(DDD Photography)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

May 3-5

Bigger and better pro rodeo this weekend in Drayton Valley

Apr 29, 2019 | 4:52 PM

The fifth annual Drayton Valley Pro Rodeo is bucking into town for three days of entertainment this weekend.

Though the planned first-time parade was cancelled due to low registration, the event will still be bigger and better than ever, according to Tom Hinderks with the Drayton Valley Hospitality and Tourism Board.

“The previous four years, it’s been a rodeo, but there hasn’t been a lot going on around it. So this year, the Drayton Valley Tourism Authority, working with its partners, has put together a series of events surrounding the rodeo,” Hinderks says.

That includes a chili cook-off at the Omniplex on May 3, pancake breakfasts both May 4 and 5, as well as a show n’ shine, and Horses and Hooch dance on May 4.

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“What we’ve done is taken a single event and expanded it into a really good reason to come and experience the valley. There’s something for everybody,” Hinderks continues.

“In Drayton Valley and all along the eastern slopes, we live in an agricultural and ranching community. The rodeo is just a wonderful time to bring that heritage to life and make it relevant for everyone that’s here and all that come to visit.”

Attendance for the rodeo typically ranges from 5000 to 6000, meaning hundreds of thousands of dollars in economic spinoff, says Hinderks.

Meantime, Hinderks also met with recently re-elected MLA Mark Smith to talk tourism, which the rodeo is a significant component of.

“My point with Mark was about regional tourism. Drayton Valley doesn’t stand by itself, were part of Brazeau County,” he says.

“We have tremendous tourism potential, so today chatting with Mark was opening the door to some of that potential which could bring new jobs, new development, and new industry into Drayton Valley using tourism as the doorway.”

More information on the fifth annual Drayton Valley Pro Rodeo is at draytonvalleyprorodeo.com.