Official Truck of the WPCA TURNING THE BARRELS April 2016 Newsletter Volume 6... · TURNING THE...

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TURNING THE BARRELSApril 2016

IN THIS ISSUE

CALGARY STAMPEDE AUCTIONSee Page 2

REMEMBERING FORMER DRIVER DON CHAPINSee Page 5

2016 WPCA TOUR AUCTIONSee Page 6

GRANDE PRAIRIE STOMPEDE AUCTIONSee 5

FACES AT THE RACESOur Director of Marketing Bryan Hebson.

See Page 15

NEW SPONSOROLS 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 www.olstubs.com.

Volume 5 Issue 42 halfmileofhell.com

The Official Newsletter of the World Professional Chuckwagon Association

The 1991 Calgary Stampede Canvas Auction.

Photo courtesy of the Billy Melville Archive Collection

One from the Archives

Official Truck of the WPCA

TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE2


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 2016.

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 2015. The median bid on all 36 wagons was $55,000, down $20,000 from the median bid of $75,000 in 2015. The low bid was $37,500, down $7,500 from the low bid of 2015.

Calgary Stampede Auction

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).



Driver Sponsor Amount Bid

Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T’ina Nation $120,000Logan Gorst PCL Construction Management Inc. $115,000Kelly Sutherland Friends of the King $100,000Jason Glass Glass Racing $95,000Vern Nolin Denton’s $90,000Jamie Laboucane Rogers Communications $90,000Mark Sutherland The Cowboy’s Casino Posse $85,000Luke Tournier Express Employment Professionals $85,000Troy Dorchester CARSTAR Collision & Glass Service $85,000Gary Gorst BD&P Put the Boots to Hunger $80,000Rick Fraser The Mavericks Chuckwagon Team $80,000Layne MacGillivray ATB Financial $75,000Colt Cosgrave High River Autoplex & RV $70,000Doug Irvine B & R Eckel’s Transport Ltd. $65,000Mike Vigen Rae and Company $62,500Kris Molle visitlethbridge.com $62,500Codey McCurrach iON Secured Networks $55,000John Walters The Brakeman Foundation $55,000Jordie Fike Shaw GMC Chevrolet Buick $55,000

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




Roger Moore Lake Louise Ski Area $52,500Chance Bensmiller Western RV Country $52,500Obrey Motowylo US Flood Control $50,000Kirk Sutherland Chostpine Environmental Services Ltd. $50,000Chanse Vigen Jason Adair & Friends $47,500Mitch Sutherland Manteo Group of Companies Ltd. $45,000Chad Harden Chariot Express $45,000Chad Fike Homes By Us $45,000Layne Bremner Friends of the Mavericks $45,000BJ Carey Professional Excavators $45,000Darcy Flad The Legends $45,000Ross Knight The Kidz Wagon $45,000Ray Mitsuing Prairie Advisory Group $42,500Rae Croteau, Jr. Total Golf $42,500Jim Knight Elegant Tributes $42,500Evan Salmond Horsepower Inc. $42,000Dallas Dyck Calgary Auto Mall $37,500

Calgary Stampede Auction, continued

Left: Logan Gorst enjoying the bid process at Stampede Park.Right: Codey McCurrach waits for his tarp bid results for the 2016 Calgary Stampede.



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 1977.

Don drove at the Calgary Stampede for the first time in the Saturday Morning Round-Up races in 1977 and again in 1978. His best season came in 1984 when he placed 14th in the world standings and qualified for the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby in 1985.

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.

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 (Darrel l ) 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.

Remembering Former Driver Don Chapin

Don ChapinSeptember 5, 1947-March 17, 2016

Don Chapin racing in Strathmore in 1993.Photo courtesy of the Billy Melville Archive Collection



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.

2016 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.



