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For over 100 years, The Wood Mountain Sports and Stampede has been an enduring tradition in this close-knit community, ever since the North-West Mounted Police first organized the event as a way of celebrating Dominion Day. Even the Depression and World War II couldn’t stop the Stampede: in fact it provided much needed diversion and fun during difficult times.
Held throughout its history in Wood Mountain Regional Park, Saskatchewan, in its early days the Sports and Stampede featured pole-bending, Indian wrestling and cricket. Then, as ranchers settled in the region and the community grew, the locals eagerly got involved, organizing the first Turf Club, which sponsored horse racing. In 1900, the jackpot bronc-riding contest was added-and the Sports and Stampede’s popularity was permanently sealed.
At the turn of the last century, hundreds of people would travel by team and wagon to be part of the excitement-and by the 1920s, when the annual sports meet evolved to include a Stampede with rodeo events such as bronc-riding and steer-roping, the crowds grew even bigger. So did the Stampede. Marching bands, a Lakota Indian parade, a ball tournament, and horse races also helped draw thousands of visitors. Over time, bareback riding, wild cow milking, wild horse races, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping and barrel racing for women also became part of the regular program and a grandstand and bowery were added to the grounds.
The excitement-and the tradition-continue to this day, as neighbours, friends and visitors eagerly await the Stampede and flock to attend it.
