A ‘Summer Stampede and Western Festival’ will be held on June 22 and 23, at the North Thompson fairgrounds, in Barriere, as a fundraiser for the Farm Kids Scholarship Fund.
“This is our biggest and most ambitious project yet,” said Steven Puhallo, president and founder of the Farm Kids Fund, “We’re pretty excited about having rodeo, equestrian, country music and cowboy culture all together for people to enjoy. The idea for this came from our highly successful New Year’s Eve Bullarama fundraiser. In the beer gardens afterwards a bunch of us were talking about what a fun weekend event would include and this is what we came up with.”
The daily event will highlight professionally sanctioned bull riding, a wild horse race, and barrel racing, along with jackpot ranch hand saddle bronc and junior steer riding. As well as a ‘Cowboy Reunion’ western festival on the outdoor stage.
‘BCCMA Rising Star’ Kylee Epp will be headlining the Saturday Night Grandstand Show.
“I am so excited to be involved in the Farm Kids Scholarship Fund and can’t wait to do my part to help students in rural communities further their education,” says Kylee, whose current single ‘Get it Right!’ is currently climbing the Canadian country charts. “I hope to see you all there.”
A BC Heritage Finals Qualifying Gymhana and Horse Show will also take place in the light horse show ring,
“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with the Farm Kids Fund and be a part of this great new event in the North Thompson,” said Darcey Woods, president of the Barriere and District Riding Club, which is putting on the gymkhana and horse show as part of Stampede Weekend.
Weekend Passes and Saturday Night Grandstand Show tickets will be available April 8, at www.farmkidsfund.ca, at The Horse Barn in Kamloops, and at the North Thompson Star/Journal in Barriere. Day Passes (cash only) can be purchased at entry to the Summer Stampede.