Wild Western Days Rodeo and lawnmower races…Beechy Sk.

A wild western days weekend in Beechy, Saskatchewan Canada
Beechy Western Days, just one of the longest running rodeos in southern Saskatchewan, Charlotte and I had the pleasure of attending this summer on our travels. We made it to Wood Mountain Stampede, the longest continual running rodeo, and now in it’s 56th year Beechy Western Days. For a small community of around 250 people, some say more, some say less, but regardless of the number the community and surrounding area came together to host not only an excellent rodeo but an added feature “the lawn mower races” wild and western entertainment at its finest.

Beechy Western Days rodeo now in it's 56th year.
Beechy Western Days rodeo now in it’s 56th year.
Even these young wranglers get to helping prior to the rodeo.
Even these young wranglers get to helping prior to the rodeo.
Checking upout the bucking chutes. this is not their first rodeo.
Checking out the bucking chutes. this is not their first rodeo.
Hours of pre preperation go into hosting a Rodeo including lots of corral setting up.
Hours of pre preparation go into hosting a rodeo including lots of corral setting up.
A lot of action happens outside the arena preparing livestock for the event.
A lot of action happens outside the arena preparing livestock for the event.


Beechy is a village in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan within the Rural Municipality of Victory No. 226. The village is located in the Coteau Hills region of the province, at the intersection of Highway 342 and Highway 737. It’s really a destination community as it is not located on any of the major highways but a nice drive in the rolling hills on a decent highway, we met only a couple of vehicles on the way. The Beechy area was first settled by ranchers early in the 20th century, starting in the 1910s, immigration of Europeans to the Canadian prairies resulted in an increase in population for Beechy. These settlers started ranching and farming in the area, which remains Beechy’s primary activity today.

Beechy set in the rolling hills of southern Saskatchewan a population of approx 250.
Beechy, set in the rolling hills of southern Saskatchewan a population of approx 250. Quiet before the community fills with spectators and competitors for the annual rodeo.
Parked on a hill we spent a wuiet evening only to awaken surrounded by large horse trailers and the sound of horses and trucks.
Parked on a hill we spent a quiet evening only to awaken surrounded by large horse trailers and the sound of horses and trucks.
The quiet of a prairie sunset in Beechy.
The quiet of a prairie sunset in Beechy.

Beechy boasts a long history of community events, the first agricultural fair was held in the area in 1922. The first racetrack was built in 1948, and the following year the first harness races were held In 1996 the first Beechy Western Days Rodeo was held and continues on to today.
Charlotte and I arrived a day before the event and were amazed at just how much work went into putting on a first class rodeo, as well setting up many games for the kids and a first class race track for the famous lawn mower races. Small communities like this could not make these events happen without volunteer support from the community and area surrounding Beechy. Pens had to be put in place for the rodeo stock, the arena ground prepared to provide safe footing for the rodeo stock and barrel racing horses. Beer gardens and dance area set up, a full hall of events for the young ones and a race track second to none for the lawn mowers. Sometimes those of us who just show up for “the show” really do not appreciate the work that goes into entertaining us that goes on not just before but after the event as well.

Just a few of the many contestants arriving hopeing to place well and take home a cheque.
Just a few of the many contestants arriving hoping to place well and take home a cheque. We ended up moving to make room for many more to come. It’s easy when your home is in the back of your truck.


That first evening with our truck camper parked on the hill overlooking the arena all by ourselves we settled in for a very quiet night. The next morning we moved, fueled up and did a little shopping in town at the local Co-op and gift shop in town. Contestants needed the area we were parked in the night before, so we moved to spend the night near the golf course, close but thinking we were out of the way. To our surprise we awoke early the next morning surrounded by trucks and horse trailers all around us. We were in the middle of a rodeo so to speak, needless to say we knew more would be coming and in the hilly community of Beechy every space would be needed to park and unload their horses. The beauty of the truck camper is we could easily move our home to a steet in town and out of the way, quieter but close enough to enjoy the atmosphere.

Carl Bennet of Prairie Rodeo oversees the stock he provides being unloaded and placed in suitable pens.
Carl Barrett of Prairie Rodeo (center) oversees the stock he provides being unloaded and placed in suitable pens.
Rodeo contestans travel 100's of miles every weekend to compete. Between ,before and after get a chance to do some visiting and story telling about their last performance or lack of one.
Rodeo contestans travel 100’s of miles every weekend to compete. Between, before and after get a chance to do some visiting and story telling about their last performance or lack of one.
Team ropers line up waiting thier turn in the arena.
Team ropers line up waiting their turn in the arena.


Being one of the only Canadian Cowboys Rodeo on that weekend and near the finals the number of contestants in every event was packed for the Friday and Saturday performances, by contestants chasing the standings for the finals. Sunday’s performance featured the top ten from the prior events.

