack tables, Flames ticket giveaways, food and drink specials, and much more.

Make sure to sign up to become a Stampede Insider for first-access to exclusive news, contests and other insider information, and be sure to keep an eye on our official Twitter account at @calgarystampede and our official Facebook fan page for giveaways, special announcements, and more! Finally, make sure to visit our website and continue to tune into the official Stampede Blog to learn more about all of the things happening Here. All Year.

Window on the West is thrilled to welcome these country recording artists to our stage this year. Here’s the line-up:

7:30 PM July 8th: Jamie Warren

6:30 PM July 9th: Tim Hus

6:30 PM July 11th: Duane Steele

6:30 PM July 13th: Matt Masters

6:30 PM July 14th: Trevor Panczak

6:30 PM July 15th: Gil Grand

6:30 PM July 16th: Hey Romeo

6:30 PM July 17th: Jake Mathews

The WOW stage is located in the Western Oasis Hall in the BMO Centre – be sure to come and check us out at 2011 Calgary Stampede.

There are so many events that take place on Stampede Park year round that continue to grow and change as each year passes. One such event is The Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo. I did a facility tour with the event organizer earlier this week and I’m so excited for the new additions they’re bringing to the show in June.

Last year, they were in BMOC Hall D & E; this year they have expanded to BMOC Hall A – C, the Boyce Theatre and the Stampede Corral. What a growth in space – they’ve added almost 80,000 square feet!! So what are they doing with all this additional space? They’ve moved many of their panel discussions to the Boyce Theatre; I think this will be a great change for attendees as they will be able to feel really up close and personal to the panel speakers. I’m most excited for the addition of the Corral. Here they will be hosting their main events such as a panel discussion with William Shatner (wow!) and it sounds like they may even be holding a roller derby! I also found out yesterday that they’re planning pyrotechnics for some of the events in the Corral (leave it to comic fans to come up with a way to incorporate fire and sparks into a celebrity panel discussion!!). I can’t wait to see how they’re going to wow the crowd and host some pretty exciting guests and events. With just over two months to go, I can’t even imagine what other wild and crazy ideas this event will bring! For more information on The Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo, check out their website, http://www.calgaryexpo.com/.

On a side note, I crossed paths with another group doing a tour – the production team for Tiesto. This concert will be taking place in BMOC Hall A – C tomorrow and I am amazed at the production going into this event. I’ve heard there will be a huge video wall as the stage backdrop and also a pretty complicated light show. With about 7,000 people filling 150,000 square feet, this concert is going to be huge! I can’t wait to see it!

I had the pleasure of taking my cousins down to Calgary Stampede Aggie Days this year and they had the run of using my camera for the day to take pictures of what they saw during our trip. Here are some of our pictures from our day down at the Park:

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If you’ve finished turning your stomach inside out on the rides, enjoying the edible treats of the Calgary Stampede Midway is a must.

The Midway is full of classic fair food as well as strange culinary creations…what will be your new favorite in 2011?

Sausage Hoagie

Colossal Onion –“One large onion which is cut to resemble a flower, breaded and deep fried”

Deep Fried Pop Tart

Moowich – “Chocolate chip cookie, ice cream, chocolate Chip cookie”

Doughnut Burger – “Glazed donut, hamburger and fixings, Glazed Donut”

Samosas – brought to you by Calgary’s own Rajdoot restaurant

Turkeytini -“Turkey, mashed potatoes, maybe stuffing, gravy and a little cranberry sauce on top all served in a martini glass”

Pork chop-on-a-stick – Mmmmm…..

Chicken Cheese Steak Sandwich

Kubie Korn Balls – “Kubasa slices dipped in batter and deep fired till golden brown”

Pork Tenderloin Sandwich – “Deep fried pork tenderloin cutlet about the size of your head on a bun”

Calamari

Kubie Korn Dog

Mac & Cheese Pizza

Gourmet Pretzel Sticks

10 different flavors of Poutine – BBQ chicken, Mexican, Italian, Greek, as a start.

See you out on the midway!!!

With another successful Aggie Days in the books, all eyes are set to Stampede 2011, July 8-17 (only 87 days away!). But that doesn’t mean that there won’t be any cool events and attractions at Stampede Park between now and then! Highlights this week include the Youth Employment Summer Hiring Fair, the Body Soul & Spirit Expo, and a performance by Tiësto.

Details on that and more here:

