This is the first time I have attended this rodeo,although it is certainly not the first time this event has been held.Hand Hills is the longest running consecutive years rodeo I believe in Canada,starting in 1917 as a fundraiser for the Red Cross.95 years later,this CPRA and PRCA sanctioned rodeo is stronger than ever.Stock is provided by the Calgary Stampede Ranch so you are seeing top notch horses and bulls.
Ron Asp https://pbase.com/poundstone/profile and myself left early in the morning before the sun had come up.This was June 4th but one might think it was February as the rain had turned to snow as our long drive began and the fog was getting to be as thick as pea soup in places.
We got to Hand Hills around 9 a.m. and partook in the Stampede special $5.00 breakfast and then wandered around the rodeo grounds(knee deep in mud) until the event began at noon.
There were hundreds of trailers,motorhomes and campers spread in a circle around the grounds,but few people could be seen other than contestants and rodeo personnel.This may have had something to do with the barely above zero temperature and the drizzle.I think people were hunkering down in their trailers until the event began.
Although we all ended our day there covered in mud(you'd think we'd been IN the rodeo)we had a great time,saw a wonderful event and will most definately be back next year!
**NOTE**
I brought along two lenses for this event,my 100-400 L lens for close ups and my new 18-200 Canon for all around shots.I never did get my 100-400 lens onto my camera due to the wet muddy conditions(was too worried about dropping a lens trying to change them over in this environment,so I had to rely on the new lens for all my shots.I was more than pleased with its' performance.I highly recommend this wonderful all around lens!