Cowboys and cowgirls from Cochrane to Cardston and Alix to Elnora earned their spurs this weekend at the annual Water Valley Stampede.
“We had a great crowd on both Saturday and Sunday, probably because the weather was super fine,” said association president Chris Montgomery. “It’s really very satisfying when people enjoy the show.”
This year marked the 64th time Water Valley has hosted riders from across the province and beyond for the community’s yearly Foothills Cowboy Association rodeo, which put up 10 roping, wrestling and riding events along with three additional wild races.
Brandon Dillman from Rimbey scored 77 points to take first place in bareback, while Crossfield’s Joel Waddell brought in 59 points in the saddle bronc on Richards Rodeo’s offering, Scaredy Squirrel. Cardston’s Jeff Heggie wrestled a steer in 4.3 seconds and JT Robinson from Big Valley roped a calf in 10.5. Team roping went to a Strathmore threesome with a winning time of 7.2 seconds.
Val Gillespie from Duchess earned top spot in ladies barrel racing with a time of 16.441 seconds, with Elnora’s Kacee Ward taking the junior category at 16.707 seconds.
Harleigh Henderson peaked in pee wee with a winning time of 17.296 seconds.
“She is a very petite young girl on a great big horse that runs wildly,” said Montgomery of Henderson. “It was not a walk in the park.”
One of the most emotional moments of the weekend came when longtime rodeo volunteer Jack Eby, who passed away last December, was celebrated with the renaming of Chute #1 as the Jack Eby Memorial Chute.
“Jack was one of the guys that originally founded this rodeo in Water Valley,” said Montgomery, adding Eby gave his time to the event for 50 years, doing everything from running beer gardens to acting as secretary/treasurer of the association itself.
Eby and his late wife, Jean, ran a family-owned sawmill and would typically sponsor Chute #1, so Montgomery said it was fitting to continue the legacy.
“We thought it was apropos … that would be a good way to honour him,” said Montgomery. “It’s hard for me to fathom anyone volunteering for anything for that length of time. He was a very humble, honest, hardworking fellow. I think he was … just a marvelous character.”
