Mrs. Ada Benedict, who celebrates her 87th birthday this week, will be the Guest of Honour opening the 98th Hand Hills Lake Stampede running May 30, 31 and June 1.
“I was married to a cowboy out in the Hills. I spent 46 years out there,” said Mrs. Benedict.
Ada married Don Benedict and moved to the farm in the Hand Hills in 1945.
They raised three boys - two are still at the farm - and two daughters.
Don was in the rodeo in the 40s - Ada said he was a steer rider and bareback rider - and one year he was a chuckwagon outrider for the Flett brothers at the Calgary Stampede.
Ada worked at the food booth for the Hand Hills Stampede for a number of years, then was a regular stampede attendee.
“Maybe the last few years I’ve missed some of them.”
Ada’s family is still involved with the stampede, selling tickets and helping in the booth, and one of her grandsons is building a new outhouse for the grounds this year.
Ada’s impressed by all the people who have worked hard to keep the Hand Hills Stampede running and improve the venue.
“I’m so pleased with the way the young people are taking over.”
She’s hoping to see some familiar faces when she opens the Stampede Saturday.
I’m not sure how many I’ll see, old neighbours...and even the young people I enjoy who are still out in that area.”
“I really enjoy the people out there.”
Don and Ada moved to Hanna a number of years ago, and Don passed away in 1997.
“I made the circle - I left Hanna and came back,” Ada said.
Ada will open the Hand Hills Stampede Saturday, June 1 at noon.
The Stampede is running a pancake breakfast all three mornings, Friday at 9 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m., and after breakfast on Sunday at 10 a.m. is the Cowboy Church Service on the Calgary Stampede Stage.
Day Lenfesty said Friday is the day to wear red as a an troops, and Sunday is the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” campaign to support the fight against cancer.
Both the beer gardens and the trade show in the community hall open at noon on Friday.
Also Friday at noon, the Stampede starts working through the rodeo events, including the sixty plus ladies barrel racers, and ending with the bull riders.
The rodeo starts on Saturday and Sunday with the Wild Horse Races running at 11:45 a.m.
The high action chuckwagons and chariot races start at 6 p.m.
Up and coming country music artist Drew Gregory from Standard is the Friday night entertainment, and the Cat Country Cougar Hunters take to the stage Saturday.
The majority of Hand Hills’ big stock comes from one of the Calgary Stampede ranches, which is 10 to 15 kilometers southeast of the Hand Hills grounds.
Lenfesty said the Calgary Stampede stock get sent to Hand Hills Stampede to try them out.
This will be the sixth year the Stewart family from Standard will perform their Hearts of the West trick rodeo show.
Visit the Hand Hills Lake Stampede website at www.handhills.ab.ca.
