StettlerLocal.com July 14, 2021 @ 3:50pm
The Steel Wheel Stampede returns on Saturday the 17th after having to skip last year due to COVID restrictions.
Although the event is traditionally a 2-day event, this year has been reduced to a 1-day rough stock rodeo. Largely due to the limited time to properly plan and organize, it’s been slated as a rough stock rodeo with both broncs, and saddle broncs, as well as bulls.
Steel Wheel Stampede Vice-Chair, Sean Nolls, says that fundraising efforts have gone a lot better than they were expecting. Nolls states they have gone over their numbers and find they are close to 2019 numbers which includes a scoreboard sponsor.
“We’re a sports tourism town. To not have sports tourism last year is so weird.” -SWS Vice-Chair, Sean Nolls
Steel Wheel Stampede events include The Town and County’s Pancake Breakfast, the parade, and the rodeo itself. Due to the short amount of time to put the event together, there aren’t any bands slated for the evening cabaret but the SWS committee has lined up a DJ for the celebration. There are also 3 food trucks booked for the rodeo and of course the beer gardens. Nolls says trick riders will be performing during the intermission.
The Steel Wheel Committee is Chaired by Heather Weatherly, with Sean Nolls as Vice-Chair and approximately 10 other members. Nolls says that when the event is two days they operate with over 100 volunteers for security, admission, grandstands, beer gardens, and the rodeo itself. The 1-day event is still a large undertaking and has roughly 60-70 volunteers.
When the province announced lifting restrictions completely in June, the committee quickly started throwing things together to ensure they could bring it back for the community this year.
Carson Ellis, Reporter
StettlerLocal.com