The Innisfail Professional Rodeo is back for its 57th year at the Daines Ranch starting June 16th, and Danny Daines said it’s going to be a great time.
“Every one we put on we always look forward to, but the stock is going to be good, the cowboys are going to be good and we just know it’s going to be a good rodeo again,” he said.
The rodeo runs June 16th – 18th, always taking place on Father’s Day weekend. Kicking off the rodeo will be a live performance, dancing, and of course pro rodeo action.
“Kicking off is Drew Gregory who will be there Friday night. He’s the new young guy rippin’ up the charts with that new music and it’s really good. And then Steve Arsenault will hit the stage Saturday night and he’s been at the ranch before and everybody talks about him and they all like him,” said Daines.
At 6 p.m. on Friday, wild mutton busting for the kids will take place followed by the pro rodeo at 7 p.m.
When people pull into the Town of Innisfail Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m., a mile long giant parade will take place, and Daines said it’s going to be a good one. The parade will feature the Robinson family from Innisfail. Larry Robinson is a six time Canadian tie down calf roping champion, who’s competed at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR), a big accolade in the rodeo world.
“He’s rodeoed all over North America. He is one of the best in his events, and it’s nice to see him being honoured there as a parade marshal,” said Daines.
On Saturday, more rodeo action will take place, along with some featured stock of the Calgary Stampede.
Sunday will then conclude with another rodeo performance.
Meanwhile, Daines said over the years the feedback has been great.
“I’m proud to say it’s maybe put Innisfail a little bit on the map with the rodeo world,” he said.
The youngest brother of seven, Daines said four of his oldest brothers were strong rodeo competitors, and it’s continued to drift into the next generation of the Daines family to keep it going.
“We’re all pulling for Innisfail and we just really enjoy what we’re doing.”
Now in his hands, he said it’s been an honour to carry it on with the next generation.
“I’ve watched my older brothers put this rodeo on for so many years and now their kids are involved doing it too and it’s just nice to be a part of it and to keep it all running and keep it going. The Daines family, we’re really proud of what we do here.”
Of those six older brothers, Daines said four of them wanted to be cowboys and two wanted to be farmers, so it was a good combination.
“Everything worked good together, and it’s just growing from a practice arena. It’s not just the Daines family that have competed there. There’s been lots of people from the surrounding area that have used that rodeo grounds to maybe just come and ride their horse in the arena or practice in whatever rodeo event they were in and it’s just taken shape over a number of years.”
For ticket information visit innisfailprorodeo.com.
