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(Image Credit: Ponoka Stampede Facebook)
By Erika Rolling
Chuckwagons

Grande Prairie’s Dreger gets top bid at Ponoka Stampede Canvas Auction

May 4, 2026 | 12:07 PM

Another canvas auction for a stop along the World Professional Chuckwagon Association’s 2026 season has raised a historic dollar figure for the chuckwagon drivers competing in the Ponoka Stampede.

The auction was held May 1 for the Stampede’s 90th Anniversary edition. It brought in $904,500 for 32 drivers and four wildcard wagon tarps. The Ponoka Stampede is set for June 25 to July 1, 2026.

It was the first time in the event’s history that sales brought in over $900,000, following four consecutive record-smashing years for the auction. The 2025 edition had brought in $617,000.

Grande Prairie’s very own Dean Dreger’s tarp was purchased for a whopping $150,000 by Four Legged Adventures. Dean is the son-in-law of retired chuckwagon driver Kelly Sutherland and father of current chuckwagon driver Tuff Dreger.

The next highest bid went to Obrey Motowylo by Midwest Pipelines Inc. for $39,000. The evening’s lowest bid was $9,000 for a wildcard wagon.

Other drivers with Peace Region connections in the auction included:

  • Chanse Vigen – Ermineskin Cree Nation for $30,000,
  • Tuff Dreger – Hearts and Hoofprints – The Les David Foundation for $21,000,
  • Mitch Sutherland – Morskate Manufacturing for $20,000,
  • Dayton Sutherland – Sutherland Racing Inc. for $18,000.

The final chuckwagon canvas auction for WPCA drivers this year will take place on May 26 at the Jackpot Grill & Events Centre in Grande Prairie for the Teepee Creek Stampede. The Teepee Creek Stampede is scheduled July 10–12, 2026.

Later this month, wagons officially roll into Grande Prairie for the opening stop on the WPCA Pro Tour presented by GMC from May 27–31, 2026, for the running of the Grande Prairie Stompede.

by Erika Rolling