The Official Newsletter of the World Professional Chuckwagon Association TURNING THE BARRELS

Transcription

1 Official Truck of the WPCA The Official Newsletter of the World Professional Chuckwagon Association TURNING THE BARRELS April 2016 Volume 5 Issue 42 halfmileofhell.com IN THIS ISSUE CALGARY STAMPEDE AUCTION See Page 2 One from the Archives REMEMBERING FORMER DRIVER DON CHAPIN See Page WPCA TOUR AUCTION See Page 6 GRANDE PRAIRIE STOMPEDE AUCTION See Page 15 FACES AT THE RACES Our Director of Marketing Bryan Hebson. See Page 15 The 1991 Calgary Stampede Canvas Auction. Photo courtesy of the Billy Melville Archive Collection NEW SPONSOR OLS TUBS is the new sponsor of the Behind the Barns feature during WPCA Pro Tour Live broadcasts. OLS TUBS are a low-moisture tub and transfer agent for all of the vitamins and minerals needed by your livestock. Learn more at

2 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 2 Calgary Stampede Auction IN A YEAR of economic uncertainty, the 2016 Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Chuckwagon Canvas Auction has to be looked at as a success. Coming in just shy of $2.3 million, it was still the ninth highest total in the 38- year history of the event. The auction took place on March 17 at Stampede Park. A total of $1,969,500 was bid on the 30 drivers who will compete on the 2016 WPCA Pro Tour. Another $330,000 was bid on the remaining six drivers who will compete on the CPCA circuit in That made for a total of $2,299,500 bid on the 36 participating wagons. It was the sixth consecutive year that the Calgary auction crossed over the $2 million mark. Two-time defending GMC Rangeland Derby champion Kurt Bensmiller received the high bid of $120,000 from Tsuu T ina Nation; that was $50,000 down from Bensmiller s high bid from The median bid on all 36 wagons was $55,000, down $20,000 from the median bid of $75,000 in The low bid was $37,500, down $7,500 from the low bid of Clockwise from top left: John Walters at the Calgary Stampede tarp auction; Ross Knight waiting for bid results; Rick Fraser and Layne Bremner with Calgary Stampede sponsor The Mavericks; Luke Tournier with Calgary Stampede sponsor Express Employment (last two photos by Larry Kwan Photography).

3 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 3 Calgary Stampede Auction, continued Left, from left to right: Mike Vigen, Doug Irvine, Mark Sutherland and Kurt Bensmiller at the drivers meeting. Right: Veteran drivers Kirk Sutherland and Jim Knight chatting before the 2016 Calgary Stampede auction. All photos by Ed Wittchen except where indicated Driver Sponsor Amount Bid Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T ina Nation $120,000 Logan Gorst PCL Construction Management Inc. $115,000 Kelly Sutherland Friends of the King $100,000 Jason Glass Glass Racing $95,000 Vern Nolin Denton s $90,000 Jamie Laboucane Rogers Communications $90,000 Mark Sutherland The Cowboy s Casino Posse $85,000 Luke Tournier Express Employment Professionals $85,000 Troy Dorchester CARSTAR Collision & Glass Service $85,000 Gary Gorst BD&P Put the Boots to Hunger $80,000 Rick Fraser The Mavericks Chuckwagon Team $80,000 Layne MacGillivray ATB Financial $75,000 Colt Cosgrave High River Autoplex & RV $70,000 Doug Irvine B & R Eckel s Transport Ltd. $65,000 Mike Vigen Rae and Company $62,500 Kris Molle visitlethbridge.com $62,500 Codey McCurrach ion Secured Networks $55,000 John Walters The Brakeman Foundation $55,000 Jordie Fike Shaw GMC Chevrolet Buick $55,000

