The Calgary Stampede has always been known for wild rodeo and even wilder Midway foods. But beyond the lights and crowds, agriculture takes front stage.
Get hands-on in Ag-tivity
Located in the AltaLink Hall in the Nutrien Western Event Centre, Nutrien Ag-tivity in the City is the best place for hands-on food education. From the bees that make our honey, to the canola and grain that keeps us full, see from start to finish how your food is produced.
Meet the Country Critters
Get up close with llamas, donkeys, goats and dairy cows that keep farms moving in Country Critters.
Step back in time in Draft Horse Town
Draft Horse Town honours a living-history experience: blacksmiths work hot steel by hand, and wheelwrights demonstrate the craft of building wagon wheels from scratch.
Big competitions, bigger stakes
Team Cattle Penning turns horsemanship into a race against the clock: three riders have just 60 seconds to cut three specific cattle from a herd of 30 and drive them into a pen at the opposite end of the arena. Cheer on the best of the best from July 4 to 6.
Just as electric is the Heavy Horse Pull. Teams of two horses and a teamster face off in three weight classes, pulling loads up to five times their body weight (as much as 5,000 pounds) a distance of 14 feet. This is truly something you have to see to believe! It’s happening in the Nutrien Western Event Centre from July 10 to 12.
Experience the future of agriculture
Step into the future of agriculture by watching Robot Rodeo, hosted in the BMO Centre from July 6 to 8. Robot Rodeo brings together youth competitors for a high-tech twist on Ag Zone programming by blending STEM and agriculture. Plus, it offers a $10,000 cash prize!
And check out the Junior Steer Classic, a one-of-a-kind Canadian initiative where 12 young people raise a steer from the Stampede's own OH Ranch herd before showing and selling it at the Calgary Stampede. Youth leadership and agricultural heritage are on full display Friday, July 10.
Article courtesy of Katie Yarn, Agriculture & Western Events Media Committee volunteer.
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