Soon after establishing Cardston, Charles O. Card organized that vegetables were taken back to Utah to show sceptics what the newfound country could produce. An Agriculture Society was organized in July 1907, that sponsored fairs including displays of flowers and vegetables and other products. Toward the end of the 1920s interest faded in the society and for a number of years fairs were not held. In the fall and winter of 1944-45 a group of Cardston citizens interested in flowers, vegetables, and fruits organize the Cardston and District Horticultural Society. The first show was held in the Social Centre in August 1945. A second show sponsored by this is society in 1946 was larger with competition in 96 classes featuring potted plants, cut flowers, fruits, and vegetables. After 1951, the Cardston and District Agriculture Society assume responsibility for this event, displaying handicrafts, cooking, schoolwork, livestock, and other classes. 

Rodeos, Racin’, Ridin’ n’ Ropin

Horseracing in the early days of Cardston was very colourful, betting on horse races was popular but also for other sports and competitions. Impromptu horse races on Main Street were not unheard of. There were also competitions including pulling matches, wrestling, and anything to create fun and entertainment. Lee Follett made thousands of dollars betting on “Big Enough”, a racehorse he owned this large “ugly route of the horse” weighing 1400 pounds looked like a workhorse rather than eraser; despite this he was never beaten in a three-quarter mile race.

To add variety to race needs, there began to be occasional bucking horses or steer roping events. To encourage these daredevil cowboys, the crowd through dimes from the fence rail. As the began to me more and more riders and rovers, the race meets became known as rodeos. Rodeos began to be organized into separate events. Initially there were no gate fees to watch the bucking events or horse races. Nor were there any prize money to the winners.

In 1925 the Cardston News reported a variety of events including teepee races, calf roping, bucking horses, Roman races, interspersed with horse races and, of course, the Wildhorse race “which always proved to be thrilling and unpredictable.” Some 5000 spectators witnessed the stampede events, and 1000 cars were parked in the exhibition grounds. Prize money of $2000 was distributed among the victorious contestants.

There is no seating until the first grandstand was built on the present rodeo grounds in 1977.

Jim Austin was one of the top riders at this time. One of his tricks was to put a silver dollar between his boot and the stirrup before he began his ride. When he dismounted the silver dollar would still be there.

Notable Cowboys and Cowgirls

1. Herman Linder – Recipient of the Order of Canada, rodeo Hall-of-Famer, cowboy, honorary band chieftain, record-holding 22-time Calgary Stampede champion, entrepreneur, and gentleman, he was remembered by then Stampede President Roger Jarvis, “Herman was quite simply a legend of the rodeo industry . . . his exploits will likely never be equaled. He’s an icon of the western way of life. World’s most outstanding Rodeo Champion & rodeo director and manager for High River, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Winnipeg, Penticton, Vancouver, and the rodeo at Expo 67 in Montréal.1 

2. Chris Shade - bronc rider and rodeo contractor 

3. Tom Three Persons - calf roper & bronc. Guy Weadick, the promoter of the first Calgary Stampede, sought to secure the best cowboys for the rodeo events. After contacting Blood Reserve Indian Agent W.J. Hyde, the Indian Agent wrote to Weadick endorsing Three Persons’ entry in the two bucking horse contests. Three Persons won the saddle bronc contest by overcoming the previously un-ridden Cyclone, winning $1000, a saddle, and a gold belt buckle. In 1983, he was inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. 

4. Pete Bruised Head – 1st man to ride Midnight2, Calf Roper Calgary Stampede Champion, 1925, 1927, honoured by the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame as a Legend of Rodeo in 2008, inducted into the Indian National Finals Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2013. 

5. Warner Linder-Rodeo promoter, Calf roper, Anno, Calgary Stampede Champion 1936 

6. Charlie Ivins - Calgary Stampede Calf Roping Championship 

7. Connie (Robinson) Ivans – 1st Miss Rodeo Canada 1955 

8. Mary Lynn (Beazer) Cook – 1956 Miss Rodeo Canada 

9. Fred Gladstone - calf roper and team roper, inducted to the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association on November 14, 1992, the first Indian (First Nations person) to capture a Canadian Calf Roping Championship, as a Rookie, a life member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Senior Pro Rodeo Association, "Pioneer of Rodeo" award by the Calgary.3 

10. Jim Gladstone - entered his first pro rodeo at Taber when he was just sixteen, 1969, 1971, 1973 Canadian calf roping titles, five Canadian Finals Rodeos (the first CFR was staged in 1974), qualified for the NFR in 1974, 1975, 1977, the first Canadian to win a timed event NFFR world title, at the peak of his rodeo career, Jim Gladstone played in five national championships for the Senior Men’s Lethbridge Chinooks,  the first rodeo athlete to be invited to compete at Canadian Superstars in Toronto, a televised competition of athletics events featuring the best athletes in Canada, several titles at the Indian National Finals Rodeo and  Senior Pro Rodeo. Jim Gladstone was inducted into the Canadian Rodeo Hall of Fame in September of 2000. 

11. Charlie Ivins-North American Roping Champion 1938 

12. Floyd Peters-calf roping 

13. Bob Wilson - CFA Bull rider and promoter of kids rodeo here in town 

14. Monica Wilson - Guy Weadick Award for Barrel Riding. First women to compete in this event. 

15. Mac Reeder – Champion Canadian Rodeo College Bare Back Rider 

16. Darren Shaw - Canadian Rodeo Championship Calf Roping 

17. Lynn Jensen - Bare Back, Steer Wrestling and served as President Canadian Pro Rodeo Association. 

18. Wally French and Lawrence Draper Canadian Team Roping Championship. 

19. Morgan Lybbert - World Champion Reining competition. 

20. Jack Purnell from Woolford was selected by the Canadian Rodeo Association in 1924, along with six other cowboys to represent Canada at the International Rodeo in Wembly Stadium in London, England. 

21. Tom Duce: calf roper, & steer decorating (Calgary stampede 1946, 1951, world champions 1947, Canadian champion 1951) 

22. Frank Duce: 1945-Saddle Bronc Riding Championship of Canada, 1946 & 1947 Canadian All Around Champion, 1952 Calgary Stampede-North American saddle bronc riding champion. 

23. Jerri Duce – Miss Rodeo Canada 1975 and the same year was the 1st Canadian to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo (USA), Barrel Racing event at the Calgary stampede at age 11, Canadian champion for six years. 

24. Joy Duce at age 10 winning the Central Circuit Championship several times and has been Canadian Professional Rodeo Queen. Both women have excelled in acrobatic riding and performed across North America. 

25. Bob Duce: often considered the “Greatest Bareback Rider” of all time. Canadian Championship 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1962, Southern Alberta Circuit bareback champ seven times starting in 1950. He won 21 saddles, many trophies, and buckles. 

26. Darren Shaw-calf roper 1993, 1995, 2000