We’re in the midst of a heatwave, so that must mean it’s once again time for the annual Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede! While I’m no cowboy, I thought I’d share a few tips and rodeo tricks I’ve picked up over the years that I hope can help you out while you’re checking everything out on the grounds.
No matter how warm it is or how much you just want to wear shorts and a T-shirt, you really have to look the part at Stampede. That means you don the Resistol hat, the Roper shirt, the Wrangler jeans and a pair of cowboy boots. Yes, you’re going to be extremely uncomfortable in the heat, but at least you’ll look cool. What’s more important? Looking cool or literally being cool? I’ll let you decide.
Regardless of your choice, it’s still important to stay hydrated since it always feels about five degrees hotter than it actually is. You’ll be surprised just how fast you’re able to down that entire bottle of water and how little of a difference it makes. So how do you solve that? You keep drinking water – which will 30% quench your thirst, while the other 70% will be sweat out your pores within 10 minutes.
With the mass amount of water you’ve consumed, it’s always handy to commit to memory where the nearest washrooms are. We all know “that feeling” always hits at the most inopportune time – like right when you get to the front of the line for a midway ride. On that note, yet another reason to know the location of the lavatory, just in case you need to spew after one too many rotations on The Zipper.
Let’s be real for a second. It’s a bit overwhelming when you first step onto the Stampede grounds, especially for the nostrils. With the smell of fair food in the air, it’s easy to lose control and stuff your face with all the traditional midway treats. Speaking from experience, may I suggest limiting your corn dog consumption to no more than three per day? I mean, you gotta save room for at least a potato-on-a-stick (or two), a Lions Club burger, some mini-donuts and a lemonade, right?
Lastly, whatever you do, DON’T put fudge in a cooler. Sounds like a foolproof idea, right? Yeah, if the ice is going to stay frozen forever. But guess what? It’s not. That ice is going to melt, turn into water, and thus you’ll be pouring out dirty fudge water the next day. Take it from me, you don’t want to deal with that! Really fudged up on that one!
Follow these tips and you’ll be in for another great year at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede. Or don’t follow them and it probably won’t make a difference. I mean, I certainly wouldn’t take advice from a city boy like me.
Happy Stampeding!
Logan Piekema is the afternoon host weekdays from 2-7 pm on 102.1 FM and cjcyfm.com.