Saskatoon


Gary Gorst HJR Asphalt $8,000Chad Fike Eagle Builders $5,250Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T’ina Nation $5,000Obrey Motowylo H & E Oilfield Services Ltd. $5,000Luke Tournier Brass & Pocket $5,000Roger Moore Rusway Construction Ltd. $5,000Logan Gorst BCDR Mechanical Repair Services $5,000Colt Cosgrave Trinidad Drilling $5,000Dustin Gorst Ashley Richards Memorial $5,000Doug Irvine B & R Eckel’s Transport Ltd. $4,000Ross Knight Winacott Equipment Group $4,000Mitch Sutherland GMC Dealers of Alberta $3,750Evan Salmond Friends of Salmond Racing $3,000Jason Glass Glass Racing $3,000Kelly Sutherland Friends of the King $3,000Vern Nolin Denton’s $3,000John Walters 519793 Alta Ltd. $2,750Chad Harden University of Saskatchewan Huskies Alumni $2,7 50Mark Sutherland VJV Auction $2,750Layne MacGillivray High River Autoplex & RV $2,750Kirk Sutherland Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500Rick Fraser Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500Rae Croteau, Jr. Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500Jordie Fike Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500Codey McCurrach Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500Troy Dorchester Friends of Dorchester Racing $2,500Cody Ridsdale Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500Darcy Flad Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500Cliff Cunningham Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500Troy Flad Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500Mike Vigen Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500Cody Fraser Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500Chanse Vigen Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500Layne Bremner Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500Jim Knight Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500Curtis Morin Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races $2,500

2016 WPCA Tour Auction, continued



Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede


Chad Fike Eagle Builders $5,250Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T’ina Nation $5,000Obrey Motowylo H & E Oilfield Services Ltd. $5,000Colt Cosgrave Trinidad Drilling $5,000Troy Dorchester Lafarge Canada $5,000Doug Irvine B & R Eckel’s Transport Ltd. $4,000Logan Gorst JEG Contracting $4,000Mitch Sutherland GMC Dealers of Alberta $3,750Jason Glass Glass Racing $3,000Kelly Sutherland Friends of the King $3,000Rae Croteau, Jr. Tornado Projects $3,000Chad Harden Red Velvet Hair Salon $3,000Codey McCurrach Adventure Enterprises $3,000Layne MacGillivray TrailBlazer RV Centre $3,000Mark Sutherland Bushape Supervision $2,750Roger Moore Rusway Construction Ltd. $2,750Dustin Gorst Annex Enterprises $2,750Vern Nolin Denton’s $2,500Kirk Sutherland Bow Slope Shipping Association Co-op $2,250Rick Fraser MacArthur Ranching $2,250Gary Gorst Trophies R Us $2,250Mike Vigen Dynamic Industrial $2,250Chanse Vigen Graham Racing $2,250Evan Salmond Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000Luke Tournier Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000John Walters Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000Jordie Fike Weir Construction $2,000Ross Knight Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000Cody Ridsdale Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000Darcy Flad Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000Cliff Cunningham Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000Troy Flad Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000Cody Fraser Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000Layne Bremner Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000Jim Knight Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000Curtis Morin Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede $2,000




Guy Weadick Days (High River)

Driver Sponsor Bid Amount

Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T’ina Nation $15,000Obrey Motowylo H & E Oilfield Services Ltd. $6,000Mark Sutherland K-Link Development Inc. $6,000Jordie Fike Shawne Excavating & Trucking Ltd. $6,000Chad Fike Eagle Builders $5,250Layne MacGillivray Nabors Drilling/Wrangler Rentals $5,250Jason Glass Glass Racing $4,000Kelly Sutherland Friends of the King $4,000Doug Irvine B & R Eckel’s Transport Ltd. $4,000Colt Cosgrave High River Autoplex & RV $4,000Mitch Sutherland GMC Dealers of Alberta $3,750Evan Salmond Friends of Salmond Racing $3,000Luke Tournier National Motor Coach $3,000Gary Gorst TCB Trailer Services $3,000Rae Croteau, Jr. Highwood Distillers $3,000Chad Harden Spartan Controls $3,000Codey McCurrach Okotoks GM $3,000Troy Dorchester Pure Chem Services $3,000Dustin Gorst Blackjack Livestock Co. $3,000John Walters 519793 Alta Ltd. $2,750Roger Moore Rusway Construction Ltd. $2,750Cody Ridsdale Four Construction Ltd. $2,750Troy Flad O’Chiese Energy $2,750Chanse Vigen Chanse Vigen Outlaws $2,750Vern Nolin Denton’s $2,750Kirk Sutherland Guy Weadick Days $2,500Rick Fraser Guy Weadick Days $2,500Logan Gorst Guy Weadick Days $2,500Ross Knight The Kidz Wagon $2,500Darcy Flad XY Bar Ranches $2,500Cliff Cunningham Guy Weadick Days $2,500Mike Vigen Guy Weadick Days $2,500Cody Fraser Guy Weadick Days $2,500Layne Bremner Guy Weadick Days $2,500Jim Knight Guy Weadick Days $2,500Curtis Morin Guy Weadick Days $2,500




Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship


Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T’ina Nation $10,000Logan Gorst Flashpoint Electric Inc. $8,000Layne MacGillivray Cougar Fuels $7,500Luke Tournier SITE Energy Services Ltd. $6,500Obrey Motowylo H & E Oilfield Services Ltd. $6,000Doug Irvine B & R Eckel’s Transport Ltd. $6,000Mark Sutherland Friends of Sutherland Racing $6,000Layne Bremner Bonnyville Home Hardware $5,500Chad Fike Eagle Builders $5,250Roger Moore Rusway Construction Ltd. $5,000Colt Cosgrave Trinidad Drilling $5,000Troy Dorchester Lafarge Canada $5,000Dustin Gorst United Travel Services $5,000John Walters 519793 Alta Ltd. $4,500Rae Croteau, Jr. Rapid Response $4,500Jordie Fike Friends of George Normand $4,250Jason Glass Glass Racing $4,000Cliff Cunningham Ron May Consulting $4,000Mitch Sutherland GMC Dealers of Alberta $3,750Gary Gorst NCSG/Scorpion Industries $3,500Rick Fraser Friends of Team 23 $3,000Kelly Sutherland Friends of the King $3,000Chad Harden Spartan Controls $3,000Codey McCurrach Ziegler’s Oilfield Consulting Ltd. $3,000Cody Ridsdale 413 $3,000Cody Fraser Trailblazer RV Centre $3,000Vern Nolin Denton’s $3,000Chanse Vigen Triple M Plumbing $2,750Kirk Sutherland Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship $2,500Evan Salmond Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship $2,500Ross Knight Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship $2,500Darcy Flad Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship $2,500Troy Flad Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship $2,500Mike Vigen Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship $2,500Jim Knight Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship $2,500Curtis Morin Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship $2,500




Strathmore Stampede


Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T’ina Nation $10,000Obrey Motowylo H & E Oilfield Services Ltd. $6,000Chad Fike Eagle Builders $5,250Layne MacGillivray Breakaway Projects $5,250Troy Dorchester Team Rig & Supply $5,000Jordie Fike Bro-Tech Plumbing & Heating $4,500Jason Glass Glass Racing $4,000Kelly Sutherland Friends of the King $4,000Doug Irvine B & R Eckel’s Transport Ltd. $4,000Colt Cosgrave High River Autoplex & RV $4,000Mark Sutherland Jesco Electric $3,750Mitch Sutherland GMC Dealers of Alberta $3,750John Walters Rob Knight Trucklines $3,500Logan Gorst Chariot Express $3,250Troy Flad Ironwood Building Corp. $3,250Cody Fraser Sweet Cheeks $3,250Rick Fraser Friends of Team 23 $3,000Gary Gorst TCB Trailer Services $3,000Codey McCurrach Strathmore Ford $3,000Ross Knight The Kidz Wagon $3,000Dustin Gorst Blackjack Livestock Co. $3,000Rae Croteau, Jr. Highwood Distillers $2,750Roger Moore Rusway Construction Ltd. $2,750Mike Vigen SPR Construction $2,750Chanse Vigen Chanse Vigen Outlaws $2,750Kirk Sutherland Pinnacle Medical Centre $2,500Evan Salmond Tour Promo Co. $2,500Luke Tournier Strathmore Stampede $2,500Chad Harden Spartan Controls $2,500Cody Ridsdale Barbee Jay Supplies $2,500Cliff Cunningham Strathmore Stampede $2,500Vern Nolin Denton’s $2,500Layne Bremner Strathmore Stampede $2,500Jim Knight Strathmore Stampede $2,500Curtis Morin Strathmore Stampede $2,500Darcy Flad XY Bar Ranches $2,250




