Please scroll to the bottom of this article to read the full interview with Virden Indoor Rodeo President, Thomas Hagan.
The Virden Indoor Rodeo and Wild West Daze are returning to the Tundra Oil & Gas Place, August 18-21st with the program full of bronc n’ bull riding, barrel racing, tie-roping and more!
Rodeo President, Thomas Hagan, says they’ve been waiting since 2019 to bring the rodeo back to Virden. “We’re super excited! We definitely get the feeling around town that everyone wants to have this event back and of course, coming out of covid, everybody just wants all their events, not just the rodeo, but this is a big one for the town!”
With this calibre of riders, the event is top-notch rodeo entertainment. The annual event is dual sanctioned by the Manitoba Rodeo Cowboys Association (MRCA) and Canadian Cowboys Association (CCA). The Virden Indoor Rodeo attracts contestants from Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. ‘It is known as a make it or break it event for those wanting to earn points to take part in the MRCA and CCA finals,’ notes the Virden Rodeo website.
A new event has been added to the women’s competition; the break-away roping. “So, women can compete in team roping, barrel racing and now this break-away roping, and we’ll have equal money for them which is a big deal, I think. They can win just as much money as the bull riders can,” explains Hagan. “If you follow rodeo, North American-wide, it has gotten really big, and it’s very popular, and there are a lot of women who are happy to do it!”
Thomas Hagan comes by his love for rodeo honestly, as he himself team-roped, tied-down roped and steer-wrestled, and his wife, Felicity, is an accomplished rider and barrel-racer. Hagan’s father was a steer-wrestler and tied-down roper, and Thomas’ brother also competed in these same events. Needless to say, the Hagan family has the passion and grit to participate in this adrenaline-rush-just hang on-extreme-sport!’
“And that is probably why the committee in Virden is so strong because we have such a large group of people that rodeo themselves,” shares Hagan. “So, not only are people knowledgeable about the event that we want to put on, but there are so many of us, and it’s such a horse-hot part of this world and we’re very lucky!”
"It's the people who built this rodeo years and years ago, they did such a fantastic job that, I would say this next generation that’s stepping in to take it over like myself and Lonnie Brown, are so fortunate that we’re stepping into a very successful event,” he adds.
“I’ve rodeoed for a long time and you ear-mark the ones on your calendar that are very special to you and Virden Rodeo is definitely one of those rodeos for all the contestants!"
For continuous updates on the Virden Indoor Rodeo & Wild West Daze visit their Facebook Page and website:
Virden Indoor Rodeo & Wild West Daze - Home | Facebook
Virden Indoor Rodeo – Ten times winner of the MRCA Rodeo of the Year