'how it all got started'

For the very first 1923 Rangeland Derby Stampede founder, Guy Weadick, convinced a number of working ranches to enter their authentic chuckwagons and roundup crews. As years passed entries varied dramatically, with fewer than twenty and more than forty wagons competing at the event. In 1975 the Stampede decided to limit its entries to the top 32 outfits from the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association. This all changed after the CPRA strike of 1979 when members of the Northern Chuckwagon Association and some 'Independent' drivers replaced the pros. In 1982 the Stampede invited the professionals back to compete with the Northern drivers and independents. Eventually the independents were eliminated and the top 18 drivers from each association automatically qualified for the Stampede. The Stampede has recently reverted back to its invitational process by inviting the top 12 outfits from the previous year's Derby to join a selection of drivers from the two professional circuits.

The senior circuit, the World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA), originated as a division of the Cowboys Protective Association (CPA). This organization represented all of Canada's professional cowboys. The original CPA chuckwagon racing circuit was sanctioned in 1949, when it crowned its first champion, High River's Lloyd Nelson. The association changed monikers from CPA to CRCA and then CPRA. In 1981 the chuckwagon drivers broke away from the CPRA to form the present WPCA. The Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association (CPCA) changed its name several times as well, in 1988, from the original Northern Chuckwagon Association (NCA) to the NPCA and in 1995, to the present CPCA. The Junior Association crowned its first NCA champion in 1976, Grand Centre's Mel Haase. In each case the Associations' second champions provided names with a three generation legacy: the CPA's Ron Glass (Tom, Jason) in 1950, and the NCA's Alan Bensmiller (Buddy, Kurt, Chance, Dave) in 1977.

'the first race'

The first chuckwagon race held at the Calgary Stampede was in 1923. The No. 10 Event evening competition was the 'Cowboy's Chuck-Wagon Race" with Purses and Prizes totaling $275.00. Bill Sommers, a stagecoach driver from the Yukon, won the first wagon race in 1923.

For the Official Canadian Championship title each outfit, consisting of 4 horses, wagon, driver and 4 helpers, were required to:"Cut a figure eight around barrels, out through backstretch into track, run around track back to camp bround, unhook team from wagon, stretch fly. No less than two stakes, and make fire. First smoke decides winner".

'the prize'

Day Money: 1st $25 | 2nd $15 | 3rd $10 | Free Entrance - Man entering team that wins the greatest number of races out of 5 will be awarded a special prize of a $25.00 John B. Stetson hat. Today cowboys compete for $945,000 dollars and $100,000 sudden death championship ........

'the track'

These races involved fully-loaded chuckwagons which followed the illustrated route below before returning to their starting barrel positions to set up a new camp. (Illustration by Brent Lowrie)

'the chuckwagon'

Where did the chuckwagon come from? In his 1993 book, ""Hotcakes to High Stakes, The Chuckwagon Story", Doug Nelson writes - "Before being raced or even seen on the Canadian prairies, the chuckwagon had a different use. The prototype for the chuckwagon was a hospital unit used by the Union army surgeons during the later stages of the American civil war. A light but sturdy canvas covered wagon with an upright chest of medical supplies attached to its back, its hinged end gate protected the chest while traveling, and could be lowered for use as a dispensary or operating table when the wagon reached casualties".