4 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 4 Calgary Stampede Auction, continued Driver Sponsor Amount Bid Roger Moore Lake Louise Ski Area $52,500 Chance Bensmiller Western RV Country $52,500 Obrey Motowylo US Flood Control $50,000 Kirk Sutherland Chostpine Environmental Services Ltd. $50,000 Chanse Vigen Jason Adair & Friends $47,500 Mitch Sutherland Manteo Group of Companies Ltd. $45,000 Chad Harden Chariot Express $45,000 Chad Fike Homes By Us $45,000 Layne Bremner Friends of the Mavericks $45,000 BJ Carey Professional Excavators $45,000 Darcy Flad The Legends $45,000 Ross Knight The Kidz Wagon $45,000 Ray Mitsuing Prairie Advisory Group $42,500 Rae Croteau, Jr. Total Golf $42,500 Jim Knight Elegant Tributes $42,500 Evan Salmond Horsepower Inc. $42,000 Dallas Dyck Calgary Auto Mall $37,500 Left: Logan Gorst enjoying the bid process at Stampede Park. Right: Codey McCurrach waits for his tarp bid results for the 2016 Calgary Stampede.

5 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 5 Remembering Former Driver Don Chapin THE WPCA WAS saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of former chuckwagon driver Don Chapin. Don died at the age of 68 on March 17, 2016, after complications following heart surgery. Don was born into chuckwagon racing. His father Don Scotty Chapin competed throughout the 1950s until a racing accident at the Calgary Stampede claimed his life. Chuckwagons were always a big part of Don s life. With the help of former competitor Roy David, Don started driving chuckwagons in 1975 when he made his debut at the Trochu Lions Club Race Meet. He drove on a permit in 1975 and 1976 before taking out his pro card in Don drove at the Calgary Stampede for the first time in the Saturday Morning Round-Up races in 1977 and again in His best season came in 1984 when he placed 14th in the world standings and qualified for the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby in Don was honoured on four different occasions by the WPCA for his dedication and active support to the organization and to the sport of chuckwagon racing in general. Don Chapin September 5, 1947-March 17, 2016 He ran his last race at Strathmore in 1999, and then retired after 25 years in the wagon box. After his retirement, Don stayed involved with chuckwagon racing in an active supporter role as a farrier and horse trainer. Don is survived by his wife Cheryl; his brothers Dave Chapin, Lloyd (Susan) Chapin, Gerald (Linda) Chapin, and Jordan Chapin; and his sisters Debbie (Darrell) Baranec and Jana (Jim) Hannamany. A celebration of Don s life was held on April 1, 2016, at the Eagle Hill Community Centre in Olds, Alberta. Don will be missed by all in the WPCA, and we extend our sincere condolences to the Chapin family. Don Chapin racing in Strathmore in Photo courtesy of the Billy Melville Archive Collection

6 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE WPCA Tour Auction Left: Longtime sponsor Rick Pauloski of Black Jack Livestock with driver Luke Tournier and his wife Michele. Right: Driver Jordie Fike with GMC representative Piotr Kulaga, General Manager of Shaw GMC. Photos by Ed Wittchen Left: Jessica Hoy and Les McIntyre. Right: Broadcast legend Arnie Jackson and Chuckwagon Radio Network s Jamie Tiessen. THE SECOND CHUCKWAGON canvas auction for the bulk of the 2016 WPCA Pro Tour took place on March 22 at the Grey Eagle Resort & Casino in Calgary. There were also satellite locations in Saskatoon, Medicine Hat, Bonnyville, Dawson Creek and Rocky Mountain House. Although loyal tarp sponsors continued to support their favourite drivers and new companies got involved, recent economic challenges took a toll on the overall tarp sale results. The overall total of the sale was down $241,600 from results over the same seven locations in 2015.

