BARRHEAD - This year's annual Blue Heron Rodeo and Fair brought in big crowds and
“There are 250 competitors from north central Alberta coming from as far away as Worsley to Lethbridge,” said Randy Schmidt, rodeo announcer.
The anticipation of the crowd gathered started with the parade which ran for forty minutes straight.
Town of Barrhead, Fish and Wildlife and County vehicles were tossing treats to onlookers .Ravencrest Insurance had a water-themed float and was shooting beach balls out to the parade audience. Pembina West Co-op had a bear mascot causing a stir, waving as the float passed the groups of watchers.
As the parade exited off 50 Street the Indigo City Band kicked off their entertainment for parade goers.
The rodeo grounds were packed full of kids' activities, including face painting, balloon animals, bouncy castles, and a mechanical bull.
Rodeo events featured Keely Sutherland, a local Barrhead talent, doing dare-devil trick riding for the crowd.
Walking M Rodeo provided the stock for the rodeo and has been supplying them for the last 20 years.
“The family has been in the business for 50 years and we raise our own horses and bulls in our Athabasca place," Scott Miller from Walking M Rodeo said.
There were 14 rodeo events held throughout Saturday afternoon, with talented athletes performing their best, and the crowds supported every attempt.
Sunday saw another round of determined athletes competing in their chosen events.
Tyson Wagner is the rodeo clown who entertained the crowds throughout the day with his antics often bantering back and forth with Randy Schmidt, the announcer.
The bullfighters, Austin Meston and Dylan Miller with pick-up men, Chad Thorson and Richard Houston, assisted the athletes during their events.
Halle May Hobbs from Carvel performed first, followed by Edward Pimm from Mayerthorpe and the Never Too Late Band from Barrhead. The Wiesinger band and the Joe Ireland Band rounded up the entertainment.
Trick Snowmobilers dazzled the onlookers with unbelievable stunts on their snowmobiles.
The crowd was mesmerized by Dave English, X Games athlete, from Yellowknife, N.W.T. and Dan Shaffer from Manitoba.
