Paul Husband, spokesman for the May 27 to 29 event, says that the best thing about the Rainmaker Rodeo is that all proceeds received go right back into the St. Albert and district community. We support programs and services from organizations such as SAIF (Stop Abuse in Families), Youth Centre, Crimestoppers, DARE, St. John's Ambulance, Cystic Fibrosis Research and many sports teams. Last year, more than 30 community organizations benefited from the Rainmaker's proceeds, and in the history of the Rainmaker Rodeo and the St. Albert Kinsmen we've contributed $4.2 million back into the community, he says. And you would be hard-pressed to find anything resembling this entertainment package which only costs the $10 each admission fee. Once you are in the gates, everything is free except our headline entertainers.

Rainmaker isn't just a rodeo anymore, he adds. Our plan is for it to become the third largest annual spring/summer event in Alberta, after the Calgary Stampede and Klondike Days in Edmonton. We are already Alberta's largest semi-professional rodeo. Through a variety of new visionary and committed members, especially Jim Oscroft our rodeo chairman, the bar has been raised each and every year recently, he adds. Now we have Tuff Truck Racing, sponsored by City Ford, which features an obstacle course, similar to monster truck competition. And we have Extreme Freestyle Motocross as well, which involves professional drivers travelling a specially designed course and launching off an eight-foot ramp at 50 kilometres an hour, he says. While soaring 30 feet into the air, they try to incorporate as many tricks possible.

Another new addition is the allRewards.com Centennial Stage where everything from a wild west show to British clairvoyant Christine Hurley can be seen. The Bearspaw Gunslingsers will feature Allana Blinn who is the current women's world record holder in the sport of fast draw with four-tenths of a second from holster to hitting her target, he says. In a unique version of cowboy culture, Gord Moker will perform the poetry of Jesse Colt and show the award-winning art of Val Moker, his wife, as well.

The concert series will entertain the 35,000-plus visitors expected too. This year, on Friday, May 27th we are featuring musical performances by sensational country performers Emerson Drive, Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Johnny Reid, a Scottish country singer. On Saturday, May 28th a fantastic evening with legendary classic rocker, Tom Cochrane, as well as the Clayton Bellamy Band and China White will be enjoyed, says Husband. There will also be major opening and local closing acts both evenings making each and every Korral Concert Series a big ticket event. A full schedule is available at www.rainmaker.ab.ca as is a map to the St. Albert Kinsmen RV Community Park, about five kilometers north of Edmonton on 184 street, and a short distance down Riel Drive. Parking is also available at Save-On Foods and for the cost of a food bank donation, a shuttle bus service is available, leaving every 15 minutes.

Despite its name, Husband says that since 1978, when the Kinsmen made the decision to move the Rainmaker Rodeo to the last weekend in May, the event has enjoyed sunny skies 95 percent of the time. People now come from all over western Canada, although most of the fans are from the capital region, he says.

Another new addition this year will be the Marketplace, which will be held in two 60-foot by 140-foot festival tents and will feature one-of-a-kind items crafted by local artisans as well as some from other locations in western Canada.

Doreen Rolheiser is one of the crafters who will be present at the Marketplace. Following a successful career as a home design consultant for businesses such as Sears and Finesse Furnishings, Rolheiser retired and began producing a line of unique lighted home and patio accessories known as D-Lites by Doreen. Cleverly decorating wine, pop or beer bottles, she creates birdhouses, wall hangings and centrepieces for use both inside and outside the home. No two items are ever alike. These are character pieces that are different from anything in stores. When people request a specific work, I incorporate their colours or themes, she says.

The unique items actually distribute a fair bit of light as well, she adds. I use 100 mini lights in the ones I build from wine bottles. They are especially useful around a hot tub area, or at a cottage where you want to create a warm mood while sitting out late on warm evenings, and they light patios and back yards very nicely. People also use them throughout their houses as well. Hanging lighted wine bottles, wine cages, topiaries, bird houses and trees as well as other items are included in her spring collection which she will be featuring at St. Albert. Rolheiser also enjoys participating at rural farmers' markets and craft shows in the province such as Bentley and Edson, and at Westerner Days in Red Deer as well as Edmonton's Canadian Finals Rodeo. Clients appreciate the practicality of taking an item that's destined for the recycle bin and giving it new life as an attractive decoration for the home. The Edmonton artist averages 10 enjoyable hours a week working at her craft. She urges all residents of the capital region to come out and visit the exhibition of western themed craft products, agricultural goods, gift items, and delectable treats which will be available for viewing and purchasing.

The St. Albert Kinsmen Rainmaker Rodeo and Exhibition Committee is comprised entirely of volunteers of the Kinsmen Club of St. Albert who give their time freely on a year-round basis to organize events and promote the Rainmaker Rodeo and Exhibition. They are assisted by a further 300 volunteers whose tireless effort continues to play an integral role in the ongoing success of the event. Sponsorship from various community businesses, including Aquila, Fortis Alberta, Greendrop, United Rentals and various media also assist in making it all possible. Paul Husband sums it up when he says the weekend offers terrific family entertainment at a reasonable cost. You'd be hard pressed to find so much entertainment for such a modest admission fee. Come on out to the St. Albert Rainmaker Rodeo and Exhibition - you'll be glad you did.

Comments and suggestions for this column are welcome. Please e-mail me at hcmiller@shaw.ca.