Whether they came to watch cowboys cling to bulls or to enjoy food vendors and live music, hundreds of people from Alberta and British Columbia brought their boots and families to the Boyle Ag Grounds June 28-30 for the Boyle rodeo.
This year, husband and wife duo Jennifer and Jason Marcoux took the rodeo director reins.
Jennifer said they kept the budget in mind when planning the rodeo, opting to kick off with a horseshoe toss instead of a Friday-night concert.
“It kind of brought in a different crowd,” she said, noting that the toss attracted one more team than she expected it to. “It was a little bit more local-y.”
Cowboys and cowgirls from throughout Alberta rode in competitions like bareback, bull riding, steer wrestling and ladies barrel racing.
Trick riding group Unbranded Soul performed during intermission Saturday and Sunday.
Trick rider Katie Connolley grew up around Newbrook.
“This rodeo is amazing,” she said.
Connolley said that she went to the Boyle Rodeo when she was 11 or 12 and participated in calf wrestling and the wild pony race.
“This area is kind of like home for me … I haven’t really been back since so it’s pretty cool to be back here,” she said.
The weekend’s festivities also included a pancake breakfast, parade, steak dinner fundraiser, farmer’s market and a concert by Boyle native Kory Wlos Saturday night. Jennifer said about 300 people showed up to the concert.
Several local cowboys and cowgirls took home money for their strong performances in the rodeo.
Pacean Deleeuw of Athabasca placed second in tie down roping.
Hailey Duncan of Athabasca, took second in Pee Wee barrel racing.
Briana Fischer of Mayerthorpe, took third in Junior barrel racing.
Ashlee Keith of Barrhead, took third in Pee Wee barrel racing.
Jacqueline Marsh of Lac La Biche placed fourth in ladies’ barrel racing.
Brett and Kadon Knapp of Mayerthorpe took sixth in team roping.
Ty Schmidt of Barrhead took seventh with teammate Daniel Kaiser of Breton, in team roping.
Bryce Fischer of Mayerthorpe took seventh in ladies’ barrel racing.
