Bronc School to wow Oyen!
By Jordan Parker
He’s been there six years, and Richard Houston spends most his time trying to uplift the Town of Oyen.
The Australian is an active Board of Directors member with the Big Country Agriculture Society, and is putting on the Big Country Bronc School on April 22-23, 2023. As part of the non-for-profit society, they’re based around doing agricultural events, including a February beef & cattle show, a July rodeo, and other youth-centred events. This one, however, is a first.
“We organized a steer-riding clinic a month ago, and that went really well. About 15 kids came, and we thought this would also be a great event,” he said.
“There’s some amazing talent here for it, and we think that this will get people interested.”
He comes from a small Australia town also, and central to his work is supporting Oyen any way he can.
“I feel a big responsibility to keep us on the map. We definitely want events like this to have an economic impact,” he said.
“When you’re putting events on, you never know who will come and see. I just want to build the community in any way possible.”
The event welcomes Kole Aashbacher, NFR and CFR Qualifier, as well as Dwayne Pillman, a Calgary Stampede Champion.
“I was lucky to rodeo 10 years in Canada, and I built some good connections. I called on good friends, and they’re coming. Dwayne was my coach when I was coming up, and now he’s a friend,” said Houston.
“Kale is one of the hottest young bronc riders in the world. I’m so happy he’s coming to this two-day school.”
There’s no getting around it: Houston said bronc riding has the highest amount of talent with the least amount of competitors. He credits the forced two years off for it.
“Guys at the back-end of their career saw an opportunity to start families or be with theirs more, and hung their boots up. But there weren’t chances for young riders to get started. There was a lull in the sport,” he said.
“This school will be based around education and building the talent of the riders. We want to keep the sport going.”
He said the thought of having Pillman and Ashbacher in Oyen will be a really great thing for riders.
“I just hope the kids don’t get too starstruck. Kole is young and laid-back. It’s amazing to have these guys come, and I appreciate it so much,” he said.
“It’s nice to be able to ask them for these things, and they rarely say ‘no.’ They understand how important this is.”
He said there’s been an influx of interest in bronc riding over the last five years, something that makes him excited.
“It wasn’t typically huge here – baseball and hockey are the big ones. But the word is getting out there, and I appreciate that,” he said. “The work being done has exploded, and kids and parents were interested, but had nowhere to go. Now that’s changed.”
Houston knows events like this couldn’t happen without the support of everyone in Oyen.
“With volunteers, people signing up, talent, and sponsors, it’s amazing. I just want every small business and sponsor to know we see them stepping up, and we appreciate it,” he said.
“I just can’t wait to put on a good school and get out there to showcase bronc riding.”
The Big Country Bronc School is April 22 & 23, 2023, in Oyen. There’s a $300 fee, and a $100 deposit by April 10. There will be a bucking machine and suitable stock, and lunch is provided. For more information, call Houston at 1-403-664-0381.