Hold onto your hats, the Manitoba Stampede and Exhibition is back. Running July 18 to 20, Morris is once again hosting the only professional rodeo on Manitoba’s leg of the Canadian Tour circuit, and it’s shaping up to be a record-breaking weekend of thrills, community spirit, and cowboy grit.
“This is the best place, the least expensive place, that you’re going to get an opportunity to see tremendous cowboys and cowgirls do their thing,” said Mike Bellisle, President of the Valley Agricultural Society. “Many of the same guys you’d see at big rodeos like Ponoka, Calgary, or Strathmore; they all end up in Morris.”
A legacy 130 years in the making
Originally formed in 1895 as an agricultural fair, the Valley Agricultural Society has spent the last six decades growing the Manitoba Stampede into one of the province’s most iconic summer events. Since 1964, the full rodeo format has been a mainstay.
“We’re very blessed to carry on the mission of the forefathers,” said Bellisle. “Pretty proud of it altogether.”
More than just a rodeo
Yes, you’ll see bull riding, bronco busting, tie-down roping, bareback riding, and steer wrestling, but that’s just scratching the surface. The Stampede grounds are packed with action, from pony chariot and chuckwagon races to mounted shooting competitions, team penning, and more.
“If you’ve never seen mounted shooting, it’s fantastic,” said Bellisle. “Cowboys and cowgirls on racing ponies shooting at balloons in a very confined space, it’s wild.”
This year also features The Gathering of Nations Indigenous Showcase, and live music on a newly rebuilt stage with expanded beer gardens and a larger dance floor. Headlining the weekend is the Sean Taylor Band, Manitoba Country Music Association’s 2024 Group of the Year.
“We’re really focused on promoting Manitoba talent,” said Bellisle. “This is a key event, one of the biggest events you’re going to see all summer, and it’s right here in Morris.”
Built by community, fueled by passion
Pulling off an event of this scale takes serious dedication and a whole lot of volunteers.
“We’re not running a cookie sale,” Bellisle laughed. “We get 38,000 people through the gates over three days. Some volunteers have been with us for 60 years. Some are just starting out. It really does take the whole community.”
Bellisle, who’s been involved since 1993, says the people are what make it worthwhile.
“I know it sounds a little cornball, but it truly is the people. When that place gets rocking with 12 to 15 thousand people on the fairgrounds, you sit back, live in the moment, and go, ‘Wow. I played a small part in that, and man, they’re having fun.’”
Don’t miss out, get your tickets now
If you’re thinking of attending this weekend, don’t wait to buy your tickets, especially for Saturday and Sunday.
“This isn’t a scare tactic, it will happen,” Bellisle said. “Saturday and Sunday become sellouts. Once we hit that magic number, we shut it all down.”
Get your passes now at www.manitobastampede.ca
Whether you’re a rodeo regular or a first-time visitor, the Manitoba Stampede offers a perfect mix of tradition, adrenaline, and hometown hospitality, all packed into one unforgettable weekend.