The Nanton Pro Rodeo is returning for its second year this August.
According to Shawna Bird, who is the Chair of the Pro Rodeo, the first one was such a success, they just had to bring it back.
"We decided to have one Pro Rodeo, because we have so many contestants from Nanton, and it was successful. So, we're going to try to have another one," explains Bird.
Their first pro rodeo was so successful that they won the 2024 Small Rodeo of the Year, which was voted on by the cowboys and the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association.
At the rodeo, there will be the regular Canadian Professional Rodeo Association events, such as bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, and barrel racing.
They will also have Breakaway roping, which is an optional event in the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA).
The CPRA sanctions the Nanton Pro Rodeo, which enables them to call it a professional rodeo, and all of the money won at this rodeo will count as money earned to qualify for the Canadian Finals Rodeo, which is happening in Edmonton in October.
The rodeo will take place on August 22 and 23, with the performances starting at 6 p.m.
There have been rodeos happening in Nanton for some time, as there is the Nanton Knight Rodeo, which is in its 46th consecutive year, as well as two Alberta High School Rodeo Association rodeos happening in town.
"We've hosted the Canadian High School Finals. So, while Nanton's not really new to rodeo, it's definitely new to pro rodeo."
One of the things that sets the Nanton Pro Rodeo apart from others is that the Nanton Rodeo has two arenas running side by side.
All of the timed events will run in one arena, while all the rough stock events will run in another arena.
"Which makes for a really fast-paced rodeo, because we don't have the downtime between loading horses for the one event or getting the barrier ready, because we just go back and forth from one arena to the other. So, as soon as one event's over, like the tie-down roping, then the saddle bronc riding will start in the other arena pretty much immediately."
Being a pro rodeo, there will be prize money, which is collected through sponsorships and entry fees for the event.
To enter this rodeo, contestants must be a cardholder with the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, but it doesn't matter where in the world they are from, as long as they have that card.
To learn more about the rodeo and get tickets, click here.