North Peace Rodeo seeks sponsors for 2025 return

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A long-celebrated community event, the North Peace Rodeo will return in 2025.

Scheduled for the first weekend of July, proceeds for the event will benefit the North Peace Light Horse Association (NPLHA) and North Peace Rodeo for maintenance to its rodeo and equestrian facilities.

According to Tara Myers, the sitting secretary for the North Peace Rodeo’s committee, this event is the first North Peace Rodeo to take place since 2018.  Historically, the North Peace Rodeo in Fort St. John has existed in some form since the 1960s.

Myers says the inevitable return of the rodeo only made sense, given the town’s deep emotional attachment to the sport. 

Myers also serves as the secretary for the NPLHA, calling the rodeo the organization’s “biggest fundraiser.”

“[Rodeo] is not a sport for the faint of heart but it is something that brings together lots of different levels of community,” said Myers. “There’s [been] support for the rodeo in Fort St. John as far back as I can remember.

“Fort St. John used to be one of the bigger rodeos in the North Peace and the province. We reached out to old cowboys that put the rodeo together, and said ‘let’s see if we can get this off the ground again.’”

Events featured during the rodeo will include bareback and saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, bull riding, tie-down and team roping, ladies’ ranch bronc, child and youth events and more.

Each day will be a one-day open rodeo, meaning entrants do not need a BC Rodeo Association membership card to participate for cash prizes.  

Myers says planning for the 2025 edition has been in stages since February, with several sponsors already on board for the event. A 50/50 raffle with a charitable organization is also being sought for the event.

Sponsors include Better Cents Bookkeeping, Longhorn Oilfield Services, Mustang Rentals, Grande Prairie’s Keddie’s Tack and Western Wear, Quigley Contracting, Resolve Solutions, Six Nations Ventures, Tourmaline Oil and T&T Communications.

It’s just more backers that are needed as Myers says the committee “has everything else lined up” for the event to be successful.

“It’s been awesome,” said Myers. “The Fort St. John rodeo community has really kind of come together and supported this. But at this point we really need those sponsorships to come through to make it or break it.

“[We’re] really hoping that the local companies and the companies that do business in this area are going to support us.”

The North Peace Rodeo takes place from Friday, July 4th to Sunday, July 6th, 2025 at the NPLHA Rodeo Grounds at 6929 Equestrian Road.  

To inquire about sponsorship or participation in the 50/50 raffle, email the rodeo committee at northpeacerodeo@outlook.com