Celebrating Decades of Stampede Spirit

2026 is shaping up to be a milestone year at the Calgary Stampede, as we celebrate the traditions, volunteers and programs that have shaped generations at The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth:

30 Years of Celebrating Agriculture Excellence with the BMO Farm Family Awards

Since 1996, the BMO Farm Family Awards has recognized families whose hard work, resilience and leadership have helped sustain Alberta’s agricultural legacy while building a stronger future for the next generation. Alongside our partners at BMO, we are proud to celebrate remarkable families during Stampede each year, whose dedication to agriculture strengthens our province and our communities. These recipients represent the very best of southern Alberta’s agricultural spirit and the importance of family farming.

30 Years of Dreaming Big with Homes by Avi & the Rotary Dream Home

Homes by Avi marks 30 years as the official building partner of the Rotary Dream Home through the Calgary Stampede Lotteries. A Stampede favourite during our annual celebration each July, the Dream Home has continued to grow over the years, but what hasn’t changed is the impact that the Rotary Dream Home has made on the community, with proceeds from the Stampede Lotteries going back to many charitable partners in the community through our service club partners. What began 30 Dream Homes ago as a showcase of creativity and craftsmanship is now a beloved annual tradition, and a testament to the power of community partnership!

40th Anniversary of GMC Powering the Calgary Stampede 

Our sponsors are a big part of what makes the Calgary Stampede The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, and in 2026, we celebrate 40 incredible years of partnership with our friends at GMC.  From showcasing vehicles in the Parade and on the Midway, to transporting VIPs with the Courtesy Car Committee to being the title sponsor of the iconic GMC Stadium, GMC has been powering the Calgary Stampede for four decades!

50 Years of 4-H on Parade at Stampede Park

Western Canada’s largest gathering of 4‑H clubs marked a major milestone as 4‑H on Parade presented by Brandt celebrated its 50th year at Stampede Park. Since 1976, thousands of young members have embraced the 4‑H motto, “Learn to do by doing,” gaining hands‑on experience and lifelong skills. From the sheep show to archery, canine agility to the steer show, and more, generations of youth have grown, competed, and discovered their potential at 4-H on Parade. 

50 Years of Pancakes & Community Spirit with the Caravan Committee 

The idea for the Caravan Committee started on a napkin in 1976 as a way to take the Calgary Stampede to the far corners of Calgary. The Committee wasn’t sure if anyone would attend their first pancake breakfast as there was no way to RSVP, but in true Calgary fashion, over 6,000 community members showed up. Although both the city and Caravan have grown over the years, the one thing that hasn’t changed is the Western hospitality, Stampede spirit and of course, pancakes at the heart of what the committee does. From breakfasts in Okotoks, to Canmore, to Chestermere and every corner of Calgary in between, Caravan serves up at more than 30 community events every year. 

60 Years of Transporting VIPs with the Courtesy Car Committee 

The Courtesy Car Committee is celebrating 60 years behind the wheel. During the hustle and bustle of Stampede, the city comes alive. To help VIPs, sponsors and special guests make the most out of their Stampede experience, the Courtesy Car Committee has been offering rides to and from Stampede Park, friendly conversation and exceptional service to every guest who’s had the opportunity to ride in a Courtesy Car. Across their history, the Committee has driven everyone from royalty to dignitaries, celebrities and more, but it’s the conversation and connection with all guests that the volunteers value most! 

65 Years of the Stampede Ranch

For 65 years, the Stampede Ranch has been the source of the Stampede’s world‑class bucking stock, raising exceptional animal athletes that continue to shape the future of rodeo. Spread across 23,000 acres of Alberta grasslands, the Ranch combines wide‑open land with expert care to develop the horses that bring rodeo to life. Home to 500 horses, 200 of which actively compete each year, the Stampede Ranch is the foundation of a program recognized for producing some of the best, highest‑scoring, and most consistent bucking horses in the industry.

80 Years of Ambassadorship with the Calgary Stampede Royalty & Queens’ Alumni

For 80 years, Stampede Royalty have embodied Western spirit and leadership as official ambassadors of the Calgary Stampede. Since the first Stampede Queen, Patsy Rodgers, was crowned in 1946, Stampede Queens and Princesses have travelled around the world, representing the Calgary Stampede, and the Western way of life by sharing stories, building connections, and inspiring those they meet. The Calgary Stampede Royalty Committee continues this legacy today, by supporting the Calgary Stampede Princess and providing mentorship throughout her reign. The volunteer Queens’ Alumni Committee, comprised of former Queens and Princesses, also continues this tradition by creating inclusive, Western events that unite volunteers, visitors and community members, while enriching the lives of youth with developmental disabilities and their families.

140 Years of Grandeur with the Heavy Horse Show 

The Heavy Horse Show has been part of Stampede history from the very beginning at the Calgary District and Agricultural Society’s inaugural fair in 1886. Championed by the Stampede’s volunteer Horse Show Committee, the Heavy Horse Show celebrates 140 years of showcasing the strength, beauty and heritage of the world’s greatest draft horse breeds. From the event’s humble beginnings in 1886, to the international showcase it is today, the Heavy Horse Show stands as North America’s longest‑running event of its kind.