COCHRANE— Ready to bust out of the chute in September, The Cochrane Lions Club is planning a Labour Day long weekend rodeo to “Reboot Your Western Spirit” and bring the community together.
Rodeo chairmen Kevin Firkus said the 2021 Cochrane Lions Labour Day Rodeo will be a celebration for Cochranites that will bring the community together again with the FCA rodeo from Sept. 4 to Sept. 6., and the traditional Ranch Rodeo on Sept. 3.
“The cowboys are ready. They’re starting to practice and getting going,” Firkus said.
Incoming Cochrane Lions Club president Chris Connon said it has been a challenge planning this year’s rodeo, as often it has been a “game of wait and see with what happens with restrictions and opening up.”
A few different plans have been in the works and they are hopeful the Alberta’s Open for Summer Plan finds success so they will be able to put on a big family-friendly show for the community.
“It the biggest weekend event in the town,” Firkus said. “We want to get people out and having some fun."
Cochrane has a rich Western culture, he said, and the Lions Club takes pride in fostering the cowboy spirit in the community.
The planning for the rodeo has carefully followed provincial COVID-19 public health measures, while working to present a traditional Western event featuring bronc riding, roping, barrel racing, bull riding and youth events.
Connon hopes to see the community work together and follow any potential restrictions in place to make the event a success.
Planning around COVID-19 public health measures has been the most challenging aspect for this year's rodeo, Firkus said, and enhanced safety and sanitizing stations will be on site.
Connon said he is expecting to the rodeo to be businesses as usual with tickets available at the gate, but noted the Lions Club has also partnered with Showpass to allow for the purchase of tickets online.
“We’re planning for the wide open and we’ll tweak it whichever way comes around,” Connon said.
The Labour Day Weekend Rodeo is a critical fundraiser for the Club, helping the Lions support the community.
“We put back everything that comes through those gates,” Connon said. “Every dollar that comes in gets funded back into the community.”
As a non-profit, the goal of the rodeo is to raise as much money as possible for local service initiatives, events, sports teams and organizations the Lions Club supports.
The Lions Club has seen an increased need in the community due to the COVID-19 pandemic and there have been several funding requests they have been proud to support.
The Lions Club is hoping to see the entire Cochrane community take part in the rodeo spirit with pancake breakfasts, window decorations, cowboy hats and cowboy boots.
“We want to make it a big community drive for everybody,” Connon said.
The rodeo serves as a community gathering place and is filled with friends who often only get to see each other during the show, Connon said, and he looking forward to seeing everyone reunite.
To help ignite the Western spirit three other rodeos will be taking place over the weekend along the Cowboy Trail in Water Valley, Airdrie, and Caroline.
Communities have been craving events and working together to feature four different rodeos over the weekend will serve as a great way to reboot and bring people together, Firkus said. He expects the combination of the four shows will create an exciting event for fans as some of the best cowboys in Alberta compete for their events buckle.
“People are ready to rodeo. They ready to get out and enjoy some events,” Connon said. “Show up. Show your Western spirit.”
Planning for the rodeo remains underway, keep an eye out on the Cochrane Lions Club Rodeo website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates.
