Saddle up for the Manyberries Rodeo

Times Photo Submitted SADDLE UP: Grounds being prepped for the rodeo.

By Nerissa McNaughton
Southern Alberta Newspapers

It’s back! After a 25 year hiatus, the Manyberries Rodeo is set to kick up its heels on August 22-23. Located 45 minutes south of Medicine Hat and filled with all the joy and talent you could anticipate, this event also includes live music, a pancake breakfast, beer gardens, and so much more.

“The original rodeo ran from the mid 80s until 2000, when the last event was held. This historic event was a weekend you did not want to miss! It has been our sincere hope to restore this family-friendly weekend to its former glory, with our focus being building on the heritage and continuing the legacy of the past committee members, but with our own twist,” says Pearl Jones, Rodeo Committee Secretary.

She discusses how things were put into motion, “The Manyberries Community Association and the Southeast AB Ag Society were approached by Al Bouchard of Rugged Rodeo, a stock contracting and rodeo production company, and he asked what it would take to bring back the rodeo. It was an idea that had been tossed around a year or so before, so apparently all it took was asking!”

It was a resounding yes, and a date was set and announced before the committee was even formed.

“Both organizations teamed up together along with a number of additional community members from near and far, and planning got underway. Our Chairman, Bear Lightbown, is no stranger to rodeo, as he was a bull rider himself. He is now a judge at many bull ridings and PBR events all over North America. Having him as a resource has been huge in shaping this event,” adds Jones.

Lightbown is happy to add about what it took to bring the rodeo roaring back, saying, “The grounds were still there and in ok shape, so we figured we could tackle it. A good chunk of the wood corrals needed to be replaced and we don’t have our own chutes anymore, so those are being brought in. We had a really great team of guys get together and have been chipping away at all of the work that needed to be done. Some aren’t even a part of the committee, but have shown up for all of our work days and put a lot of sweat into getting things in shape. We are really happy with how the whole community is getting behind this event.”

Engagement from the community and local businesses is very high. Jones says, “We have been blessed not only with amazing support through corporate sponsorship, but many of the local farms and ranches have been instrumental in helping us raise the funds to put on this event. With no residuals from previous years, getting the financial footing we needed required a great deal of hard work from our committee.”

A fundraiser in support of the rodeo was held in March, and all 150 tickets sold out. The roast beef dinner and silent auction were a huge success, and a key part of bringing the rodeo to life.

Get ready! It’s going to be very exciting.

 “You can expect a traditional amateur rodeo. We hope to see a number of locals enter as well as those cowboys and cowgirls working the circuit this summer,” says Jones. “There will be two evening performances and a live band (Kickin’ Dirt) to follow both nights, a pancake breakfast, and an authentic pasture team roping. This is a unique event and there is only one other of its kind held in Western Canada that we are aware of. We are looking forward to seeing how the local ranchers do competing against the arena ropers.”

There will also be a Western themed market on the Saturday from 10-5 in the community hall featuring hand crafted items and art, and a kids’ zone held from 4-6 on the 23rd as well featuring a face painter, balloon artist, dummy roping, and sand pile for kids to dig for treasure.

Jones adds, “We have also teamed up with Spark A Memory AB, a small business that makes photo magnets. People will be able to get their very own magnet made on site to take home as a souvenir of the Rodeo. We will have Premium Sausage, the Gas City Kawanis Food Truck, How do you Roll, and Tully’s Mini Donuts as well as our own concession running for the weekend.”

She concludes, “It is an honour for us to see so many people wanting to come this far out to a town that has no services and spend their weekend partying on the prairie, so we have done all we can to make it a weekend to remember. There is a lot of space on the rodeo grounds so camping (no hookups) will be free when you purchase a weekend pass. People should bring lawn chairs as they will be able to get up close to the arena to see all the action.”

 Remember that there are no services and that also means no ATMs or gas stations. Plan ahead and be sure to bring cash for admission, concessions, and activities. Adults are $20 for a day pass or $35 for a weekend pass. Children aged 7-12 are $10 for a day pass and $15 for a weekend pass. Children 6 and under can attend for free.

To learn more, visit http://www.manyberriesrodeo.com online and follow Manyberries Rodeo 2025 on Facebook.