When it takes each vehicle 15-20-25 minutes to exit the jam-packed parking lot of the Gallagher Centre on any given night, then it is a good sign that one or more of the following is likely the case: drivers around here still have no idea how to park their vehicles in a civilized manner, the Junior A Yorkton Terriers played at home that night, or the Grain Miller's New Holland Harvest Showdown Rodeo just came to an end and the flock of westerners, cowboys and cowgirls are now making their way back to Broadway St.
The Yorkton Exhibition grounds was a very busy place for four days last week. Going back exactly seven days, there was something to be seen for everyone. From an appearance by a pair of Saskatchewan Roughriders to a rodeo dance, when the sky got darker, the parking lot got busier.
The Industrial Building, site of the Prairie Oyster Bar and Grill, the Agripavillion, site of the heavy horse stabling, all saw their share of traffic (the human version, of course), says Shaun Morin, president of the Yorkton Exhibition Association.
Other facilities which housed different events included the Farrell Agencies Arena. A whole slate of events took place where the hockey players usually are: the team roping, student Agriculture (Ag) demos and horse pulls, to name a few.
The Flexihall was the place to be for any Roughrider fans who wanted to know just what went wrong out there this season. Tristan Jackson and wide receiver and former NFLer Efrem Hill answered questions in the first 'Roughrider Roundtable' held in the far corner of the Flexihall, upon entrance.
Morin noted that attendance for it wasn't quite what they had hoped for and pointed to the dismal season as a possible reason.
"They were disappointed," Morin said of the reaction to the low turnout.
He said he fears numbers from this year's Grain Miller's Harvest Showdown were down.
"Sometimes we worry a lot about numbers," he said, moments after the start of Saturday's New Holland Rodeo.
He made a point of noting that it's good to give young students a taste of the agricultural world: "We live on the prairiessometimes we forget that!"
Morin told the newspaper the Rider Roundtable was part of something new that the YE tried for this year. The Roundtable took place last Wednesday, the opening day of the Showdown. Cowboy poetry was centre stage for two straight nights, says Morin while Vern Reese/antique appraiser wrapped up the features in the Flexihall for the week.
The upper level of the Gallagher Centre also saw its share of cowboy action, says Morin. The Canola Expo took place upstairs, grain forage show awards, the auctioneer competition, a fiddling contest and the senior's dinner/dance, all were sights to see during the four-day event, says Morin.
If there's anything you'd like to see covered by Game 7, please forward your suggestions to the Yorkton This Week sportsdesk by phone (306) 782-2465, or email jeff@yorkton this week.com.
