Stampede Roundup: Friends of the Fair ensure we honour tradition while embracing the new

By Ryan McCracken on February 14, 2025.

Here at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede, we strive to honour our heritage while evolving for an ever-changing future, and the Southeast Alberta Friends of the Fair Society sits at the centre of that strategy.

Established in 2021, Friends of the Fair aims to achieve this goal of weaving the old into the new by supporting educational school tours, summer camps and community projects at Co-op Pioneer Village, as well as funding for the development of our new grandstand project.

Fundraising initiatives include sponsorship from dozens of local businesses who support the Stampede’s events and development within the community, and our annual 50/50 raffle draw – new and improved for 2025.

This year’s Southeast Alberta Friends of the Fair 50/50 raffle draw will feature online ticketing and three early-bird draws, with $500 giveaways at our Broncs & Honky Tonks Indoor Spring Rodeo and WPCA Chuckwagon Races, and a $1,000 giveaway at the Summer Pro Rodeo.

Money raised from the draw will go directly toward funding community projects and events such as Big Marble Farms Community Classroom Learning at Co-op Pioneer Village, our Olde Tyme Christmas Fair and much more.

If you’ve ever enjoyed a day on our grounds, whether at a trade show, a petting zoo, a wedding or Summer Stampede, you’re already a friend of the fair, and we sure are grateful for the rich and lasting support this initiative continues to receive from our community.

Lastly, we know you’ve all been patiently waiting for the release of this year’s Summer Night Show lineup, and rest assured that reveal will come within the month – along with an on-sale date for tickets to all our events, from the Spring Rodeo to Indian Relay Racing, as well as tickets for the Southeast Alberta Friends of the Fair 50/50 raffle draw. Follow our Facebook page and website at mhstampede.com for more information and to stay updated.

Ryan McCracken is sponsorship & marketing co-ordinator for the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede