Where Legends Are Remembered: The Calgary Stampede Hall of Fame

Established in 1974, the Calgary Stampede Hall of Fame — previously known as Pioneers of Rodeo — recognizes the people and animals whose skill, character and commitment shapes the legacy of both rodeo and chuckwagon racing at the Calgary Stampede. The 2026 class reflects the full breadth of that legacy.

Davey Shields Jr., one of this year’s competitor inductees, was born into rodeo and grew up near the Stampede Ranch in Hanna, Alta. His father, Dave Shields Sr., was an accomplished Bareback Rider himself and also the Calgary Stampede Chute Boss for many years, giving young Davey an early and up-close education in the sport.

A four-time Stampede Champion and three-time Canadian Champion, Davey holds the record for the most bareback wins in Stampede history. His most memorable came in 2005, when he set the 95-point arena record for bareback riding aboard the Stampede’s own Grated Coconut, also being inducted into the Hall of Fame this year in the animal category. It was the kind of moment that felt less like chance and more like something long in the making.

“When I got off, I knew I’d won,” Shields said of that ride. “When you get on that many horses a year, you know the feeling when it clicks.”

For Davey, the Stampede was always the pinnacle.

“You always wanted to win Calgary. It was the prestige, the money, the whole thing. It meant everything.”

A six-time World and Canadian Bareback Horse of the Year, Grated Coconut dominated arenas from 2003 to 2009 before retiring at the top of his game in 2010. Just as remarkable was his temperament away from the arena and his lasting influence as a foundation stallion in the Born to Buck™ breeding program at the Stampede Ranch, where he went on to enjoy a long, healthy life, living to the old age of 27.

“He was something special, both in and out of the rodeo arena,” said Tyler Kraft, Manager of the Calgary Stampede Ranch & Stock Contracting Operations. “To have such a successful career and then become the foundation of our herd, we’ll see his impact for generations.”

Chuckwagon Driver Norm Cuthbertson, also inducted in the competitor category, is a record-holding three-time Aggregate Champion and winner of the Richard Cosgrave Memorial Award from 2002 to 2004. Known for his clean drives, deep care for his horses and standing up in the box of his wagon in celebration each time he crossed the Rangeland Derby finish line, he embodies the balance between competitiveness and responsibility.

“Once you get it in your blood, you can’t shake it,” Cuthbertson said. “But once you get to know the horses, you treat them as good as you would your children. They know when they’re treated right, and they show you in their performances.”

The Hall of Fame’s builder category honours those whose influence is felt beyond the stopwatch and scoreboard.

John Down’s induction recognizes how the sport has been told, remembered and understood. After his editor at the Calgary Herald sent him to the Stampede chuckwagon barns almost by chance in 1979, he spent more than three decades covering chuckwagon racing, turning it into a dedicated beat and introducing readers to the people behind the barrels.

“It never felt like work. Those guys were always willing to give me a few minutes of their time,” Down said of his years covering chuckwagon racing at the Stampede. “It was the big family that shared everything — they’re the salt of the earth. That’s the part I enjoyed the most.”

Proud of earning the trust of Drivers and their families, he added, “If you didn’t have their trust, you probably weren’t going to get much. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.”

Together, the 2026 inductees reflect what the Calgary Stampede Hall of Fame stands for: achievement, integrity and a shared love for a sport and a community that continues to inspire, year after year.

Photo caption: 2026 Calgary Stampede Hall of Fame inductees (L-R): Norm Cuthbertson, John Down, and Davey Shields, Jr. Not pictured - Tyler Kraft who accepted on behalf of Grated Coconut.