The West Central Events Centre in Kindersley will soon be ready for its winter programming, the Inter Pipeline Arena ice surface installation starting on Tuesday after cleanup from this past weekend's Professional Bull Riding event commenced on Monday.
After its success in 2024, the Energy Dodge Dakota Buttar Invitational was transformed into a two-night show for 2025 and attached the largest purse on the PBR Canada Touring Pro Division calendar this season. Friday and Saturday not only featured Canada's top talent, but the best bull riding production in the business as PBR Canada treated one of their smallest markets by far in Kindersley to a spectacular show — while in turn Kindersley showed PBR organizers what small-town Saskatchewan is all about.
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The theatrics are one thing, but the Canadian standings also took centre stage as fans in Kindersley were privy to a great showdown between Jake Gardner and the event namesake, local PBR superstar Buttar.
While Buttar put on a show for his hometown fans on Saturday night, a tough Friday gave Gardner the overall event win, and more importantly moved the Fort St. John, BC native within 1.5 points of Buttar for first place in the PBR Canada standings.
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"Dakota is a good buddy of mine, and we are each rooting for each other each time... It's just so awesome to compete with a good friend like that,"
By the end of Saturday's event the bull riding had nearly become secondary to a growing list of announcements from the sound booth.
PBR organizers began working with members of the Kindersley Health and Wellness Foundation to advertise the need for monetary donations towards new equipment for the local hospital, and the community support exploded to the tune of over $50,000 by Saturday night, the total eventually climbing past $76,500 by the start of the week.
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"A big thank you from myself, from the hospital, and from the Saskatchewan Health Authority, thank you."
From the intense chase in the standings on the sports side, to the newsworthy story of a community rallying for a good cause — the 2025 Energy Dodge Dakota Buttar Invitational did not disappoint.