1 / 1 Valley West Stampede set a new attendance record of more than 18,000 for the three-day event over the Labour Day weekend in Langley.(Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times) Advertisement
It was the biggest Valley West Stampede yet.
A record 18,082 attended the three-day pro rodeo over the Labour Day weekend in Langley, the biggest turnout in the four-year history of the event, beating the previous record of 17,882 set in 2024.
Valley West president Sheila Hicks explained organizers were able to add additional seating, in the form of portable stands arranged with the Township of Langley and City of Langley.
Next year, they may need more.
"I think if the community continues to support us and we can get the right licensing, then absolutely we're going to fill more stands," Hicks told the Langley Advance Times,
"We're very, very excited."
A new addition to the rodeo this year was pro wrestling, with All-Star Wrestling fighters trading bumps and family-friendly insults to one side of the main arena before the rodeo got underway.
Hicks said they will be back, but at a different time and location.
"All-Star wrestlers have partnered with us for three more years and we're going to do it after the rodeo is done at 5:15, in the rodeo arena next year," Hicks explained.
Hicks, who is also coach of the Bit-a-Bling drill team that performed at Valley West, gave a shout-out to the riders, calling them "insanely supportive, and they are the best cowgirls and I'm so thankful."
Another rodeo participant to agree to three more years is Valley West supporter Jeremy Schorb, owner of the nearby Horse and Ryder pub and Lodge Steakhouse at George Preston, who is looking forward to more Valley West stampedes.
"The biggest thing is having our staff and everybody involved in just one big fun community event," said Schorb, who hosted an after rodeo party at his establishment.
This year, all the first-place finishers at Valley West, a major stop on the pro rodeo circuit, were from Alberta.
Wyatt Maines, from Elkwater, Alberta was first in bareback riding on Duane Kesler Championship Rodeo's 801 Milk Man; Kolby Wanchuk from Sherwood Park, Alberta took top spot in Saddle bronc riding Duane Kesler Championship Rodeo's 476; Blake Molle from Chauvin, Alberta won barrel racing with a time of 15.61 seconds; while first place in bull riding was won by Garrett Green from Meeting Creek Alberta, riding Duane Kesler Championship Rodeo's 826 Perlichs Fallen Angel.
Total prize payout shared among all top finishers was $75,000.