A calf roper makes a sucessful run and tie in just a few seconds.
A calf roper makes a successful run and tie in just a few seconds.
A crowd favorite Bull riding.
A crowd favourite bull riding.
One of the fastest events in rodeo ladies barrel racing.
One of the fastest events in rodeo ladies barrel racing.
Then there are those who jump from a racing horse to wrestle a steer down.
Then there are those who jump from a racing horse to wrestle a steer down.
Another fast time for this calf roper.
Another fast time for this calf roper.
Another popular event ladies tie down roping a lot of skill handling a rope.
Another popular event ladies tie down roping a lot of skill handling a rope.
Bareback and saddle bronc riders take the hardest beating of all on some tough bred bucking stock.
Bareback and saddle bronc riders take the hardest beating of all on some tough bred bucking stock.
Both horse and rider are marked in this event after the eight second ride. The tougher the horse the higher the mark and the riders style in staying mounted all count.
Both horse and rider are marked in this event after the eight second ride. The tougher the horse the higher the mark and the riders style in staying mounted all count.
Why anyone would want to compete in the wild horse race is beyond me...if you want really wild and western, you have to see it to believe it.
Why anyone would want to compete in the wild horse race is beyond me…if you want really wild and western, you have to see it to believe it. This cowboy barely got on before being ejected.

For those who do not know rodeo it is one of the only sports I know of that the contestants themselves pay the winners of the event. They pay an entry fee which goes into the event pool with the top three splitting the money, those who do not qualify for the money go home earning nothing. In some cases rodeo committees will add extra money to the pot to attract more contestants. Most rodeo contestants live on the road all summer long competing at rodeos across the province and for some as many as three in one weekend, putting on many miles. A lot of the contestants are from cattle ranching operation backgrounds and are a big family every weekend visiting and story telling, but fierce competitors in the arena.

A number of simple games for the young, housed inside the curling rink kept the younger ones entertained.
A number of simple games for the young, housed inside the curling rink kept the younger ones entertained.
Duck hunting with a fishing rod.
Duck hunting with a fishing rod.
Train rides around the race track pulled by of course a lawn mower.
Train rides around the race track pulled by of course a lawn mower. One looks not so young.


Outside of the rodeo Charlotte and I were impressed with the amount of work that went into entertaining the younger ones with some very simple games we had not seen since our youth, fishing in the duck pond and bobbing for apples…go figure.

Feature presentation the "lawn mower races". Pit crews preparing their machines.
Feature presentation the “lawn mower races”. Pit crews preparing their machines.


Then there were the Lawn Mower Races, the year finale to be exact on a very challenging track, lawnmowers and people packed the pit area all preparing the lawn mowers for the races, all helping each other make sure they were running their best. On the track it was fast and furious and everyone for themselves, with rollovers, crashes and bumping and grinding at full out speed. When one contestant ran into trouble and broke down everyone helped get the mower and driver fixed and back into the race. A first for us, we will never look at a riding lawnmower the same again, great fast paced entertainment, good sports and a good time for contestants and huge crowd of spectators.

Racing was top speed and may the best person win. Disclaimer: no grass was cut during this event.
Racing was top speed and may the best person win. Disclaimer: no grass was cut during this event.
Rounding corners on two wheels not uncommon during the race.
Rounding corners on two wheels not uncommon during the race.
A few crashes as fierce competition for the years final trophy pushe racers to thier limits.
A few crashes as fierce competition for the years final trophy pushes racers to their limits.
In the pits everyone helped each other to keep the machines running and on the track. Notice the safety bale in place to support the machine during repairs.
In the pits everyone helped each other to keep the machines running and on the track. Notice the safety bale in place to support the machine during repairs.
Sometimes the gears just get jammed and need a little adjustment.
Sometimes the gears just get jammed and need a little adjustment.
GEP20029 1
The years final race and the prize trophies along with the bragging rights…until next season.


Charlotte and I would like to thank those involved and the community of Beechy for making us feel right at home and part of the event. We met so many great residents of the area names elude us and we would just get them mixed up anyway, so thanks for your hospitality. The main organizer of the lawn mower races requested some images from me, he reached out but for some reason I cannot email to a gmail account so if you know him have him contact me at 306 229-4542 and I will arrange to get him the images.
If you have some time next year and want a weekend packed with fun check out Beechy Western Days, sure you will not be disappointed.
In our four months of travel we stayed at some pretty fantastic spots and met some very interesting people who live full time in their RV. I look forward now that we are stationary for a few months to feature them and places of interest we visited with you in future posts. Also working on a breakdown of costs and our feelings about life on the road in a truck camper.
Hope you enjoyed the images as much as I enjoyed taking them the indoor rodeo photos are a little blury due to low light and fast action. Thanks for those who subscribed and your feedback on the posts is always welcome…more to come, and we hope to see you down the road.
Gerry (RVcowboy)
Charlotte (Editor in Chief)

4 thoughts on “Wild Western Days Rodeo and lawnmower races…Beechy Sk.”

Leave a Reply