Battle of the North (Dawson Creek, BC)


John Walters Arrow Insurance Agency Ltd. $6,500Obrey Motowylo H & E Oilfield Services Ltd. $6,000Jason Glass Glass Racing $6,000Mark Sutherland Friends of Sutherland Racing $6,000Kelly Sutherland Friends of the King $5,500Chad Fike Eagle Builders $5,250Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T’ina Nation $5,000Doug Irvine B & R Eckle’s Transport Ltd. $5,000Codey McCurrach Sirius Instrumentation and Controls Inc. $5,000Colt Cosgrave Trinidad Drilling $5,000Cody Ridsdale DND Electric $5,000Rae Croteau, Jr. AB Security $4,250Logan Gorst Red Oak Rentals $4,000Kirk Sutherland Celtic Construction $3,750Luke Tournier Keddies Tack & Western Wear $3,750Mitch Sutherland GMC Dealers of Alberta $3,750Cody Fraser Cooper Bros $3,750Gary Gorst Northstar Hydrovac Inc. $3,500Jordie Fike Rafter G Land & Cattle $3,500Troy Dorchester Friends of Dorchester $3,500Dustin Gorst Grande Prairie Airport $3,500Layne MacGillivray Aurora Farms $3,500Rick Fraser VJV Dawson Creek Auction $3,250Cliff Cunningham MDJ Oilfield Services $3,250Layne Bremner Aurora Farms $3,250Evan Salmond Friends of Salmond Racing $3,000Chad Harden Spartan Controls $3,000Troy Flad Rycroft Ranch Supply $3,000Mike Vigen Riley Brown $3,000Chanse Vigen Northwest Cattle Co. $3,000Jim Knight Pouce Coupe ESSO $3,000Roger Moore Rusway Construction Ltd. $2,750Ross Knight DCEA $2,500Darcy Flad XY Bar Ranches $2,500Vern Nolin Denton’s $2,500Curtis Morin DCEA $2,500




Battle of the Rockies (Rocky Mountain House)


Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T’ina Nation $10,000Obrey Motowylo H & E Oilfield Services Ltd. $7,000Layne MacGillivray Rai-Lynn Trucking $6,000Cody Fraser VJV Auction $5,500Chad Fike Eagle Builders $5,250Cody Ridsdale Triple K Oilfield Services $5,000Colt Cosgrave Trinidad Drilling $5,000Logan Gorst Speight Construction $5,000Troy Dorchester Eldorado Pressure $5,000Roger Moore Pidherney’s $4,750John Walters McMeekin Resources Ltd./Pierre’s Concrete $4,500Chad Harden Spartan Controls $4,000Codey McCurrach Hayduk Picker Services $4,000Doug Irvine B & R Eckel’s Transport Ltd. $4,000Jason Glass Glass Racing $4,000Kelly Sutherland Friends of the King $4,000Rick Fraser Friends of Team 23 $4,000Mitch Sutherland GMC Dealers of Alberta $3,750Chanse Vigen Terra Firma Resources $3,500Gary Gorst Pidherney’s $3,250Luke Tournier Bramall $3,250Troy Flad O’Chiese Energy $3,250Jordie Fike Shawne Excavating & Trucking Ltd. $3,000Rae Croteau, Jr. Challand Pipeline $3,000Cliff Cunningham Lindale Truck Service $2,750Mark Sutherland Peacock Inn Ltd. $2,750Ross Knight Skyline Collision Ltd. $2,750Curtis Morin RMCA $2,500Darcy Flad RMCA $2,500Dustin Gorst Blackjack Livestock Co. $2,500Evan Salmond RMCA $2,500Jim Knight RMCA $2,500Kirk Sutherland RMCA $2,500Layne Bremner RMCA $2,500Mike Vigen RMCA $2,500Vern Nolin Denton’s $2,500





