The seventh annual Canora Ag Days, put on by the Canora Agricultural Society, provided a full weekend of entertainment on August 18-20. It including a varied selection of activities for people from Canora and the surrounding area, said Dean Wilgosh, president of the Ag Society.
The overall attendance at the event was down somewhat from previous years, said Wilgosh. But that drop can be at least partly attributed to an earlier harvest than in the past few years, as well as other weekend events happening at the same time in Canora and the surrounding area.
Ag Days has expanded considerably from its first year when it featured only chuckwagon and chariot races, he said. In addition to the chuckwagon and chariot races, this year’s event included a pancake breakfast, a cabaret, gymkhana competitions, a car show, a burnout competition, slo-pitch tournaments, kids’ games, bouncy tents, a cowboy church service and more.
The weekend began with something new for Ag Days; an evening of steaks, suds and songs on August 18, said Wilgosh. There appeared to be cause for concern when ticket sales were quite slow initially, but activity picked up as the event approached and the evening turned out to be a success.
The Eastern Professional Chuckwagon & Chariot Association (EPCCA) races were held on August 19 and 20. This year, miniature chuckwagon and miniature chariot races were added attractions. The miniature horses pulling these units were huge favourites with the crowds.
The weather on both days was windy, which meant the water trucks were busy keeping the dust down.
Chariot races
There were 16 heats of chariot races on both days involving 48 outfits. On August 19 Casey Peterson’s B-team finished first for the day, followed by his A-team in second place. Colleen Galloway finished third, with Heidi Leach in fourth place and Carol Hooge in fifth.
Casey Peterson’s A-team jumped up to first place for August 20, while Colleen Galloway moved up to second place. Peterson’s B-team slipped back to third place, followed by Carol Hooge in fourth place and Dakota Longman in fifth place.
In the combined standings for the two-day event, Casey Peterson won both first and second place, with his A-team narrowly beating out his B-team. Third place went to Colleen Galloway, fourth place to Carol Hooge and Dakota Longman came in fifth.
The other chariot drivers were: Brandon Schrader, Riley Kvemshagen, Kelvin Young, Hayden Rooks, Dustin Arcand, Wayne Salmond, Shane Hue, Colin Kilborn, Shayne Salmond, Clayton Hawreluik, Kevin Gareau, Steven Galloway, Tyler Salmond, Curtis Longman, Colt Peterson, Shelly Burns, Lane Gosselin, Jarod Prouse, Tim Gausman, Jessie Buhler, Brooke Boychuk, Shaelyn Gareau, Jesse Kilborn, Dakota Schnell, Lucas Whitehead, Trevor Levick, Stephen Prodaehl, Raelynn Knudson, Travis Tasa, Brandee Braaten, Brianne Braaten, Twyla Salmond and local favourite Shayne Salmond of Invermay.
Chuckwagon Races
The chuckwagon races consisted of a total of 37 outfits, with 13 heats on each day.
Casey Peterson captured first place on August 19, followed by Colt Peterson in second place and Larry Salmond in third place. Buddy Prouse, another local favourite from Invermay, took fourth place and Blair Braaten came in fifth.
On August 20, first place for the day went to Kevin Gareau. Curtis Longman came in second and Larry Salmond finished third. Casey Peterson captured fourth place and Ryan Peterson was fifth.
The combined standings for the two days of chuckwagon races had Casey Peterson in first place, followed by Larry Salmond in second place and Colt Peterson in third place.
Kevin Gareau finished fourth and Colin Kilborn came in fifth.
The other chuckwagon drivers were: Mitchell Burns, Brandon Schrader, Riley Kvemshagen, Dave Farden, Regan Nordmarken, Ben Gareau, Kelvin Young, Cody Leach, Blair Braaten, Hayden Rooks, Dustin Arcand, Dale Williamson, Wayne Salmond, Shane Hue, Kelvin Hawreluik, Jody Drechsler, Clayton Hawreluik, Ken Kvemshagen, Carol Hooge, Bert Buhler, Riley Braaten, Ray Brooks, Steven Galloway, Tyler Salmond, Curtis Longman, Crystal Drechsler, Rick Althouse, and Larry Schnell.
Gymkhana
The Eastern Gymkhana Club was in charge of gymkhana events at Ag Days on August 19 and 20. Fifty-five competitors took part.
The age categories were split as follows: the weepee group was for ages eight and under, peewee was 12 and under, junior included 18 and under, and the senior division was for competitors aged 19 and over.
On August 19 the barrel event winners were: Jorja Salmond (weepee), Mariah Blight (peewee), Taylor Gibson (junior) and local favourite Jenna Salmond of Invermay (senior).
In the pole events the winners were: Wyatt Hue (weepee), Kreece Hrabarchuk (peewee), Chayanne Hue (junior) and Jodi Suchoplas (senior).
The egg races were won by Maccoy Galloway (weepee) and Kaylee Keefe (peewee).
In the big tee events the winners were Rashae Hue (junior) and Jodi Suchoplas (senior).
On August 20 the barrel event winners were: Jorja Salmond (weepee), Maria Blight (peewee), Taylor Gibson (junior) and Blaze Peterson (senior).
The pole event winners were: Jorja Salmond (weepee), Kreece Hrabarchuk (peewee), Mercedes Blight (junior) and Twyla Salmond (senior).
The speed ball events were won by: Wyatt Hue (weepee), Kiera Hawreluik (peewee), Lexi Young (junior) and Jodi Suchoplas (senior).
Other Highlights
Louie Zawislak of Mikado was popular with the kids throughout the Ag Days weekend, providing them with rides around the grounds in his barrel train, Wilgosh said.
Ag Days included novelty foods such as cotton candy and candy apples, as well as bouncy tents, sack races and hobby horse races for kids.
The Kids Pet and Costume Show on August 20 included Ty Korol of Canora with Dixie, his miniature dachshund. Also involved in the show was Wyatt Hue from Hudson Bay, who brought his shih tsu/terrier cross dog named Jersey. Hue had a busy weekend, winning the weepee poles event in the gymkhana on August 19 and the gymkhana weepee speed ball event on August 20.
Wilgosh said plans are already underway for the 2018 Ag Days. There’s a good chance new events will be included, but more volunteer help is needed to make it happen.
He said the cost for a lifetime membership in the Ag Society is only $25.