7 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE WPCA Tour Auction, continued Saskatoon Driver Sponsor Amount Bid Gary Gorst HJR Asphalt $8,000 Chad Fike Eagle Builders $5,250 Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T ina Nation $5,000 Obrey Motowylo H & E Oilfield Services Ltd. $5,000 Luke Tournier Brass & Pocket $5,000 Roger Moore Rusway Construction Ltd. $5,000 Logan Gorst BCDR Mechanical Repair Services $5,000 Colt Cosgrave Trinidad Drilling $5,000 Dustin Gorst Ashley Richards Memorial $5,000 Doug Irvine B & R Eckel s Transport Ltd. $4,000 Ross Knight Winacott Equipment Group $4,000 Mitch Sutherland GMC Dealers of Alberta $3,750 Evan Salmond Friends of Salmond Racing $3,000 Jason Glass Glass Racing $3,000 Kelly Sutherland Friends of the King $3,000 Vern Nolin Denton s $3,000 John Walters Alta Ltd. $2,750 Chad Harden University of Saskatchewan Huskies Alumni $2,7 50 Mark Sutherland VJV Auction $2,750 Layne MacGillivray High River Autoplex & RV $2,750 Kirk Sutherland Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500 Rick Fraser Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500 Rae Croteau, Jr. Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500 Jordie Fike Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500 Codey McCurrach Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500 Troy Dorchester Friends of Dorchester Racing $2,500 Cody Ridsdale Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500 Darcy Flad Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500 Cliff Cunningham Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500 Troy Flad Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500 Mike Vigen Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500 Cody Fraser Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500 Chanse Vigen Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500 Layne Bremner Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500 Jim Knight Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500 Curtis Morin Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500

8 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE WPCA Tour Auction, continued Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede Driver Sponsor Amount Bid Chad Fike Eagle Builders $5,250 Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T ina Nation $5,000 Obrey Motowylo H & E Oilfield Services Ltd. $5,000 Colt Cosgrave Trinidad Drilling $5,000 Troy Dorchester Lafarge Canada $5,000 Doug Irvine B & R Eckel s Transport Ltd. $4,000 Logan Gorst JEG Contracting $4,000 Mitch Sutherland GMC Dealers of Alberta $3,750 Jason Glass Glass Racing $3,000 Kelly Sutherland Friends of the King $3,000 Rae Croteau, Jr. Tornado Projects $3,000 Chad Harden Red Velvet Hair Salon $3,000 Codey McCurrach Adventure Enterprises $3,000 Layne MacGillivray TrailBlazer RV Centre $3,000 Mark Sutherland Bushape Supervision $2,750 Roger Moore Rusway Construction Ltd. $2,750 Dustin Gorst Annex Enterprises $2,750 Vern Nolin Denton s $2,500 Kirk Sutherland Bow Slope Shipping Association Co-op $2,250 Rick Fraser MacArthur Ranching $2,250 Gary Gorst Trophies R Us $2,250 Mike Vigen Dynamic Industrial $2,250 Chanse Vigen Graham Racing $2,250 Evan Salmond Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000 Luke Tournier Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000 John Walters Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000 Jordie Fike Weir Construction $2,000 Ross Knight Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000 Cody Ridsdale Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000 Darcy Flad Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000 Cliff Cunningham Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000 Troy Flad Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000 Cody Fraser Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000 Layne Bremner Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000 Jim Knight Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000 Curtis Morin Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000

9 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE WPCA Tour Auction, continued Guy Weadick Days (High River) Driver Sponsor Bid Amount Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T ina Nation $15,000 Obrey Motowylo H & E Oilfield Services Ltd. $6,000 Mark Sutherland K-Link Development Inc. $6,000 Jordie Fike Shawne Excavating & Trucking Ltd. $6,000 Chad Fike Eagle Builders $5,250 Layne MacGillivray Nabors Drilling/Wrangler Rentals $5,250 Jason Glass Glass Racing $4,000 Kelly Sutherland Friends of the King $4,000 Doug Irvine B & R Eckel s Transport Ltd. $4,000 Colt Cosgrave High River Autoplex & RV $4,000 Mitch Sutherland GMC Dealers of Alberta $3,750 Evan Salmond Friends of Salmond Racing $3,000 Luke Tournier National Motor Coach $3,000 Gary Gorst TCB Trailer Services $3,000 Rae Croteau, Jr. Highwood Distillers $3,000 Chad Harden Spartan Controls $3,000 Codey McCurrach Okotoks GM $3,000 Troy Dorchester Pure Chem Services $3,000 Dustin Gorst Blackjack Livestock Co. $3,000 John Walters Alta Ltd. $2,750 Roger Moore Rusway Construction Ltd. $2,750 Cody Ridsdale Four Construction Ltd. $2,750 Troy Flad O Chiese Energy $2,750 Chanse Vigen Chanse Vigen Outlaws $2,750 Vern Nolin Denton s $2,750 Kirk Sutherland Guy Weadick Days $2,500 Rick Fraser Guy Weadick Days $2,500 Logan Gorst Guy Weadick Days $2,500 Ross Knight The Kidz Wagon $2,500 Darcy Flad XY Bar Ranches $2,500 Cliff Cunningham Guy Weadick Days $2,500 Mike Vigen Guy Weadick Days $2,500 Cody Fraser Guy Weadick Days $2,500 Layne Bremner Guy Weadick Days $2,500 Jim Knight Guy Weadick Days $2,500 Curtis Morin Guy Weadick Days $2,500

