1991 marked the first of 31 Kindersley rodeos
By Joan Janzen
The first Kindersley Rodeo in ten years was an outdoor event held on May 31 and June 1, 1991. An article in the June 5th edition of The Clarion stated the standing-room crowd on June 1 was eating dirt during the final rodeo performance. All the activity from the weekend stirred up the dusty ground, and a brisk wind on the final night gave everyone a face full of dirt.
Photo (Clarion June 5, 1991). This was just one of the wild rides spectators witnessed at the Kindersley Rodeo on May 31 and June 1, 1991. It was the first rodeo Kindersley had hosted in ten years and was held outdoors.
Alongside the rodeo, the community came together for a day-long Saskatchewan Wheat Pool Livestock Progress Show at the livestock yards, drawing a crowd of over a thousand. The Kindersley Old-Time Fiddlers, a local favourite, provided lively entertainment at the beer gardens throughout the weekend. The community spirit was further evident as over 600 people turned up for the dance on Saturday evening. In total, more than 2000 spectators enjoyed the two days of rodeo activities, a testament to the strong community support for the event.
The June 5, 1991 article noted some of the thrilling action spilled over into the crowd since it was hosted in a temporary rodeo arena built from livestock holding pens, which were only about five feet high. The excitement began Friday afternoon when a bull jumped the fence, kept going between the near-empty viewing stands, cleared a snow fence, and ran away from the grounds through an empty field. But that wasn’t the end of the unplanned excitement.
On Saturday evening, a rodeo bronc threw its rider and cleared the end fence, knocking a spectator to the ground. Thankfully, the bronc was returned to the arena, and the spectator was uninjured.
Among the competitors who represented the local area with pride were Trent Kraft from Hoosier, Bob Jensen from Leader, and Les Miller from Major. Gayle Koch, a local favorite, sold the most tickets and was crowned Rodeo Queen, a well-deserved recognition for her efforts. She was also awarded an impressive array of prizes, generously supplied by local merchants, further highlighting the strong community support for the event.