Pride and passion ride into Richer for annual rodeo

This might not be Calgary and the Saddledome, but during the weekend when the Richer Rough Stock Rodeo takes to the saddle, you’d never know it as competitors of all ages vie to earn one of the highly prized Richer Rodeo belt buckles.

The annual event that has often won the title of rodeo of the year takes place Aug. 7 to 9 at the Dawson Trail Park.

“We’ve doubled the prize money this year,” said rodeo committee president Pat Stolwyk. “But like one lady coming from Saskatchewan to compete told me, ‘I’m not coming for the money, I’m coming to get me one of them buckles.’”

That big stampede attitude, by both those volunteering to put on the event and those coming from all over the prairies to compete, is at the heart of the Richer weekend.

Last year’s attendance at the Richer Rodeo was in excess of 14,000 people, which for a small community of under 500 residents is an enormous volume of folks to accommodate. That one in five residents is a volunteer at the rodeo is testimony to its growing popularity, but the construction of new stands and accommodations to handle the influx is the real benchmark of success.

“Parking is a doozy so arrive early,” said longtime organizer Elise Bourrier. “The configuration is different this year in the hopes we can get more people seated. That has been a challenge in years past, making sure people coming into the park actually have a chance of viewing the rodeo itself. It gets crowded in there!”

Stolwyk adds, “We’ve changed it because we need at least an extra 1,500 seats, and we’re putting in a set of grandstands at the other end. That’s based on necessity … we’re expanding, and we’re gonna keep expanding until we can’t expand no more.”

Smaller venues like Grunthal and Richer are doing their part to feed the increasing popularity of rodeo in Manitoba by operating rough stock schools and local events where those learning the sport can meet and absorb tips from those holding professional cards. They also help professionals earn points needed to maintain their professional status and secure invitations to rodeos with big prize money.

“Here is the simple truth for us, if it’s not for the volunteers and the sponsors and the associations involved, this just doesn’t happen,” says Stolwyk.

That dedication to the local volunteers and sponsors shows itself in an expected way for those attending the rodeo, and that is in the conspicuous absence of a midway. When visitors arrive at the Dawson Trail Park, they won’t find rides or any of the traditional attractions one would expect to see at other Manitoba festivals like those held in Niverville or Steinbach.

“The reason we don’t have a midway … is that the midway takes all of the money that they make there. If I am a parent, and I’m going to spend either $75 for the midway or $50 for the rodeo, I can’t afford both. So, to keep as true to rodeo as we possibly can, and to keep (sponsors) backing up the athletes with decent prize money, we say no to the midway and keep the proceeds for the athletes and investing (in Richer) for next year’s event,” says Stolwyk.

Both the sport and the occasion of the weekend-long event are intentionally built around attracting youth, specifically teens, and to encourage them to attend the event and be participants in the community.

“I had a mentor years back and he always told me, ‘Never forget about the kids. They are the single most important thing. You can sell all the alcohol you want, but if you don’t take care of the kids you got nothing,’” said Stolwyk.