EDMONTON – Explore Edmonton and C5 Rodeo Company Inc. are proud to announce that the second annual Edmonton Pro Rodeo returns to The Flair Airlines Hangar at the Edmonton EXPO Centre on Sept. 29 and 30.
The Edmonton Pro Rodeo is an important stop to many cowboys and cowgirls as it is the final stop of the Canadian Professional Rodeo season and kicks off the 2024 SMS Controls Canadian Pro Tour. It is also the last chance for contestants who are on the bubble to qualify for the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) in November.
Edmonton has a long history of hosting rodeos dating back to the first CFR in 1974 at the Edmonton Gardens. It was so popular that the following year it moved to the Northlands Coliseum.
“Explore Edmonton is proud to be able to bring rodeo to Edmonton,” said Amanda Frigon, director, fair & rodeo with Explore Edmonton. “It is such an exciting sport that has deep roots in Edmonton, and to continue to bring it back to our intimate venue at the Edmonton EXPO Centre is even better. We are excited to watch the close races and see who will head to Red Deer for the Canadian Finals Rodeo.
“We are also very excited that our 2023 Miss Rodeo Edmonton, Codi Wilson, will be competing for the top honour in the Miss Rodeo Canada title this November. We want to wish Codi and all the athletes the best of luck.”
There are several close races in a variety of events, with the top 12 athletes in each event qualifying for the Canadian Finals Rodeo. The Team Roping race is by far the closest, with just over $1,500 in prize money separating the ‘heeler’ athletes in 10th spot from 14th in the standings. For the Team Roping ‘headers’ it’s even tighter, with only $1,253 separating 10th place athlete, Rolland McFadden, from the 16th place athlete Brett Buss.
Another close race is in the saddle bronc in which Logan Hay is only $85 ahead of Quinten Taylor, who is currently on the outside looking in. Both men will obviously be looking to be in the money this upcoming weekend.
“It’s great to be back in Edmonton,” said Hay. “This rodeo can be a game changer. I’ve had the opportunity to move up the standings in the past few weeks and this rodeo will give me a good chance to score my spot for the CFR.”
Explore Edmonton partners with C5 Rodeo Company Inc. for this event. It is an Indigenous-owned company which provides livestock to over 40 locations worldwide and is known for its innovative approach to rodeo production. Edmonton has always been a very special place for the C5 Rodeo team, just down the road from their ranch in Lac La Biche.
“We can’t say enough about how much we are looking forward to heading back to the Edmonton EXPO Centre for year two of the Edmonton Pro Rodeo,” said Gillian Grant, event coordinator with C5 Rodeo. “We have a fantastic rodeo lineup in store for Edmonton Rodeo Fans, which includes the world’s finest cowboys racing to make the finals and not to be forgotten, our top buckers, including Virgil who was just crowned the 2023 Bareback Horse of the year. Explore Edmonton and C5 Rodeo are bringing in the best of the best and we can’t wait to see it all come to life.”
The Edmonton Pro Rodeo runs Sept. 29 and 30, with both performances starting at 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at: Edmonton Pro Rodeo | September 29 – 30 at Edmonton EXPO Centre
