American rodeo stars skip Fourth of July celebrations for Calgary Stampede purses
U.S. competitors chose the Stampede over Independence Day festivities, citing the solid daily payouts and $50,000 event champion cheques.
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American rodeo stars are missing out on the 250th anniversary celebrations of Independence Day, but they're not complaining — they say the Calgary Stampede is the best rodeo going.
"This is the best place there is right now, for sure," said Nebraska's Garrett Shadbolt, who won a bareback riding event Saturday at GMC Stadium. "I did not enter this set in Calgary. I entered down in the States for Fourth of July. So it actually is a little bittersweet to be here, because there's a lot of really big rodeos that I missed down in the States to be here. But it's OK, because this is the best rodeo going on."
The solid daily payouts for participants are a big draw, along with the $50,000 cheque awarded to each event champion by the end of the Stampede. The consensus among rodeo competitors from across the U.S. is that the Calgary Stampede is second to no other stop on the rodeo circuit.
"It is amazing," said steer wrestler Jesse Brown from Baker City, Oregon. "Especially this year celebrating 250 years of America. Very proud to be an American, and love the Fourth of July, and love being able to go to rodeos and Cowboy Christmas. But to come up here and get to celebrate it in Canada is good, too."
Most rodeo stars haven't actually been home to enjoy an Independence Day holiday with family in many years. The schedule and prize money during Cowboy Christmas — the stretch of time around the Fourth of July with its many rodeos — makes staying put too difficult. Shadbolt noted that he managed to get his son George to the Stampede midway instead, where family members took him on rides while Shadbolt competed.
