Ponoka, Alberta bull rider Jordan Hansen of Amisk captured the Wild West PBR Ponoka title on Saturday night at the 90th Ponoka Stampede, thrilling the crowd with an 88.5-point ride aboard Stray Bucks of S&M Bucking Bulls. The win on June 27 not only netted Hansen $2,550 but also launched him from 10th to fifth place in the PBR Canada national standings.
The championship performance adds another highlight to Hansen’s career, which includes a 2021 Calgary Stampede bull riding championship. At that event, he scored 87.5 points on Diamond Back and earned a $50,000 payday. Hansen also won a PBR Canada Cup Series event in Medicine Hat back in October 2023 with a perfect 2-for-2 record, including an 89.5-point ride on Langham Kid.
The Ponoka Stampede is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year with the theme “Year of the Cowgirl,” honouring women’s contributions to rodeo. The week-long event runs from June 25 through Canada Day, July 1, and features six nights of pro rodeo, chuckwagon racing, and live music. Country acts Sawyer Brown performed on June 29, and the Hunter Brothers take the stage on June 30 as part of the Canada Day celebrations. Families can also enjoy Kids Wild Pony Racing at 6:30 p.m. each night.
Founded in 1936 as a modest two-day Canada Day celebration, the Ponoka Stampede has grown into one of the top 10 rodeos in the world, distributing over $885,000 in prize money annually. The event is run by a volunteer-driven association, with more than 800 volunteers contributing over 3,000 hours during Stampede week.
For residents looking to catch the remaining action, rodeo performances and concerts continue through July 1. Tickets and schedules are available through the Ponoka Stampede website.
