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May 17, 2011NEWS RELEASEStampede’s Centennial saddles celebrate 100 years of ridin’ highCALGARY – For a priceless project like this, Vic Bennett didn’t have to be asked twice to saddle up.Bennett, one of the premier saddle makers in North America, hasn’t taken on large orders in decades,preferring to produce his celebrated creations one at a time. But when folks from the Calgary Stampede’sWestern Performance Horse Committee approached the sublime craftsman over the winter, with a certaincentennial celebration in mind, well . . . you might say Bennett’s foot was already in the stirrup.“That’s the tantalizing thing. It’s very hard to say no, when you’re selected to be involved in the CalgaryStampede’s 100-year anniversary,” says Bennett, whose company, Vic Bennett Saddles, is based justoutside Sherwood Park, Alta. “It’s something to think about . . . an easy decision to make, really.”With Bennett and his two-man crew taking up awls, rasps, and stamping tools for the next several months,the Stampede’s Western Performance Horse Committee is commissioning the production of up to 100identical Vic Bennett Custom All-Round Saddles — handcrafted exclusively for the 2012 Calgary StampedeCentennial, and available for sale to the general public.Never to be reproduced again, these so-called “century saddles” promise meticulous craftsmanship, rightdown to the Calgary Stampede brand lasered on the stirrup. The limited-edition saddles will be numbered,signed by Stampede President and Chairman of the Board Mike Casey and Bennett, and accompanied by acertificate of authenticity.They’ll be presented during a Centennial Saddle Celebration in July 2012.“One of our (WPH) committee members, David Palmer, has said for a long time that we should have aspecial project that involves saddles. And when the Stampede started asking for ideas to be submitted forCentennial, everything just clicked,” says Karen Mix, a member of the Stampede’s Western PerformanceHorse Committee.“Even to be part of this whole adventure, I’m just thrilled to death. We’ve got quite a few sold already . . .a couple of these saddles will also be auctioned off, as well, and we expect a huge response.”During Super Bowl XLV in Dallas on Feb. 6, both competing National Football League teams — thechampion Green Bay Packers, and runners-up Pittsburgh Steelers — received commemorative saddlesfrom Texan producer M.L. Leddy’s.Here in Alberta, with members of the public being given the chance to secure their own priceless piece ofWestern artwork, more than 20 of the century saddles have already been pre-purchased — sight unseen,and purely by word of mouth to this point.

“As soon as we explain the Centennial saddles program to people, the reaction has been amazing,” saysMix. “One lady ordered one for each of her children as an inheritance. A couple of energy companies havealready bought them.“And one fellow told us: ‘If I’m going to buy a saddle anyway, I’m going to buy a Centennial saddle,because it’s a keepsake.’ ”The Western Performance Horse Committee plans to use proceeds from the Centennial saddle program toreward various champions at the 2012 Stampede. Another 25 saddles, with a different design, areexpected to be built and presented to the various division winners of the Stampede’s three WesternPerformance Horse events — the Team Cattle Penning Competition, the Cutting Horse Competition, andthe Working Cow Horse Classic.To find out more about the Calgary Stampede’s Centennial saddle program, please e-mailsaddle@calgarystampede.com or visit www.calgarystampede.com/saddle2012- 30 -For more information, please contact:Tracey FosterTodd KimberleyAgriculture Program CoordinatorAgriculture Media WriterT 403.261.0127 C 403.815.2752F 403.262.3067 F 403.262.3067E tfoster@calgarystampede.comE tkimberley@calgarystampede.comThe Calgary Stampede is a volunteer-supported, not-for-profit community organization that preserves and promotes western heritage and values. TheStampede contributes to the quality of life in Calgary and southern Alberta through its world-renowned 10-day Stampede, year-round facilities, westernevents and several youth and agriculture programs. All revenue is reinvested into Calgary Stampede programs and facilities. For more about theStampede, visit www.calgarystampede.com.