Ponoka Stampede story cont... Orin Larsen managed to capture his first Ponoka bareback championship last year and the nearly $16,000 in winnings pushed him on to a ninth NFR qualification, as well as his sixth Canadia Finals where he was runner-up for the year end title. It was Larsen’s third time in the Ponoka Showdown round, making the win even more special. “I’ve been coming here for over a decade, so I’ve been waiting for this one for a while,” said Larsen. Coming off a slow winter spent rehabbing a knee injury, he’d like nothing more than to repeat a Ponoka win to make up for some lost ground in the standings. “I’m so excited for Ponoka this year,” the Manito - ba-raised hand stated. “It’s my favorite rodeo.” Ponoka Stampede also recognizes the impor - tance of providing the right kind of rodeo stock to attract the best contestants, and that will be front and center in 2024 as well. The Stampede poster features the much-decorated Canadian horse
Virgil, from the Bar C5 outfit, with Rocker Stein - er on board. Virgil was the 2023 bareback horse of the Ponoka Stampede. And when it comes to the annual Three-Mile-Long Ponoka parade, this year’s theme is a Salute to the Stock Contractors. Longtime lead contractor Wayne Vold will serve as the parade marshal. “I think it’s a wonderful. I’m just as proud as Ponoka Stampede is, about saluting all the great contractors we’ve got here, because we’ve got good ones. There’s no doubt! I can’t say enough about our Canadian stock contractors. The one thing I will say is they all bring the best they’ve got to Ponoka, and we’re proud of that too,” emphasizes Vold, a Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer and two-time Canadian Saddle Bronc Champion. In addition to Vold’s own stock, this year’s Ponoka Stampede contractor line-up includes C5 Rodeo Company, Macza Pro Rodeo, Duane Kesler, Cal - gary Stampede, Legend Rodeo Stock and Outlaw Buckers. Having a wide range of the best bucking stock fits perfectly with the Ponoka Stampede’s overall mission, according to Wayne Vold.
Orin Larsen, 2023 Ponoka Stampede Bareback Champion. Shellie Scott photo
Canadian Rodeo News –May, 2024 – 16
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator