2025 Lethbridge and District Pro Rodeo underway

The Lethbridge and District Pro Rodeo kicked off on Thursday night with cowboys and girls looking to lock spots for the Canadian Finals Rodeo.

The broncs were bucking and the crowd was buzzing during the first night of the 2025 Lethbridge and District Pro Rodeo on Thursday.

Over the course of three nights, fans can take in bull riding, steer wrestling, warrior relay races and more.

Since its return in 2022, the Lethbridge and District Pro Rodeo has become a staple event for Whoop-Up Days.

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“We see not just the contestants coming, we have top level production personnel, the whole gamut,” Kynan Vine, executive producer of the Lethbridge and District Pro Rodeo.

Lethbridge has become an important stop on the Canadian Pro Rodeo Tour.

It’s the second-last week before the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton.

For those on the bubble, it’s essentially the playoffs.

“Every time you nod your head, and you have an opportunity to win, you better come out and do it,” said saddle bronc rider, Kolby Wanchuk. “We go to 100 of these rodeos in a year, and the winner at the end is the one who won the most on the 100 rodeos.”

Outside of the high stakes, it’s still a favourite stop for cowboys and girls.

Large crowds and top-notch facilities help to make it an enjoyable event.

“I always love coming to Lethbridge,” said bull rider Jake Gardner. “They have a PBR here in the wintertime, and then they have a rodeo here, and I seem to always do good here.”

With so much on the line, Lethbridge usually sees a stacked line up of competitors, with some of the best rodeo competitors across North America taking part.

“All of the events look great,” said Vine. “We’ve got a lot of world class competitors coming in, and then we also have contestants in every event, because the heat of the battle for the Canadian Finals rodeo is on.”

The Lethbridge and District Pro Rodeo runs until Saturday.