• Youth Employment Summer Hiring Fair: Looking for a job this summer? If you’re aged 15-24, The City of Calgary will be holding their annual Summer Hiring Fair on Tuesday, April 12 from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Big Four Building. Make sure to bring your resumé as over 80 employers from different industries and trades will be on hand hoping to fill positions. Admission to this event is free.
• ISA Calgary Show & Conference: ISA Calgary is Canada’s largest Instrumentation, Systems, Automation event, offering two days of insight into the world of automation and controls. With over 200 exhibitors, ISA Calgary offers a chance to see new technologies and innovations available in this niche market. April 13–14 in the BMO Centre, admission to this event is free with registration.
• Body Soul & Spirit Expo: Calgary’s original holistic wellness event, the Body Soul & Spirit Expo is a Holistic, New Thought and Spiritual Lifestyle Expo that showcases products, service and resource for growth and fosters the individual quest for wholeness, health and self understanding. With 110 exhibitors as well as lectures, presentations, featured workshops and special events, explore all the possibilities in your quest to create a happier, healthier, more conscious and successful life. April 15–17 in the Big Four Building, tickets available at the door.
• Tiësto: Recently voted “The Greatest DJ of All Time” in a Mixmag poll, Dutch musician and DJ Tiësto will be bringing his unique sound and brand of entertainment to Calgary this week as he performs at the BMO Centre on Saturday, April 16. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
• Pet Industry Trade Show: The Calgary Pet Industry Trade Show is unique to Alberta’s pet market and features manufacturers and distributers from across the pet industry. See and learn about the latest products and trends from pet industry leaders. April 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Big Four Building, Hall A. Admission to this trade show is free, but only open to pet industry businesses only.
• Stampede Casino: Open all year-round and featuring all your favourite slots, tables, a 24 hour poker room, as well as excellent food and special events throughout the year, there’s always something going on down here so why not drop by for a visit? Here’s a taste of what’s happening this week:
  • Weekly Specials: Every week features specials to make your stay at the Stampede Casino more enjoyable. On Sundays, table and slots players can enjoy Afternoon Tea featuring assorted teas, coffee and biscuits from 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays are Neighborly Tuesdays where if a player wins a hand play slot jackpot of $250 or more, their neighbor to the right wins a prize as well. On Wednesdays, patrons aged 55 and over can take a Garden Getaway in the Grasslands Cafe where they can enjoy a $3.99 soup, salad, and sandwich from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Finally, Thursday is Ladies Night at the Centre Bar and the 1912 Bar & Grill as ladies can enjoy half-price wine and appetizer specials from 4-8 p.m.
  • Players Zone: Every home game night, come be a part of the action with six themed blackjack tables, Flames ticket giveaways, food and drink specials, and much more.

That’s all for this week! Make sure to sign up to become a Stampede Insider for first-access to exclusive news, contests and other insider information, and be sure to keep an eye on our official Twitter account at @calgarystampede and our official Facebook fan page for giveaways, special announcements, and more! Finally, make sure to visit our website and continue to tune into the official Stampede Blog to learn more about all of the things happening Here. All Year.

Calgary Stampede Aggie Days 2011 featured a lot of firsts, from the Children’s Corn Maze to Book Corner, as well as Hawk the Miniature Horse reading to children.

Held in the BMO Centre with related attractions in the Boyce Theatre, Stampede Corral and Big Top between April 6-10, I was lucky enough to be able to pop in here and there during the course of the week to check things out.

Here are some of the photos I was able to take, along with some of my thoughts if you click through to see the actual Flickr set.

Now that Aggie Days 2011 is over and done with, it’s nothing but clear sailing to Stampede 2011, July 8-17. Only 88 days to go!

I don’t know what I was expecting when I signed up for a ‘roping’ class offered to Calgary Stampede volunteers. To be honest, I didn’t really give it much thought. I didn’t have much to do that night and another volunteer on the Promotion Committee insisted it would be fun.

This is my first year as a volunteer, but by no means will it be my first Calgary Stampede. Although I’m not a native Albertan, this will be my sixth year enjoying the Calgary Stampede. I’ve been to the rodeo. I’ve seen trick roping competitions and demonstrations. But I didn’t actually think I’d be learning to rope things. Things AND people.

Art untangles his rope and prepares to pass on his roping wisdom.

Sure enough, that’s what we learned. Art and Neville, two of the more experienced ropers on the Promotion Committee, showed us the ropes. Literally. We got to choose from a selection of old catch ropes (not a ‘lasso,’ we learned. Using the term ‘lasso’ is for the most tenderfoot cowboys and cowgirls.) From there, we were taught how to properly hold and handle our ropes as well ask some tricks for making the rope more manageable – the ropes are stiff and tricky to bring back in once thrown out.

Neville shows us how to create perfect loops in our rope.

For the rest of the evening, we got familiar with the rope – we worked on handling and throwing, roping unsuspecting office chairs that didn’t see it coming. At the end of the night we had the option to buy our ropes to take home for practice. And you can bet I did. My goal is to rope some of you critters during the Calgary Stampede parade in July and at Calgary Stampede events coming up this spring and summer. So keep your heads up and watch out.

But first, I need to practice. Lots and lots of practice!

Oh, and one more note – Three months from today is the Calgary Stampede Parade. Get in the spirit this weekend by checking out Aggie Days! Hopefully I’ll see you there!

One could say that the life of a cowboy is extreme enough. But the Calgary Stampede is really taking it to the next level with the Calgary Stampede Cowboy Up Challenge on July 9-11, 2011.

The “Extreme Cowboy Race,” one of the fastest growing equine sports. The extreme cowboy race is a timed and judged event. Horse and rider race through a series of obstacles designed to push them both out of their comfort zones. Sort cattle, shoot arrows from the back of the horse, jump logs and other obstacles, run through plastic curtains, carry hay, go through water crossings…the list goes on.

A rider myself, I have competed in events similar to this (maybe just a bit less extreme) and I can tell you, from experience, this is a lot harder than it sounds.

Native Texan Craig Cameron is the man behind the sport. He actually started with a reality TV show, challenging cowboys from across the US to participate in races at his Double Horn Ranch in Bluff Dale, TX. The TV show sparked interest across North America. In 2009, the first year of competition, the Extreme Cowboy Association (EXCA) held 70 events in 22 states.

Cameron is in Calgary this week to host a clinic and demonstration for Canadian cowboys (and cowgirls) interested in competing in this fast-paced sport. Check out the demonstrations during Aggie Days on April 9 & 10 at the Stampede Corral.

This is the second year for the Calgary Stampede Cowboy Up Challenge. Click the link below for a clip of the 2010 winner, Glenn Stewart and Genuine Jet Smooth.

2010 Calgary Stampede Cowboy Up Challenge Winner Glenn Stewart