After 12 years without an outdoor rodeo, the B.C. Northern Exhibition brought the sport back to a Prince George audience for three Great Northern Rockin' Rodeo performances and if rodeo fans have any say in the matter, it will return to the fair next year.
"We've got to have the rodeo here every year because Prince George citizens love it, it's awesome," said Chris Middlemiss, who watched Sunday afternoon's show from the crowded stands at Exhibition Park.
"It was a beautiful show today," said Elaine Carey. "Of course it will be back next year, there were a lot of people here."
Ashley Middlemiss came to see the bull riding and bronc riding, her two favourite events, and wasn't disappointed. "I'd rate it a 10 out of 10," she said.
Perfect weather, big crowds and great performances in the rodeo arena were enough to convince fair organizers it's worth making rodeo a permanent addition to the BCNE. Rodeo people have a reputation for banding together to help out where they can and BCNE rodeo co-ordinator Nora Wallach said that spirit of co-operation made the three-day show at Exhibition Park possible.
"It was fabulous - everybody helped and it was just like a giant family again, it was pretty cool," said Wallach. "It's been a long time coming and I've had so many people say to me, 'Can we do it again next year?' and I think we can if we get the city on board. I'm going to be meeting with the city to see what we can do."
B.C. Rodeo Association secretary Patti Gerhardi heard nothing but positive feedback from all the competitors and figures the rodeo is here for the long haul now as a regular event at the fair. Having the BCNE to promote the rodeo raised prize money significantly, which attracted high quality competitors.
"We're just delighted from the BCRA's perspective to have it back and to have it outdoors," said Gerhardi. "It was a small committee that came together and some rodeo people came to help them and I never heard one complaint. We just need some more stands."
