INNISFAIL – Ivan Daines had just left his seat after watching the bareback finals to chat with an old special friend when his cell phone rang.
The 78-year-old retired rodeo star quickly recognized the caller.
“Can I talk to my daughter? Hang on,” asked Ivan.
For the next five minutes Ivan, beaming with a huge smile, engaged his daughter who was calling from Colorado.
“Thank you for calling. I'm at the rodeo, and a great friend of mine is interviewing me,” Ivan told his beloved kin with a huge smile.
This was a special moment, watching and meeting all the best cowboys at the Daines rodeo and his kid calling on Father’s Day.
“The rodeo is looking great and it is threatening rain,” said Ivan.
And of course, it did rain throughout the 65th annual Daines Ranch Pro Rodeo from June 13 to 15 at the Daines Ranch.
But Ivan, nor any self-respecting cowboy or cowgirl, would ever miss the action because of rain. No, it’s all part of the sport and culture, to be embraced in fact.
On the rodeo’s opening night on Friday the rain threatened big time but Ivan and all the good cowboys just smiled.
“It wasn’t that bad. The announcer said we're going to wait 10 minutes before we start, and in 10 minutes it quit raining,” said Ivan. “We had a great rodeo Friday.”
Better yet for the Great Ivan Daines, a past world ranked bronc rider, Calgary Stampede champion, and a hall of fame country recording artist, he’s seeing wonderful things happening at the Daines Ranch, now one of Canada’s great rodeo venues.
“I'm the first to say it has gained popularity and through the help of everybody, and the cowboys and the cowgirls it is just growing by leaps and bounds and we're all very proud of it,” said Ivan.
And he is equally impressed with the new generation of cowboys who are thrilling crowds all over North America.
“These cowboys today ride so good, really good and great, and they work out and I worked out,” said Ivan. “It's a professional way of doing things where the old way was you just had to do it.
“You had to be tough and go do it and do your work and get in the rodeo,” added Ivan. “But these guys now, and even in my era, we all worked out and you needed to be in the competition.”
And if a little support is needed cowboys will always help anyone who needs a hand up.
“When I am watching TV anywhere in the world cowboys are helping cowboys get up,” said Ivan. “And the guy that just rode a while ago and is winning he's helping the guy who may beat him getting on a bronc.
“But it's a natural thing to help each other because we need the help of each other.”
From last weekend’s Daines Ranch Pro Rodeo, Ivan does not let on as to where he will go next, except to say it will involve his many special friends.
He might resurrect his annual Country Music Pick-Nic that ran at the Daines Ranch for 45 years before COVID came about, or he might record a new album of inspirational cowboy songs.
Ivan is not sure. His said his ankles have been bothering him lately.
But he is certain he wants to continue being around his special friends.
At last weekend’s Daines rodeo, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a special silver dollar for a friend.
“It’s another thing that I give to my very special friends,” said Ivan. “My ankles' been giving me trouble, and I wouldn't trade my life for anything.
“I got knocked about a fair amount of times,” he added. “But it all comes with the sport and I'm just surviving.”
Below are the unofficial Canadian Pro Rodeo Association final results of the 65th annual Daines Ranch Pro Rodeo.
Bareback riding:
1. Bodee Lamers, 87 points on C5 Rodeo’s –68 Flap Jack, $1742.38;
2. Orin Larsen, 84.5, $1431.24;
3. Timothy Murphy, 83.5, $1120.10;
4. Jacob Stemo, 83, $808.96;
5. (tie) Clint Laye, Steven DeWolfe and Cruz McNulty, 81, $331.88 each;
8. (tie) Chett Deitz, 80.5, $124.46.