Left: Driver Colt Cosgrave and longtime sponsor Doug MacLaughlin from High River Auto Plex.Right: Outrider Eddie Melville and driver Chanse Vigen.

Drivers Jason Glass enjoying the tarp auction process.

Photos by Ed Wittchen

Left: Driver Chad Harden always working with his networks.Right: Billy Melville entering the results of the March 22 WPCA Pro Tour tarp 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

Grande Prairie Stompede Auction

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



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.”

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.


Chad Harden Spartan Controls $10,750Obrey Motowylo H & E Oilfield Services Ltd. $7,500Kurt Bensmiller Tsuu T’ina Nation $7,500Layne MacGillivray Lyons Production Services $6,000Jason Glass Glass Racing $6,000Mark Sutherland Friends of Sutherland Racing $6,000Dustin Gorst Grande Prairie Airport $5,500Cody Ridsdale Triple K Oilfield Services $5,500Logan Gorst River Stone Golf Course $5,500Kirk Sutherland Lakeside Oilfield Services $5,250Darcy Flad The Legends $5,000Rick Fraser Keddies Tack & Western Wear $5,000Luke Tournier Barrack Energy $5,000Doug Irvine B & R Eckel’s Transport Ltd. $5,000Troy Dorchester LaFarge Canada $5,000Mitch Sutherland Ken Sargent GMC $5,000Codey McCurrach Worldwide Matrix Inc. $5,000Colt Cosgrave Trinidad Drilling $5,000

Grande Prairie Stompede Auction, continued

Grande Prairie Stompede Committee Chair Terri Ellen Sudnik with John Walters and Miss Rodeo Canada Samantha Stokes.




Cody Fraser GP Corn Maze/Country Roadz RV Park $5,000Rae Croteau, Jr. Red Oak Industrial $4,750Kelly Sutherland Happy Trails RV $4,750Gary Gorst Northstar Hydrovac Inc. $4,500Layne Bremner Trumpeter Local 26 ATA $4,500Cliff Cunningham MBJ Oilfield $4,250Ross Knight Initial Industries Ltd. $4,000Evan Salmond Friends of Salmond Racing $4,000Chanse Vigen Red Oak Industrial $4,000Jordie Fike H & M Meats $4,000Chad Fike VJV Livestock Auction $4,000Vern Nolin Denton’s $4,000Curtis Morin Kirk & Crew $4,000John Walters GP Stompede $3,750Troy Flad GP Stompede $3,750Jim Knight GP Stompede $3,750Mike Vigen GP Stompede $3,750Roger Moore GP Stompede $3,750

Grande Prairie Stompede Auction, continued

The Grande Prairie Stompede presents its annual donation cheque to Evergreen Park.



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,

he started working at Ca lga ry 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

Faces at the Races: Bryan Hebson

Above: Tom Hebson, Bryan’s grandfather.Left: Bryan Hebson w i t h h i s m o m a t Century Downs, with his dad at the Calgary Stampede and with his t h e n - 9 8 - y e a r - o l d grandmother.



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.

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.

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.

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 2005.

T h e f i r s t f e w y e a r s w e r e challenging. By 2007, with the suggestion of WPCA driver Ross Knight, Bryan started working on building the CPCA race radio b roadcas t s . A long wi th h i s 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 fur ther market the spor t 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

Faces at the Races: Bryan Hebson, continued

Bryan with one of his race horses.



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 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 [email protected].

Faces at the Races: Bryan Hebson, continued

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.

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