Year in review 2023: Big year for Melfort’s Layne MacGillvray

“I didn’t know anything about the signs, it was popped on me in November when they had the party for us, and it was pretty overwhelming when I got the news that night and I was actually pretty emotional, to tell you the truth,” he said. “There’s been a lot of good wagon drivers come out of the City of Melfort, so to have our names up there means a lot. We want to represent Melfort well because it’s where our roots began and our roots will always be here, so it’s a huge honour.”

The third-generation chuckwagon racer was born and raised in Melfort, graduating from MUCC in 1993.

“Legacy is very huge, and we appreciate the City of Melfort for going through the steps of putting them up and honouring us in the way they did,” MacGillvray said.

The four by eight feet signs were donated by the MacGillivray and Claggett families and a third anonymous donor.

That was followed by one of his most important victories ever, as MacGillvray was a big winner at the 2023 Calgary Stampede.

He walked away with both the Cowboys Rangeland Derby and the Guy Weadick Award at the 100th anniversary of the Stampede in July.

“I don’t even know if it’s truly sunk in totally,” MacGillivray told northeastNOW. “The emotions were definitely very high… when you start in this business, this is one that you always set your sights on that you want to win and we were lucky enough and fortunate enough to get it done.”

The Guy Weadick Award is awarded to the one chuckwagon or rodeo competitor who best represents what a cowboy stands for and embodies the spirit of the Calgary Stampede, based on ability, appearance, showmanship, character, sportsmanship and cooperation with other cowboys, the arena crew, the media and the public.

It’s the first time that a chuckwagon driver received the Guy Weadick Award and won the Rangeland Derby in the same year.

“It’s a true honour and I actually didn’t realize that I was the first guy to win both on the last day, but that’s very neat and very overwhelming. I was pretty emotional that day when they called me up on stage for that part. My wife and everyone all knew about it, and they kept it from me, so it was a surprise. It was definitely an emotional time, and very honourable for sure,” MacGillivary added.

MacGillivray and his team received a $50,000 cheque and a brand-new GMC truck.

The winning didn’t stop there for MacGillvray and his team as they took the 2023 Century Downs World Chuckwagon Finals in Rocky View, Alta., the final stop on the WPCA’s Pro Tour in 2023.

“It’s definitely good for sure,” said MacGillivray. “We kinda had a couple of shows leading into there that were a little bit weaker, so to have the show that we had in Century Downs definitely makes a guy feel good for next year.”

Another local chuckwagon racer had a big year on the circuit.

Weekes native Wade Salmond won the Orville Strandquist Memorial Top Rookie Driver Award at this year’s Calgary Stampede.

“It felt pretty good to win an award like that, it doesn’t come very often,” Salmond told northeastNOW.

The second-generation driver finished in a tie for 12th place in his Rangeland Derby Debut.

His daughter, Jorja, was also a champion as a wild pony racer.

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cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

by Cam Lee

Year in review 2023: Big year for Melfort’s Layne MacGillvray

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