The Rockyford Rodeo has been selected as the Rodeo Committee of the Year by the Foothills Cowboys Association (FCA).
The FCA held its final event at Westerner Park in Red Deer on the weekend of October 12. At the event, it was announced that Rockyford was the recipient of the prestigious award.
Warren Kalbhen is the Rockyford Rodeo director. He says the committee won about five or six years ago.
“It means we have been recognized by the FCA as one of the top rodeos,” said Warren.
The Rockyford Rodeo is put on by the Lions Club and the Ag Society. The community support for it has remained strong as it just completed its 61st annual rodeo.
Tyla Kalbhen is secretary and says the FCA takes in all kinds of considerations when selecting the winner, including the operation of the event, conditions of the grounds, the experience of the participants, and the volunteer service.
“We probably have the best volunteers you could ever ask for,” said Tyla. “It is our largest community event and honestly, we couldn’t do it without all of the volunteers.”
Warren says the award is a feather in their cap, and because this is the second time they have been awarded demonstrates continual success.
You feel very proud, these are volunteer positions and you put your heart and soul into it and so do many other people,” said Tyla.
“To get this award, it takes each and every one of them.”
The mandate of the FCA is to organize and promote a circuit of rodeos that allows and encourages members to compete that are not members of the Canadian Professionals Rodeo Association.
The Rockyford Rodeo is a dual approved rodeo and over the last few years, members of the Chinook Rodeo Association have been able to enter this event as well.