10 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE WPCA Tour Auction, continued Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship Driver Sponsor Bid Amount Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T ina Nation $10,000 Logan Gorst Flashpoint Electric Inc. $8,000 Layne MacGillivray Cougar Fuels $7,500 Luke Tournier SITE Energy Services Ltd. $6,500 Obrey Motowylo H & E Oilfield Services Ltd. $6,000 Doug Irvine B & R Eckel s Transport Ltd. $6,000 Mark Sutherland Friends of Sutherland Racing $6,000 Layne Bremner Bonnyville Home Hardware $5,500 Chad Fike Eagle Builders $5,250 Roger Moore Rusway Construction Ltd. $5,000 Colt Cosgrave Trinidad Drilling $5,000 Troy Dorchester Lafarge Canada $5,000 Dustin Gorst United Travel Services $5,000 John Walters Alta Ltd. $4,500 Rae Croteau, Jr. Rapid Response $4,500 Jordie Fike Friends of George Normand $4,250 Jason Glass Glass Racing $4,000 Cliff Cunningham Ron May Consulting $4,000 Mitch Sutherland GMC Dealers of Alberta $3,750 Gary Gorst NCSG/Scorpion Industries $3,500 Rick Fraser Friends of Team 23 $3,000 Kelly Sutherland Friends of the King $3,000 Chad Harden Spartan Controls $3,000 Codey McCurrach Ziegler s Oilfield Consulting Ltd. $3,000 Cody Ridsdale 413 $3,000 Cody Fraser Trailblazer RV Centre $3,000 Vern Nolin Denton s $3,000 Chanse Vigen Triple M Plumbing $2,750 Kirk Sutherland Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship $2,500 Evan Salmond Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship $2,500 Ross Knight Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship $2,500 Darcy Flad Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship $2,500 Troy Flad Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship $2,500 Mike Vigen Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship $2,500 Jim Knight Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship $2,500 Curtis Morin Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship $2,500

11 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE WPCA Tour Auction, continued Strathmore Stampede Driver Sponsor Amount Bid Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T ina Nation $10,000 Obrey Motowylo H & E Oilfield Services Ltd. $6,000 Chad Fike Eagle Builders $5,250 Layne MacGillivray Breakaway Projects $5,250 Troy Dorchester Team Rig & Supply $5,000 Jordie Fike Bro-Tech Plumbing & Heating $4,500 Jason Glass Glass Racing $4,000 Kelly Sutherland Friends of the King $4,000 Doug Irvine B & R Eckel s Transport Ltd. $4,000 Colt Cosgrave High River Autoplex & RV $4,000 Mark Sutherland Jesco Electric $3,750 Mitch Sutherland GMC Dealers of Alberta $3,750 John Walters Rob Knight Trucklines $3,500 Logan Gorst Chariot Express $3,250 Troy Flad Ironwood Building Corp. $3,250 Cody Fraser Sweet Cheeks $3,250 Rick Fraser Friends of Team 23 $3,000 Gary Gorst TCB Trailer Services $3,000 Codey McCurrach Strathmore Ford $3,000 Ross Knight The Kidz Wagon $3,000 Dustin Gorst Blackjack Livestock Co. $3,000 Rae Croteau, Jr. Highwood Distillers $2,750 Roger Moore Rusway Construction Ltd. $2,750 Mike Vigen SPR Construction $2,750 Chanse Vigen Chanse Vigen Outlaws $2,750 Kirk Sutherland Pinnacle Medical Centre $2,500 Evan Salmond Tour Promo Co. $2,500 Luke Tournier Strathmore Stampede $2,500 Chad Harden Spartan Controls $2,500 Cody Ridsdale Barbee Jay Supplies $2,500 Cliff Cunningham Strathmore Stampede $2,500 Vern Nolin Denton s $2,500 Layne Bremner Strathmore Stampede $2,500 Jim Knight Strathmore Stampede $2,500 Curtis Morin Strathmore Stampede $2,500 Darcy Flad XY Bar Ranches $2,250

