Richer Rodeo enriches community that built it

This isn’t Richer’s first rodeo.

The 10th edition of the Richer Roughstock Rodeo is the latest chapter in the story of a community that wanted to do something grand, and ended up with a three-day event that draws thousands of visitors and 257 competitors from around the world this weekend to a village of just over 600.

Patrick Stolwyk is now president of the rodeo committee. But before that, he was a guy with an idea.

“This has been going on in my brain for quite a while. My idea was always to develop a festival so that my grandchildren will come back to the town. An annual event for everybody so people would make their summer plans around it,” said Stolwyk, who has been involved with rodeo since he was 19.

He took that idea to the late RM of Ste Anne councillor Brent Wery when he saw the local community club was looking for a fundraising idea. Wery suggested he get Mark Lanouette on board.

“Mark is an important part of the community. He’s an influencer,” said Stolwyk.

“And if he felt it was important enough, then people would at least give it a shot.”

That first rodeo in 2013 drew 2,400 people thanks in large part to the support of Richer’s Southeast neighbours and Stolwyk seeking out advice from the biggest rodeo of them all, the Calgary Stampede, in ways to improve and entice people to see what Richer has to offer. Those 15 minutes, partly on an elevator during the Stampede itself over a decade ago are why Stolwyk said the little touches that make all the difference in creating an atmosphere were added, like the bales guiding the way on the road.

The community and neighbourly support has turned into a benefit for the whole region.

Eugene Sabot has been at every rodeo since 2014, and is in charge of a lot of the logistic nuts and bolts that make things run smoothly. He told of the reaction he got when putting up rodeo posters in La Broquerie. Sabot was a bit weary of taking up so much wall space with the large poster.

“He said no don’t feel bad. They feel the effect of all that traffic,” said Sabot, whose wife Louise is committee secretary.

Restaurants, campgrounds, and all other businesses that feel the effect of thousands of people ready to have fun and spend some cash get a boost.

Last year, over 7,500 people from all over Manitoba and beyond came through the Richer Rodeo gates, and it has been named Heartland Rodeo Association rodeo of the year eight times.

“The community of Richer and some of the surrounding areas have got behind us in ways we’ve never dreamed of really. If it wasn’t for all the sponsorship, stuff like this just [doesn’t] happen,” said Stolwyk.

“This is Southeast Manitoba, right? The people in Southeast Manitoba, when there’s something good going on, they get behind it in ways you can’t even imagine.”

Happening this year

A big reason for the continued growth is how more and more volunteers join, allowing the people who put it all together to keep adding more and more attractions off Dawson Road.

Last year was the first participation of Bull Riders Canada and some top bull riders from around the globe at the Friday night Richer Rodeo Bullnanza. There was also the addition of a grain bin VIP bar. This year, it is a newly built bar in the multiplex for the adults and a new Teen Active Zone Saturday and Sunday.

Rodeo committee member and parade marshal Elise Bourrier explained how the teen zone is meant to capture those who often fall in between at big events.

“We’ve got things for the younger kids; we’ve got things for 18-plus, but we haven’t had a whole lot for that in between middle zone,” said Bourrier.

Inflatables dedicated to older kids and teens will be set up.

“There’s going to be a jousting one [and] the foam axe throwing one,” she described, with potentially more.

As parade marshal, Bourrier is rounding up the biggest parade Richer has ever seen with close to 40 entries confirmed. The parade starts at 11 a.m. Saturday after the 8 a.m. pancake breakfast at the Young at Heart Club. There is another breakfast on Sunday.

Gates open Friday at noon. The trading post is filled up with 44 vendors. Beer gardens open at 4 p.m. ahead of the 7 p.m. Bullnanza and 9 p.m. Giant Rodeo Social.

Saturday and Sunday is when the Heartland Rodeo Association takes over the grounds starting at 2 p.m. There is a wide range of things to cheer from bareback riding and steer wrestling, to goat tying and barrel racing. A gymkhana will take place Sunday morning.

The kids get dirty too. They can sign up for mutton busting and the chicken scramble.

The youngest cowboys and cowgirls can also enjoy the petting zoo, bouncy castles, a roving magician, pony rides, reptiles, face painting and more.

For adults who thought they could give bull riding a go, there is a mechanical version available to try. The Saturday night concert is headlined by the Sean Taylor Band. The fun keeps going until 10 p.m. Sunday.

There is also the hope that fibre internet is hooked up by this weekend to alleviate pressure on the cell tower trying to handle all the sharing of photos and videos from Richer, plus the ATM transactions. Sabot said Starlink satellite internet is the backup plan.

Built and maintained by volunteers

The consistent effort of the people who started it all, and newcomers joining have made the rodeo and in many ways Richer itself what they are today.

The rodeo is literally built by these people who volunteer, and the businesses who support them. That goes for the bleachers built by Lanouette, to the Premier Tech Multiplex that covers revellers.

“I think there’s $300,000, plus another couple hundred thousand in labour that were free,” said committee member Dan Guetre, who helps with advertising, runs the general store and assists with the trading post and busking stage.

He said there were over 120 volunteers that make things possible. Time they are able to give range from four hours to preparing for next August’s rodeo starting in September.

“Think about that, that’s insanity. Could you imagine if a quarter of Winnipeg got involved in a festival?” said Stolwyk, taking pride in his community’s efforts.

How far it’s come

All the people who spoke of their time with the Richer Rodeo put an emphasis on what it has meant for the community at large.

Bourrier was just 18 years old when called up for duty for the first rodeo in 2013, calling people on cell phones and landlines in a time before everyone texted and emailed on smartphones. She has seen the face of Richer change as much as the way she gets in touch with sponsors and parade participants.

“This rodeo has brought so much to our community. Our park has flourished because of it,” said Bourrier.

“Now there’s a covered skating arena with actual hockey arena boards and a cement base, it’s professionally done. We have a Zamboni that does the ice now. Our play structure has been improved. We can now host a ton of different events at the park because of the Premier Multiplex. We have a permanent rodeo arena that a lot of the locals come to — anyone can come an ride their horse in the arena, so some people host gymkhanas in there.

“So just seeing how much one event can bring a community together,” she exclaimed.

Sabot explained how everything being built up has become much more turnkey, meaning things made for the rodeo are used for much more all year round.

But it goes well beyond the tangible infrastructure for Richer.

“I believe the rodeo is a catalyst to changing the entire attitude of this community,” said Guetre.

“There is very little vandalism with multiple other events, and never a problem finding the volunteers for it now. The community wants to be involved with us, and they’ve seen how the community… has developed.”

“It’s a positive attitude here.”

The future is looking sunny for the rodeo and for Richer.

“The sun, it rises in the east. All good things happen in the east,” said Stolwyk.