There probably isn’t anyone more pumped up about kicking off this year’s Ponoka Stampede than the organization’s newly-minted president Rick Wierzba.
First off, he is thrilled with how all the lead-up events have gone, including the massively successful tarp auction back in early May.
“We had a record — an average of just over $16,000 per wagon which is awesome,” he said, adding that ticket sales for the main stage shows also got off to a swift start.
All kinds of top-notch attractions await Stampede-goers, he noted, including loads of entertainment in the Showdown Dance Hall as well.
The hall, a newly-added feature last year, hosts musical performances not on the main stage at the Stampede.
After serving as vice president from 2021-23, Wierzba was elected as the president of the association for a two-year term late last year.
His experience with the association is extensive.
Serving on the board for about 30 years and volunteering for over a decade before that, helping to build the Ponoka Stampede to what it is today has been Wierzba’s main commitment and lifelong passion.
This also isn’t his first stint as president, having held the office just over 10 years ago.
“It’s great to just be part of the whole experience,” he said, adding how its success is certainly fuelled by scores of volunteers and also by such solid community support year after year.
“It always amazes me how our community of Ponoka and Central Alberta can put on an event like this. It takes a lot of people to do it.
“You’ve got the town and the county, and you’ve got volunteers from right across Central Alberta, which is a big part of how it all comes together,” he said, adding how proud he is of the overall event.
“It’s comparable to anywhere you would want to go. It’s pretty amazing! So that’s what gets me going — I’m so proud of our community that puts this on.
“Our volunteers greet everybody with a smile and it’s just amazing to see. People come from different communities, and they look forward to helping, too. They do a great job as well, and they are a big part of our show.”
Wierzba has deep roots in the Ponoka ranching community.
His grandfather Lawrence Doran established a homestead west of Ponoka in 1901.
Doran was one of the organizers of Ponoka’s early rodeos and one of the first members of the Stampede board.
Ponoka News is your source for all things Ponoka Stampede leading up to and during Stampede Week June 25 to July 1. Find more Ponoka Stampede stories here.
