The 38th annual Sundre Pro Rodeo drew out a record number of people despite not having a midway this year.
"It's incredible," said Shane Crouch, president of the Sundre Rodeo and Race Association, during an interview with the Round Up following Sunday's final performance.
"I keep saying every year our rodeo gets better and better, and I think we even surpassed things again this year."
Based on admission sales from Saturday's two performances, he estimated about 11,500 rodeo fans came through the gates, up from last year's approximately 10,500, which itself was up from the previous year's total of more than 9,000.
The rodeo and race association strives to put on the best show possible every year, he said.
"That's what it's about to me. Without them ó between our fans and sponsorship ó we can't do this."
The livestock and competitors were again top-notch this year, he said.
"Franklin and Calgary Stampede, they bring their best stock here for us," he said, going on to add, "We had some world and Canadian champions throughout the whole weekend. That's huge for us, shows we're doing something right!"
Sundre resident and former cowboy Jack Nichol said he has taken pleasure in watching the event grow over the years, and added that he also enjoys seeing "The success of the rodeo, the attendance, and the enthusiasm from sponsors and the people who support it."
Rodeo fan Bob Mastin, who lives northeast of Sundre, loves the event and said his favourite aspect of the sport is the bull-riding event.
"I got lucky this year," he told the Round Up after Sunday's show, adding he had been given VIP tickets for the stands overlooking the chutes.
"Never been there in my life; I got to sit right above the chutes. I stood up right over the chutes and got to watch everything," he said.
"It's always a good show," he said about the pro rodeo.
"You get many of the same cowboys and the same stock as the Calgary Stampede, but you can get right back to the chutes and watch them warm up and get on their stock."
In the absence of a midway, members of the McDougal Chapel arranged to have a bouncy castle obstacle course set up on Friday and Saturday with help from volunteers.
"It's awesome, there's always been a lineup, and it's had a really good response," youth pastor Russ Klassen told the Round Up Saturday afternoon.
"The kids are having a ton of fun!" he said, adding parents seemed to appreciate having an outlet for their children and that volunteers helped to make it possible.
"It was nice to have the community involvement."
With barely a few drops of rain throughout the mostly sunny weekend, organizers could not have asked for more ideal conditions, said Jim Bowhay, vice- president of the rodeo and race association.
"The weather couldn't be better," he said.
There were almost two records broken this year. Aside from attendance, Bowhay pointed out that local Sundre cowboy Trey Gallais and his team roping partner Kasper Roy, from Mossleigh, narrowly missed setting a Canadian Finals Rodeo record. They finished their run in 3.8 seconds to place first, while the record is 3.7 seconds.
"So it's been a great weekend," he said.
To boot, everyone largely seemed to demonstrate courtesy, said volunteer rodeo worker Sean Davis.
"People were really respectful."
