Glen Keeley Bull Riding hits Stavely Arena this weekend
hangin’ on - Claresholm bull rider Logan Biever turned in an 87.5 score, good enough for second place, in the opening round of the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour’s Cedar Park Chute Out in Texas on Jan. 15. He would go on to finish eighth overall in the event. Photo Credit, AndreSilva, BullStockMedia
By Rob Vogt
Some of the best bull riders and stock will descend on Stavely this weekend for one of the best events in the country.
The 21st anniversary Glen Keeley Memoirial Bull Riding takes place at the Stavely Arena outdoor Arena this Saturday, Aug. 17.
Barry Arnestad is a member of the organizing committee.
“We’ll have Canada’s top bull riders,” he said.
Glen Keeley was a Canadian bullriding champion, cattle rancher, brother, son and friend, who passed away on March 24, 2000 while competing at the Ty Murray PBR Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was sitting in the top 10 of the world at the time.
In 2004, friends and family organized the first Glen Keeley Memorial Bull Riding and have never looked back.
In addition to championship-calibre bull riding, the event has always been much more.
The result has been a benevolent fund that supports organizations in the area, the health foundation, people in need in crisis, and initiatives such as Claresholm junior rodeo and Nanton Nite Rodeo.
Another component of the Glen Keeley Memorial Bull Riding is the scholarship program.
Every year they present four $2,000 scholarships.
The total given out in scholarships will reach close to $160,000 this year.
In total, donations to the community are more than $415,000 over 21 years, including the benevolent fund and scholarships.
Gates open at 4 p.m., and the event starts at 6 p.m.
There will also be a beer gardens and food truck onsite.
David Poulsen and Brett Gardiner will be calling the action, and the bullfighters will be Chase Keeley, Connor Larrivee, and Cantrell Gravelle.
There will also be a dance featuring 11-time Canadian Country Music Association award nominee Aaron Goodvin, after the bull riding is over.
Tickets are available at Showpass.com.
They are also at the Town of Stavely office and Cowboy Country in Nanton.
Tickets are $35 for the bull riding, $45 for the concert and $75 for both with an all-access pass.
Arnestad invites everyone to come out to the Glen Keeley Memorial Bull Riding.
“It’s a great family event,” he said, adding it is much more than that.
“It’s a great event for the community,” he added. “We give everything we make back to the community.”
Arnestad noted the Glen Keeley Memorial is a Professional Bull Riders or PBR Canada event.
“We are a three-time PBR event of the year,” he said, emphasizing that distinction is voted on by the bull riders themselves.