12 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE WPCA Tour Auction, continued Battle of the North (Dawson Creek, BC) Driver Sponsor Bid Amount John Walters Arrow Insurance Agency Ltd. $6,500 Obrey Motowylo H & E Oilfield Services Ltd. $6,000 Jason Glass Glass Racing $6,000 Mark Sutherland Friends of Sutherland Racing $6,000 Kelly Sutherland Friends of the King $5,500 Chad Fike Eagle Builders $5,250 Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T ina Nation $5,000 Doug Irvine B & R Eckle s Transport Ltd. $5,000 Codey McCurrach Sirius Instrumentation and Controls Inc. $5,000 Colt Cosgrave Trinidad Drilling $5,000 Cody Ridsdale DND Electric $5,000 Rae Croteau, Jr. AB Security $4,250 Logan Gorst Red Oak Rentals $4,000 Kirk Sutherland Celtic Construction $3,750 Luke Tournier Keddies Tack & Western Wear $3,750 Mitch Sutherland GMC Dealers of Alberta $3,750 Cody Fraser Cooper Bros $3,750 Gary Gorst Northstar Hydrovac Inc. $3,500 Jordie Fike Rafter G Land & Cattle $3,500 Troy Dorchester Friends of Dorchester $3,500 Dustin Gorst Grande Prairie Airport $3,500 Layne MacGillivray Aurora Farms $3,500 Rick Fraser VJV Dawson Creek Auction $3,250 Cliff Cunningham MDJ Oilfield Services $3,250 Layne Bremner Aurora Farms $3,250 Evan Salmond Friends of Salmond Racing $3,000 Chad Harden Spartan Controls $3,000 Troy Flad Rycroft Ranch Supply $3,000 Mike Vigen Riley Brown $3,000 Chanse Vigen Northwest Cattle Co. $3,000 Jim Knight Pouce Coupe ESSO $3,000 Roger Moore Rusway Construction Ltd. $2,750 Ross Knight DCEA $2,500 Darcy Flad XY Bar Ranches $2,500 Vern Nolin Denton s $2,500 Curtis Morin DCEA $2,500

13 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE WPCA Tour Auction, continued Battle of the Rockies (Rocky Mountain House) Driver Sponsor Bid Amount Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T ina Nation $10,000 Obrey Motowylo H & E Oilfield Services Ltd. $7,000 Layne MacGillivray Rai-Lynn Trucking $6,000 Cody Fraser VJV Auction $5,500 Chad Fike Eagle Builders $5,250 Cody Ridsdale Triple K Oilfield Services $5,000 Colt Cosgrave Trinidad Drilling $5,000 Logan Gorst Speight Construction $5,000 Troy Dorchester Eldorado Pressure $5,000 Roger Moore Pidherney s $4,750 John Walters McMeekin Resources Ltd./Pierre s Concrete $4,500 Chad Harden Spartan Controls $4,000 Codey McCurrach Hayduk Picker Services $4,000 Doug Irvine B & R Eckel s Transport Ltd. $4,000 Jason Glass Glass Racing $4,000 Kelly Sutherland Friends of the King $4,000 Rick Fraser Friends of Team 23 $4,000 Mitch Sutherland GMC Dealers of Alberta $3,750 Chanse Vigen Terra Firma Resources $3,500 Gary Gorst Pidherney s $3,250 Luke Tournier Bramall $3,250 Troy Flad O Chiese Energy $3,250 Jordie Fike Shawne Excavating & Trucking Ltd. $3,000 Rae Croteau, Jr. Challand Pipeline $3,000 Cliff Cunningham Lindale Truck Service $2,750 Mark Sutherland Peacock Inn Ltd. $2,750 Ross Knight Skyline Collision Ltd. $2,750 Curtis Morin RMCA $2,500 Darcy Flad RMCA $2,500 Dustin Gorst Blackjack Livestock Co. $2,500 Evan Salmond RMCA $2,500 Jim Knight RMCA $2,500 Kirk Sutherland RMCA $2,500 Layne Bremner RMCA $2,500 Mike Vigen RMCA $2,500 Vern Nolin Denton s $2,500

14 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE WPCA Tour Auction, continued Left: Driver Colt Cosgrave and longtime sponsor Doug MacLaughlin from High River Auto Plex. Right: Outrider Eddie Melville and driver Chanse Vigen. Left: Driver Chad Harden always working with his networks. Right: Billy Melville entering the results of the March 22 WPCA Pro Tour tarp auction. Drivers Jason Glass enjoying the tarp auction process. Photos by Ed Wittchen

15 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 15 Grande Prairie Stompede Auction THE THIRD CHUCKWAGON canvas auction for the 2016 professional chuckwagon season took place at the Great Northern Casino in Grande Prairie on March 24. This auction was for tarps for the Grande Prairie Stompede only. A total of $180,000 was bid on the 36 drivers who will compete on the 2016 WPCA Pro Tour. A group of buyers put the high bid of $10,750 on 2015 Grande Prairie Stompede finalist Chad Harden. Next were current Grande Prairie champion Obrey Motowylo and reigning Calgary Stampede and world champion Kurt Bensmiller. The median bid on all 36 wagons was $5,000; the low bid was $3,750. The Grande Prairie Stompede has a very strong relationship with Evergreen Park, the site of the annual event. The Top left: Tom Barrow, Tammy Kristiansen and Bryan Hebson with Frank Havies from Happy Trails RV. Top right: With Jerry Shaver from Ken Sargent GMC. Middle right: With staff from Keddies Tack and Western Wear. Above three photos courtesy of Tom Barrow Bottom right: Grande Prairie Stompede Committee members at work during the 2016 Stompede canvas auction at the Great Northern Casino. Photo by Ed Wittchen

16 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 16 Grande Prairie Stompede Auction, continued Grande Prairie Stompede has made it part of their mandate to give back to Evergreen Park annually for improvements and they have been true to their word, says Evergreen Park Marketing and Sponsorship Manager Don Moon. Their donations have had a huge impact on the Park over the years. The first thing you notice when you drive into the Park is the campground, says Moon. The Grande Prairie Stompede built that. Over the years they have also paid to upgrade washrooms and shower rooms including, in partnership with the Park, the two beautiful washrooms under the grandstand at Gordon Badger Stadium. They have also contributed to paving at Gordon Badger Stadium, helped the Park purchase chairs for events and last year provided over $20,000 so the Park could upgrade the secondary campground electrical system. Grande Prairie Stompede Committee Chair Terri Ellen Sudnik with John Walters and Miss Rodeo Canada Samantha Stokes. The Grande Prairie Stompede handed over this year s donation at the WPCA tarp sale. It was a cheque for $14,269.50, which will be used to purchase an electronic 50/50 system to be used at Evergreen Park. The final chuckwagon canvas auction for the season will be on May 6, 2016, at the Stagecoach Saloon on the Ponoka Stampede grounds in Ponoka, Alberta. Driver Sponsor Bid Amount Chad Harden Spartan Controls $10,750 Obrey Motowylo H & E Oilfield Services Ltd. $7,500 Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T ina Nation $7,500 Layne MacGillivray Lyons Production Services $6,000 Jason Glass Glass Racing $6,000 Mark Sutherland Friends of Sutherland Racing $6,000 Dustin Gorst Grande Prairie Airport $5,500 Cody Ridsdale Triple K Oilfield Services $5,500 Logan Gorst River Stone Golf Course $5,500 Kirk Sutherland Lakeside Oilfield Services $5,250 Darcy Flad The Legends $5,000 Rick Fraser Keddies Tack & Western Wear $5,000 Luke Tournier Barrack Energy $5,000 Doug Irvine B & R Eckel s Transport Ltd. $5,000 Troy Dorchester LaFarge Canada $5,000 Mitch Sutherland Ken Sargent GMC $5,000 Codey McCurrach Worldwide Matrix Inc. $5,000 Colt Cosgrave Trinidad Drilling $5,000

