A young competitor at the Nechako Valley Rodeo Photo: Nechako Valley Rodeo Association
In 2019, the Nechako Valley Rodeo added a Bull Riders Canada event to their seventh annual rodeo. The addition of this bull riding competition drew competitors from around B.C. and Alberta, with the top three competitors coming from Kamloops, Quesnel and Williams Lake to earn their portion of the prize money.
“By adding the Bull Riders Canada event to the rodeo weekend, we added a lot to the rodeo,” said Sandra Ferguson, treasurer, Nechako Valley Rodeo Association. “Without Northern Development’s support this would not happen.”
Nechako Valley Rodeo Association received a $5,000 grant through Northern Development’s Fabulous Festivals and Events program to make the rodeo weekend even more exciting for the 250 participants and 3,000 attendees. Rodeo organizers estimate that 60 per cent of spectators and more than 200 athletes came from outside Vanderhoof – meaning that hundreds of out-of-town visitors were spending money on food, accommodations and other necessities during the rodeo weekend.
