It’s a celebration of a way of life, and one of the biggest events on Jasper’s annual calendar. In fact, about the only thing missing from the Jasper Heritage Rodeo is you!

With less that two months to go before the event transforms the arena at the activity centre, the organizing committee is looking for volunteers and a few generous folk who might be willing to sponsor the rodeo. Having a solid sponsorship base will allow the rodeo to continue to bring in the entertaining “contract acts” that perform for the crowds every August.

“This year, we had to cancel the trick riding because we didn’t think we could afford it,” said Bob Graham, the rodeo’s executive director. “Our focus is on getting new sponsorship, the people who haven’t been involved before.”

More than half of the rodeo’s revenue is raised by ticket sales, but that still leaves a good portion to be provided by sponsors, and the committee is grateful for all the support they get, both in terms of cash and in-kind donations.

“There are resources donated from many quarters,” Graham said.

For five years now, Graham has been part of the core committee that meets year round to plan the western extravanganza, but even that commitment still makes him a greenhorn when compared to the likes of Gail Lonsberry, who has been involved for at least 17 years.

“Time flies, so it may have been longer than that,” Gail joked. Lonsberry is 

certain, however, when it comes to 

identifying what it is about the rodeo that keeps her coming back year after year.

“It’s the rodeo way of life, and if you can define that, the you’ve hit it on the head. The people you’re working with and working for are just a great bunch... you form lasting relationships with people.”

Given that the three-day cowboy celebration is, as Graham describes it, “one of the biggest, if not the biggest” event in Jasper, then it should come as no surprise that a couple hundred volunteers are required come rodeo time.

“We usually need to have about 50 people for each night, and then prior to the rodeo, we need help setting up the arena.

In a herculean operation that will take place in the run up to August 16, the interior of the arena will be transformed into a rodeo-ready paddock, complete with steel stock cages, protective railings, and of course, dirt.

“We get about 75 to 80 dump truck loads of dirt in there, and then we have to haul it back out,” said Graham. Between moving the earth and the steel, there are plenty of spots available for able-bodied souls who aren’t afraid of a little heavy lifting.

The organizers have just started their recruiting push for this year’s event, and Lonsberry is confident that they’ll get the numbers they need.

“It hasn’t been a real struggle to get people out, but it does get a little bit antsy right until the end... but then people show up, and we’re grateful for that,” she said.

While the task of handling the stock and dealing with other matters on the arena floor are handled by volunteers, don’t expect to find yourself face to face with hundreds of pounds of angry bovine if you sign up.

“Anyone working in the arena has to have plenty of experience,” Lonsberry said. “They have to know what they are doing.”

Instead, first-time volunteers are likely to find themselves selling tickets, passing out programs, or manning the doors as part of a security detail. Posters and sign-up lists will be up around town soon, but keeners can always contact volunteer coordinator Jaime Swallowell at 852-0341 or by e-mail at jaime553@hotmail.com.

Those interested in finding out more about sponsorship can get in touch with Don Lonsberry by calling 852-8081 or e-mailing lonso@telus.net.