17 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 17 Grande Prairie Stompede Auction, continued Driver Sponsor Amount Bid Cody Fraser GP Corn Maze/Country Roadz RV Park $5,000 Rae Croteau, Jr. Red Oak Industrial $4,750 Kelly Sutherland Happy Trails RV $4,750 Gary Gorst Northstar Hydrovac Inc. $4,500 Layne Bremner Trumpeter Local 26 ATA $4,500 Cliff Cunningham MBJ Oilfield $4,250 Ross Knight Initial Industries Ltd. $4,000 Evan Salmond Friends of Salmond Racing $4,000 Chanse Vigen Red Oak Industrial $4,000 Jordie Fike H & M Meats $4,000 Chad Fike VJV Livestock Auction $4,000 Vern Nolin Denton s $4,000 Curtis Morin Kirk & Crew $4,000 John Walters GP Stompede $3,750 Troy Flad GP Stompede $3,750 Jim Knight GP Stompede $3,750 Mike Vigen GP Stompede $3,750 Roger Moore GP Stompede $3,750 The Grande Prairie Stompede presents its annual donation cheque to Evergreen Park.

18 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 18 Faces at the Races: Bryan Hebson WITH HIS FAMILY background and personal history, it shouldn t be a surprise to find Bryan Hebson working with the WPCA and being heavily involved in chuckwagon racing. His mom and dad bought him his first pair of cowboy boots when he was five years old. Not long after, his dad took him to Rodeo Royal. For years when Bryan was in his 20s and early 30s, Bryan and his dad would go watch the Calgary Stampede Canvas Auction and then head to the rodeo. Bryan was born in Calgary on October 31, 1967, at the General Hospital. His mom Joan was raised in Rycroft, Alberta, north of Grande Prairie while his dad Bob was raised on a farm north of Okotoks, Alberta. Bryan s roots in the western heritage go back many years with his family heavily involved in agriculture and 4-H in particular in the Okotoks area. His grandfather Tom Hebson was a director in the livestock section at the Calgary Stampede and is still recognized as one of the Calgary Stampede Lifetime members. In 1978, the Okotoks Agricultural Arena was renamed the Hebson Arena as a tribute to Bryan s grandfather for holding the society together for many of its early years. As a kid, Bryan used to listen to the Calgary Stampede chuckwagon races and afterwards would run around the trees in the yard, pretending they were barrels. When he was old enough to drive a car, he never missed a Calgary Stampede chuckwagon race. He would park up on Scotsman s Hill and run down to watch the races from the top of the grandstand. In his younger years, Bryan also played community hockey in the winter and soccer in the summer. In the mid-1980s, Above: Tom Hebson, Bryan s grandfather. Left: Bryan Hebson with his mom at Century Downs, with his dad at the Calgary Stampede and with his t h e n y e a r - o l d grandmother. he started working at Calgary Co-op and played in the Co-op League Sunday nights and eventually played for Frito-Lay in the Don Cherry League. In the 1990s, he helped coach kids hockey from Tyke to Midget. Bryan says it is always rewarding to help kids develop their hockey skills and see the authentic smiles on their faces. In 1990, Bryan was asked if he was interested in team roping. He thought it might be something worth trying so he purchased a horse, went to a team roping school and practised every day. Eventually he went on to rope in small

