NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN - Swift Current's Mark Peters ropes a steer during the ninth annual Memory Lane Team Roping Memorial at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede on Friday.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
They’ll be roping with a purpose at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede grounds this weekend.
More than 80 buckles are up for grabs at the ninth annual Memorial Lane Team Roping Memorial – an event aimed at creating a sense of community while remembering lost loved ones.
“It means a lot to me and it means a lot to a lot of families,” said organizer George Schreiner. “It’s about their son or their daughter or their friends that have passed on and used to rope. The families put up a buckle to remember their loved ones. That’s what it’s all about – and this year there’s 86 buckles.”
Shaunavon’s Jake Lewans made the trip to Medicine Hat to rope in memory of his brother-in-law’s late father, Gordie Fletcher, and says Memory Lane is always a great opportunity for the roping community to come together.
“It’s just a good get together to see guys you haven’t seen since the last year even. You’re just doing it for fun,” said Lewans. “Whether you win or lose it’s here to bring the community of us ropers together.”
On top of providing families with a unique way to remember loved ones and uniting the roping community, Schreiner says Memory Lane provides a boost to the community every summer as well.
“It just brings a lot of people into town. If you look the Stampede grounds are packed with trucks and trailers. It’s not only good for the family members to remember all their loved ones, it’s also good for the community,” said Schreiner. “There are a lot of units out there that need fuel and a lot of rooms and a lot of meals. It’s just an all-around good thing for everyone.”
The Memory Lane Team Roping Memorial continues Saturday and Sunday at 9 a.m.
