Crossfield is close to the 41 annual celebration of one of the town’s premiere events in honour of their famous rodeo king. Pete Knight Days are almost here.
Kicking off June 8, the event will include a Foothills Cowboys Association (FCA) sanctioned rodeo, along with a number of other events for attendees of all ages.
“It’s not so much the rodeo as the ‘Pete Knight Days,’ because we’ve got the demo derby with the (Crossfield) Elks, there’s baseball games going on in town outside the rodeo grounds and we have the big parade,” said Tim Welter, Crossfield Rodeo Society president. “Basically, it’s the biggest weekend in the town of Crossfield.”
Friday begins with breakfast at 8:00 a.m. served by the Town at the Community Hall, followed by a 12:30 p.m. slack rodeo performance at the rodeo grounds before the main rodeo event starts at around 6 p.m.
Ian Leask, a volunteer and past president of the Crossfield Rodeo Society, knows the draw of the rodeo. He said after he knew he was too old to participate, he wanted to stay involved with the Rodeo Society’s committee.
“I used to enter into amateur rodeos and caught the rodeo bug,” Leask said. “It’s quite an addiction, when you get involved with it.”
He added part of his commitment to Pete Knight Days comes from his admiration for the man the celebration is named for.
Born in 1903, Pete Knight learned how to ride a bronc at the age of 12. For years following, Knight grew as a rider, travelling and competing around the world – winning prestigious competitions like the Calgary Stampede and the Prince of Wales Cup.
He was renowned as the “King of the Cowboys,” and his legend only grew after his death under a bronc at the age of 34.
Leask said Knight was a champion during a time when most people had to ride horses to get to the city – meaning he must have been a special rider to stand out.
“To be that well known, that well travelled and that well respected – very few, even today, reach those levels in life,” Leask said.
The Pete Knight Days celebration helps carry on his legacy. Some of the Knight family remain in the area, Welters said, participating in the celebration or sitting on the committee.
In conjunction with the rodeo, royalty will be crowned and kids can get in on the fun with mutton busting. The day closes with a dance and performance by Trevor Panzack.
Saturday starts with another breakfast followed by a parade, chili cook-off, demolition derby and more. The day closes with another dance and live performance by Nice Horse, with fireworks to close out the celebration.
Rodeo tickets are $15, while kids under 12 get in free. The dance has a cover charge of $15, as well. More information about the event, and a more detailed schedule, is online at infopeteknightdays.wixsite.com/rodeo