19 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 19 Faces at the Races: Bryan Hebson, continued jackpots. While helping break a colt for a friend, Bryan was kicked in the ankle, which broke his bones and required pins and screws to repair. After recovering, he roped for a couple of years and then decided to take a break and focus on his career in sales. Bryan was looking to move back to Calgary and start a new career in the fall of 2004 when out of the blue he was asked if he would be interested in helping market the CPCA. He started with the CPCA as Marketing Manager in January In April 2004, he was asked to participate as a heeler in the Kamloops Dally Up Team Roping Jackpot. He entered with five partners. To his surprise, he and his first partner were leading the 200- team competition after the first round. They were the last team to go into the final round. Bryan says it was an intense feeling, backing into the box knowing they were the last team to go and that they had a chance to win the whole thing. Everything worked perfectly for Bryan and his partner. His header caught, turned the steer and Bryan s horse put him in the perfect position to double up the heels. They rode away with the Dally Up team roping saddles and buckles. Bryan with one of his race horses. For years, Bryan suggested Frito-Lay should invest in sponsoring a chuckwagon. He didn t know any drivers personally, so he suggested Reg Johnstone since Reg s nephew was one of Bryan s sales reps at Frito-Lay. In March 2004, Frito-Lay agreed to purchase a tarp for the Calgary Stampede after bidding on driver Shane Nolin. Frito-Lay leadership then asked Bryan to be the marketing coordinator and liaison between the company and Shane, and he set up various marketing initiatives and customer hosting. It was then that Bryan was introduced to the other side of wagon racing. The first few years were challenging. By 2007, with the suggestion of WPCA driver Ross Knight, Bryan started working on building the CPCA race radio broadcasts. Along with his sponsorship and marketing roles, Bryan felt media was going to be key to the growth of the sport. He continued to expand the broadcasts and provided colour commentary to further market the sport of chuckwagon racing to a larger audience. In 2014, he met Julie Johnston, who, like Bryan, was a follower of western events. For the past two summers, Julie has been very supportive and understanding of the demands and expectations that a lifestyle in the chuckwagon racing industry puts on those involved. Bryan has always had a passion for horses. Since his childhood, his family has attended the thoroughbred races at Stampede Park. He spent many days down by the paddock checking out the horses and analyzing their performance history in the race program. In the spring of 2014, they decided to get into the horse racing game themselves. They had pretty good success in year one, with three wins, and a second and third in six starts. Horse racing has turned into a hobby that the whole

20 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 20 Faces at the Races: Bryan Hebson, continued family can share together. They currently own three horses, including a two-year-old they hope to get a few starts in later this summer. While Bryan and his father are connected on most of the horses, his mother and sister have now joined in on the two-year-old. Bryan s mom is also a big fan of horses; for the last 20 years or so, the family s Mother s Day tradition has been attending the horse races. During that time, Bryan and his mom have enjoyed Mother s Day at Stampede Park in Calgary, Northlands Park in Edmonton, Rocky Mountain Turf Club in Lethbridge, Alberta Downs in Lacombe and this past year at Century Downs in Balzac. After 11 summers of working with the CPCA, Bryan started to think about making a change. He thought it might be time to pursue a new challenge, one that was closer to home. For a number of years he had been invited by various WPCA members to come work with them. Out of curiosity, he decided to Clockwise from top left: Bryan fishing in Port Renfew; being recognized by the Frog Lake Committee in 2014; hobbling around at the Wainwright Stampede in 2013; posing with his team roping championship saddle. approach WPCA leadership to see if there was any serious interest to having him be part of their team. In the fall of 2015, he joined the WPCA as its Director of Marketing. After five months with the organization, Bryan has come to believe that a strong WPCA is key to sustaining the sport of chuckwagon racing. He feels that for chuckwagon racing to sustain itself and the western heritage, it needs corporate investors for the association and the WPCA drivers, just as any professional sport and its participants need. Communities benefit from hosting wagon racing events, Bryan says, and local businesses need to support their local wagon committees as well. He welcomes hearing from anyone interested in partnering with the WPCA or working with an individual driver. He can be reached at bryan.hebson@wpca.com.