North Peace Rodeo returns for 2026

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fort St. John’s local rodeo will return with another extravaganza to end the month of June.

Revived in 2025, the North Peace Rodeo will feature action in the sport throughout three days, beginning on Friday, June 26th, at the North Peace Rodeo grounds.

Board members for the event, Danny Fleet and Tara Myers, joined Bernard Conner-Suen on Moose FM on Thursday, June 18th, to chat about what will be featured in 2026.

“We are looking to like build and expand each year,” said Myers. “I think we have more than met our goal this year. We have added a couple of new events.”

That includes a wild cow milking event, where teams of three try to handle the animal in order to milk it.

The event will function on an on-site registration basis.

“There will be a mugger, somebody holding the rope and somebody milking,” said Fleet. “Some of these cows are not that gentle, so it should be a lot of fun watching.”

Chuckwagon racing, and other events – including saddle bronc, bull riding, steer wrestling and more – will return.

The first night will feature chuckwagons exclusively, with the following two days being reserved for other events.

Cash prizes – including a $1,000 purse each day for wild cow milking – will be up for grabs during the rodeo.

Myers said one quirk of the North Peace Rodeo is that, as an open event, entrants do not need to be carded contestants to participate.

“Open rodeos are a big thing in Fort St. John,” said Myers. “Anybody can enter. It doesn’t matter what riding discipline that you are in. You could have an English horse, a western horse [or] a ranch horse. If you think [you have] the fastest horse in the peace country, come on down.”

Both Fleet and Myers both touched upon the importance of sponsors and volunteers in providing the best event possible. 

Blueberry River First Nations (BRFN) has returned as a primary sponsor, which Myers said was “an unbelievable partner” in hosting the rodeo.

Additionally, sponsorship has been provided by Strait Construction and SPI Pipeline Construction. Like last year, the beer garden will be sponsored and hosted by the Hitching Post Pub.

[Hitching Post owner] Danny Lapine does the beer garden and entertainment,” said Myers. “If anyone knows [Lapine], he knows how to entertain a crowd. We are pretty fortunate with the companies and local businesses that step up in Fort St. John to help.”

The 2026 North Peace Rodeo will take place beginning on Saturday, June 26th, at the North Peace Light Horse Association grounds at 6929 Stampede Avenue in Fort St. John.

For more information, email the rodeo at northpeacerodeo@outlook.com or call 250-264-7422.