Rangeland Derby rookies Layne Flad and Cruise Bensmiller race for family legacy this year
Two young drivers are competing for the 2026 Orville Strandquist Memorial Award at the Calgary Stampede, each carrying family traditions in the saddle.
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The race for the 2026 Orville Strandquist Memorial Award has intensified with two competing rookies bringing their family legacies to the Rangeland Derby at the Calgary Stampede.
Layne Flad and Cruise Bensmiller are both vying for the award that honours first-time competitors in the iconic chuckwagon racing event. Both drivers are carrying forward generations of family tradition in the saddle.
The Rangeland Derby remains one of the Stampede's marquee attractions, drawing crowds to watch the high-speed chuckwagon races that have been a centrepiece of the festival for decades.
