My First Rodeo
In the city you go to the zoo to see the animals, but Alberta is ranch country, so Sullivan got to see his first pigs, cows, and chickens at Grace and Gavin’s farm in Water Valley, an hour outside the city. The next day he saw some real cowboys (and cowgirls) at the Dog Pound Rodeo just up the road.
The Dog Pound Rodeo is one of North America’s first rodeos, having begun in 1906. It is held the first Wednesday following Stampede every year, and every seat is a good one. Pull your RV up to the arena fence for ringside seats if you’re real serious. We saw everything from calf roping and steer wrestling to bronco and bull riding. And Marsh learned to yahoo properly.