Steer wrestling:
1. Cody Cassidy, 3.4 seconds, $2783.30;
2. Joe Guze, 3.6, $2551.40;
3. Brendan Laye, 3.7, $2242.14;
4. Curtis Cassidy, 3.9, $1932.88;
5. Tanner Milan, 4.1, $1623.62;
6. Chase Tkach, 4.2, $1314.36;
7. Luke Gee, 4.4, $1005.10;
8. Ben Mitchell, 4.6, $50.47;
9. Scott Guenthner, 4.7, $695.84;
10. Bryn Roy, 5.0, $463.89.
Team roping:
1. Riley Warren/Wyatt Hayes, 4.7 seconds, $2783.57;
2. Kavis Drake/Denim Ross, 4.9, $2420.50;
3. (tie) Riley Wilson/Ty Vaile and Tee McLeod/Chase Tryan, 5.0, $1875.88;
5. Kolton Schmidt/Sid Sporer, 5.1, $1331.27;
6. Clay Ullery/Tyce McLeod, 5.5, $968.20;
7. Clint Weston/Devin Wigemyr, 5.6, $605.12;
8. Randon Ross/Cole Brain, 5.7, $242.05.
Saddle bronc riding:
1. Kolby Wanchuk, 86.5 points on C5 Rodeo’s A11 Oney, $2481.98;
2. (tie) Tanner Butner and Kyle Wanchuk, 85.5, $1817.16 each;
4. Kole Ashbacher, 85, $1152.35;
5. (tie) K’s Thomson, Dylan Young and Tyrel Roberts, 84, $472.75;
8. Dawson Dahm, 83, $177.28.
Tie down roping:
1. Austin Hines, 8.2 seconds, $2533.77;
2. Stran Dunham, 9.7, $2322.63;
3. Matthew Kenney, 9.9, $2041.09;
4. Darren Dublanko, 10.3, $1759.56;
5. Shay Stewart, 10.6, $1478.03;
6. Riley Wakefield, 11.0, $1196.50;
7. Walker Warkentin, 11.3, $914.97;
8. Murray Pole, 11.5, $774.22;
9. Clayton Smith, 12.0, $633.44;
10. Brad Sommerfeldt, 12.5, $422.29.
Ladies barrel racing:
1. Jackie Ganter, 15.80 seconds, $5170;
2. Jayden Wilson, 15.84, $4136;
3. Taylor Manning, 15.90, $3360.50;
4. Adel Hansen, 15.92, $2585;
5. Angela Mastad, 15.93, $2068;
6. (tie) Sissy Winn and Pamela Morrison, 16.00, $1421.75 each;
8. Lynette Brodoway, 16.01, $1163.25;
9. Becky Ring, 16.02, $1034;
10. Val Gillespie, 16.04, $904.75;
11. (tie) Jerri Duce and Blake Molle, 16.05, $710.87 each;
13. Vanessa Leggett, 16.06, $517;
14. Amara Finnerty, 16.09, $387.75;
15. Jordyn Tresidder, 16.12, $258.50.
Bull riding leaders:
1. Edgar Durazo, 86.5 points on C5 Rodeo’s 948 Yeller Feller, 2002.95;
2. Cody Lee Coverchuk, 85, $1645.28;
3. (tie) Cody Fraser, William Barrows and Jhett Wheeler, 83.5, $929.94 each;
6. Eric O’Flynn, 83, $$357.67;
7. Zane Tully, 81, 214.61;
8. Jacob Gardner, 80, $143.07.
Breakaway roping:
1. Bradi Whiteside, 2.0 seconds, $2136.15;
2. Aubrey Ross, 2.4, $1958.14;
3. (tie) Bobbi Henderson, Jenna Dallyn and Jennifer Schuk, 2.5, $1483.44 each;
6. Jessica Gunsch, 2.7, $1008.74;
7. Hailey Duncan, 2.8, $771.39;
8. (tie) Kyla Kelly and Macy Auclair, 2.9, $593.37;
10. Reata Schlosser, 3.1, $356.02.
Novice bareback:
1. Quaide Skjonsberg, 80 points, $322.04 (no other qualified rides)
