It is a big week in Williams Lake for agriculture, with two important events taking place showcasing the region’s rich Western heritage.
The 87th annual Williams Lake Bull Sale and Show will be taking place April 18 and 19 at the Williams Lake Stockyards on Cattle Drive.
The event has had a long, storied history in the lakecity, from the early days when cattle were shipped via the railway from the stockyards along the lake to more modern times now at the Williams Lake Stockyard facility north of the city where prized bulls travel by truck and trailer via the highway.
Hosted by the B.C. Livestock Producers Co-operative Association, the show will get underway Thursday, April 18 at 1 p.m. The sale will get underway Friday, April 19 at 1 p.m.
This year the event, which has traditionally served as an opportunity for buyers and sellers in the ranching industry to gather after a long winter, will feature approximately 40 top Hereford, Angus and Gelbvieh bulls from across B.C.
Just 10 years ago, upwards of 160 of B.C.’s best purebred bulls and replacement heifers were showcased at the sale. A combination of COVID-19 and a trend toward online or on-ranch sales has impacted numbers at the show and sale. We commend the current participants and organizers who have committed to be a part of the show and sale’s ongoing history, and we will see you there!
Immediately following the show and sale, will be the kick-off for the Indoor Spring Classic Rodeo taking place April 19, 20 and 21, with a rodeo on Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and again on Saturday and Sunday starting at 1 p.m. each day.
It takes about 40 loads of dirt and a super B train full of panels and bucking chutes to transform Rink 1 into a rodeo arena but for the community it’s well worth the efforts as everyone eagerly anticipates the event.
If you are looking for a preview of the rodeo, swing by the arena Thursday afternoon where barrel racers will be competing for spaces in the rodeo.