May 2, 2024
For Immediate Release
(AIRDRIE, AB) - SMS Equipment and the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) are proud to announce a three-year extension of their partnership that sees SMS Equipment as the title sponsor of the Rodeo Canada Pro Tour. With the agreement in place, the association’s signature event will continue as the SMS Equipment Pro Rodeo Tour through 2026.
 "We’re delighted to have SMS Equipment ‘back in the arena’ in support of Canada’s rodeo athletes,” says Denny Phipps, CPRA General Manager. "Our shared vision and values make for an outstanding partnership. Hard work, integrity, respect, and the drive for excellence are all qualities exuded by our rodeo communities and the Western way of life. The same is demonstrated in SMS Equipment’s work and in our collaboration to-date.”
The two organizations first partnered in 2022, when SMS Equipment joined as the title sponsor of the Rodeo Canada Pro Tour. The partnership will continue after a successful second year, during which the tour expanded significantly.
"Our ongoing support of CPRA extends beyond mere sponsorship,” says Darren Wood, EVP, Construction – West Region at SMS Equipment. “It symbolizes a deep-rooted connection to the communities we serve and the traditions we honour. Much like the dedication and resilience demonstrated by CPRA cowboys and cowgirls, SMS Equipment’s commitment to excellence drives us forward."
 Ongoing collaboration, according to both organizations, is a “natural fit.”
“Together, we nurture an environment where performance, respect and collaboration thrive,” adds Wood. “We’re excited to see these values in action as we cheer on this year’s contestants from the stands in communities across Western Canada.”
The SMS Equipment Pro Rodeo Tour consists of the largest professional rodeos in Canada, spanning the four western provinces. In 2023 alone, these 16 tour events collectively paid out over $2.7 million, which is anticipated to grow as the season progresses into 2024. Throughout the Tour, contestants chase a berth at the SMS Equipment Tour Finale in Armstrong, BC with all Tour earnings also setting contestants up to qualify for the Canadian Finals and National Finals Rodeos.
Success at the tour events can change the trajectory of a contestant’s year.
"These tour rodeos are a key component in setting yourself up for a successful season,” says Clint Laye, reigning Canadian champion and back-to-back winner of the SMS Equipment Pro Rodeo Tour. “There is a lot of money up for grabs, and being successful at the tour events allows a guy to position himself where he needs to be to reach the goals for the year.”
Excitement for the 2024 season is building as tour dates are being finalized. Tentative dates include:
Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement - Caslan, AB
Grande Prairie, AB
Lea Park (Marwayne), AB
Wainwright, AB
Sundre, AB
Ponoka, AB
Williams Lake, BC
Teepee Creek, AB
Morris, MB
Medicine Hat, AB
Regina, SK
Strathmore, AB
Dawson Creek, BC
Lethbridge, AB
Armstrong, BC
Armstrong, BC - Tour Finals
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May 24-26
May 30-June 2
June 7-9
June 21-23
June 21-23
June 25-July 1
July 28-July 1
July 12-14
July 19-21
July 25-27
August 1-2
August 2-5
August 9-10
August 22-24
August 28-30
August 31 |
Follow the 2024 SMS Equipment Pro Rodeo Tour live on the Cowboy Channel+ app.
For more information on the SMS Equipment Pro Rodeo Tour, visit rodeocanada.com. |
About CPRA
The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) with headquarters in Airdrie, Alta. is the official sanctioning body for Professional Rodeo in Canada. The CPRA approves 55 + events annually with a total payout exceeding $6.8 million. The organization oversees the SMS Equipment Pro Tour Finale each fall in Armstrong, BC, holds their premiere event–the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR)–at Rogers Place in Edmonton in early October and endorses the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals as part of Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, Sask. For details, please see RodeoCanada.com
About SMS Equipment
SMS Equipment Inc. is the premier, one-stop equipment solutions provider for the mining, construction, road construction, and forestry industries. The company delivers advanced digital technologies, product support and state-of-the-art equipment from manufacturer partners, including Komatsu, Bomag, Takeuchi, NPK, Genesis and more. Based in Acheson, Alberta, SMS Equipment employs over 2,800 employees across more than 40 locations in Canada, supporting companies from small, local contractors to large corporations in the construction, mining, and forestry industries.
For more information:
Barb Poulsen, CPRA Communications and Media
Phone: 403 625-9225
Email: media@rodeocanada.com |
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