For 52 years cowboys and rodeo fans have been making the pilgrimage to downtown Cochrane for what is one of the largest and most celebrated amateur rodeos in Southern Alberta. 

The Cochrane Labour Day Weekend Rodeo is the full meal deal that promises three days of nonstop action and special activities at the Lions Rodeo Grounds from Saturday through Monday. Each year audiences grow and last year it attracted over 12,000 spectators and pumped over $3.5 million into the economy.

"It's a crazy time and everybody seems to enjoy themselves," says rodeo co-chair Kevin Firkus.

Firkus says the top cowboys in Alberta make Cochrane their destination for the Labour Day Long Weekend.

"The cowboys like coming here," says Firkus. "It's in the heart of town and they like the atmosphere. A bunch of these cowboys don't get to run in front of 3,000 people every day. They're excited as the fans are; their hearts are pumping. It's like the finals to them."

"They might normally run in front of 600-700 people but being in front of 3,000 people with the big screen and knowing you're being videoed adds extra pressure and excitement."

With four rodeo associations participating, there's no shortage of competitors. Firkus expects slack, that occurs after the regular rodeo, will take upwards of an additional three hours on both Saturday and Sunday.

Whether they compete during the regular rodeo or form part of the slack doesn't matter.

"They're still competing in the rodeo," he points out. "If they win it during slack, they win the rodeo."

It's free to watch slack events, by the way. They are scheduled to start at 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

The rodeo starts each day with a grand entry at 1 p.m. Prior to the rodeo on Saturday and Sunday at 12:30 p.m., mounted shooters will be competing.

"They shoot guns and it wakes up the town and it sounds the start of the day."

When the rodeo does start you'll be treated to the full-meal deal of 16 exciting rodeo events (see schedule here)

As a special treat, they'll also be  Ranch Bronc Riding each day.

"We go back into the1800s and cowboys are dressed in their willies and they ride the bronc just like they were breaking them in the Prairies when the horses were as wild as the cowboys."

The Lions Club has just completed $63,000 in upgrades to the bleachers and concession area of the rodeo grounds and regular attendees will notice the difference right away. It's been done to not only enhance the rodeo but to encourage more use of the area for other community events.

"We didn't just throw this together," says Firkus. "We pre-planned it so the grounds can be used more often because we believe it is the hub of the community."

A Few Things to Watch For

Saturday

Mounted Shooters - 12:30 p.m.

Dance - Doors open at 8 p.m.

Sunday

Cowboy Church - 10 a.m.

Mounted Shooters - 12:30 p.m.

Tough Enough to Wear Pink Day

Presentation of the Don Edge Memorial Cowboy of the Year Award

Royal Logistics Corps Band will be giving a performance on Monday.Monday

Crowning of the Cochrane Lions Rodeo Queen

Performance by Royal Logistics Corps Band

The Labour Day Long Weekend frenzy was built by the Cochrane Lions and continues to be treasured far and wide. To boot, all proceeds go back to support community causes.

"We hope everybody comes out to the family rodeo and enjoys themselves and be part of the community and hopefully they meet their neighbours."