Earlier this week, one-half of the Airdrie Pro Rodeo announcing crew, David Poulsen received a 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. Poulsen has been announcing at the Airdrie Pro Rodeo for over 20 years.

The other half of the announcing crew, Dustin Edwards has been working with Poulsen at the rodeo for the past 7-8 years, and talked about how much Poulsen means to the sport of rodeo.

"In August he'll announce his 3000 rodeo performance. Dave has been a professional announcer for well over 40 years. He's an accomplished author, who's got a ton of big award-winning books. He was the voice of the Calgary Stampede for over 30 years. He just has so many accomplishments."

While they worked together, Edwards explains said off the mics they are best friends and talk all the time outside of when they work the rodeos.

"When you ask somebody about him, they won't talk about how great he is in on the microphone. When you first ask about Dave, they'll talk about the kind of person he is first, which is an amazing human."

"They say don't meet your heroes, because you'll sometimes be disappointed. But once I met Dave, it was the total opposite. I idolized them growing up, watched him on during the stampede when I was a kid and it's turned into a great friendship"

Edwards went on to talk about the first thing Poulsen told him when they met many years ago.

"Just have fun, if you're having fun, the people in the crowd will have fun, I've lived by that ever since."

While many more rodeo-announcing performances are in Poulsens' future, Edwards believes his best performance has yet to happen.

"He's still just as good as he was 40 years ago and only getting better."

The Airdrie Pro Rodeo took place over the Canada Day long weekend. The rodeo saw multiple professional events, which included bareback, bull riding, ladies' barrel racing, saddle bronc, steer riding and wrestling, as well as team roping, and tie-down roping.

Over the several days, the events featured plenty of local cowboy talent including participants from Crossfield, Didsbury, Rocky View County, Cochrane, Carstairs, Calgary, Okotoks, Strathmore, and Sundre. 

The junior events included mutton busting, sheep scramble, calf scramble, wild pony racing, pee-wee barrel racing, and junior barrel racing.

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