A huge fan-favourite every year, the Ponoka Stampede and Exhibition Association Cattle Raffle is back for another go, with the lucky winner walking away with either $75,000 or 40 pasture-bred heifers.
Fans from all over purchase tickets each year and it’s a great fundraising event for the Stampede Association, said Terry Jones, who sits on the board of directors.
"The Cattle Raffle is a huge part of the Ponoka Stampede - it's a 30-year tradition, and it's been very successful to help fund capital projects" he added. "It's pretty cool!"
Raising over $1 million since it began, the proceeds go towards facility expenses and improvements.
"It started back when we needed to raise funds for projects to help keep facilities up. So it's really crucial as far as what you see up there (on the site).
"People love to buy the $50 ticket and a lot of them look at it as a donation to the Ponoka Stampede, but they also get that chance to win either $75,000 or 40 pasture-bred heifers. When we run the cattle through, you can hear folks saying, 'There's my cattle', he added with a laugh.
The last couple of years has been the cattle chosen by the winner, said Jones.
He noted that the raffle sells out, too.
"The big push now is for Father's Day - it's the perfect gift for Father's Day, so we sell a lot of tickets for that.
Tickets are $50 each, with a total of 6,000 chances to win up for grabs. Sales start in December and usually sell out within the first few days of Stampede action.
The 10 finalists are drawn on each from June 26 to July 1.
Fifty-nine finalists receive $50 cash back and 60 finalists go into the first-place draw, to be held on July 1.
The local community tends to get really involved with the raffle, whether it’s buying tickets, getting friends and relatives in on the raffle, or working to help sell tickets.
The 50 heifers are pasture-bred to bulls donated by Brian and Judy Sutter of Atlasta Angus.
Tickets can be purchased online at ponokastampede.com, or at Jones Boys Western Wear and Saddlery (in Ponoka or in Red Deer), and at Cline Agro Services, until the start of the Stampede.
During Stampede Week, raffle tickets can be purchased in front of the main grandstand during each rodeo performance.
Meanwhile, Jones is pumped about the upcoming Ponoka Stampede, adding that last year was a record-breaker in many ways so hopes are even higher for this year.
"Last year, we had record attendance and record sponsorship," he said.
"I just love to see the community buzzing during the stampede. It brings so much into the community.
"Also, the fellowship of the board of directors and with the people that we met, from the stock contractors to the chuckwagon guys to the volunteers. You become friends with all of them over the years - you meet a lot of great people. It's just a big family."