The Halkirk Elks 28th Annual Bull-a-rama was held at the agricultural grounds on Aug. 24 under a perfect sky.
While gates opened at 4 p.m., pre-show activities didn't start until around 4:30 p.m. giving people an opportunity to check out the Elks concession and the children's money pit.
At 4:30 p.m., pre-show activities got underway with the kids' boot races, for three different age groups, mutton busting, and wild pony racing.
The opening ceremonies for the main event started shortly after 5 p.m., with Stettler's Ladies' of the Heartland precision horse team flying the flags of the event sponsors and the Hanna Rodeo Queen, Ms. Hailey Milligan, flying the Canadian Flag.
After O Canada and The Cowboys Prayer, it was time for the main event to get underway.
As usual, the Bull-a-rama was organized in two "goes," with the winner being determined after the aggregate of the two rides.
The winners of the 2024 Halkirk Elks Bull-a-rama were the bulls, only allowing two complete rides in the first go and two in the second.
In the first go, Grande Prairie's Kadden Budde was the high-point winner with 76 points while Australian Jack Collins scored 73.
In the second go, Red Willow cowboy Armando Davila swept in with a high point ride of 81 points while Tanner Henderson, of Caroline, Alta., scored a ride of 79.5 points.
Because Davila had a high score after two rides, he was declared the winner of the event.
In between the two goes, an event in its second year at the Halkirk Bull-a-rama took place; the Ranch Broncs.
Six competitors took part in the sophomore event, with competitors climbing onto the back of broncs using typical riding saddles.
For the second year in a row, Strathmore, Alta., cowboy Austin Quiring won the event with 73.5 points.
Other activities during the event included a beer garden, face-painting for kids and fireworks at dusk.
The Bull-a-rama will return in 2025.
