By TREENA MIELKE
Rodeo fans will have a chance to watch all the thrills, spills and fast-paced action of local cowboys this year thanks to a decision by the Rimbey Exhibition and Rodeo Board to bring a CARA-sponsored event to town.
Hazel Street from the rodeo board said members decided a Central Alberta Rodeo Association rodeo would be a better fit for Rimbey than the Foothills Rodeo Association (FRA) event that has been held in the past.
“It was too expensive and we were not getting the crowds,” she said. “This way we can have local cowboys participate and the crowd will know them. It is not a professional rodeo but we will have more local people (taking part).”
This year’s CARA rodeo will be held July 8 to 10.
“It used to be held the Father’s Day weekend in June, but we had to change the date as that is the only weekend CARA had open for the summer,” said Street.
The rodeo board plans to hire West Coast Amusements to bring its midway to Rimbey for the rodeo. It is also planning a parade and meeting with businesses to organize a pancake breakfast.
The Rimbey Rodeo has been held for 45 years and been sponsored by the FRA for a number of years.
Last year a small local rodeo was held with no midway