Heather Wright/The Independent

An estimated 3,000 people a day are expected in Alvinston this weekend for the Seventh Annual Alvinston Pro Rodeo.

About 200 cowboys and cowgirls from Lambton County and across North America will compete in everything from Bronco riding, Calf Roping and Bull riding.

That’s Dan Cumming’s favourite event. He’s one of the organizers of the event, which is hosted by the Brooke-Alvinston Agricultural Society.

“I love watching the bull riding. It’s just so intense. Anything can happen.”

Cumming has ridden the mechanical bull which is set up in the barns during the event, but he would not want to be behind the gates on the back of a bull.

“My other favorite thing about the rodeo is watching like the local competitors out there,” Cumming adds.

“Obviously Tyler (Foster) and Rod (Weese) out there, they’re back again all three days doing their thing.”

Both compete on the professional circuit and are World Champions.

He also likes to watch the local talent; “Emily Langford and Sarah Douglas, and you know, there’s a McDougall girl; they all do get into the barrel racing, and you know, to see them be able to do that in front of their home crowd and their families and stuff, right here is pretty special.”

You won’t notice any big changes this year.

“You don’t mess with a winning formula,” Cumming says.

While there has never been an official count of how many people come for the rodeo and the concerts after the shows, Cumming says it’s substantial.

“I think on average on the Friday and the Saturday nights, I would say that there’s probably, you know, close to 3,000… Another municipality comes in each day, I would say.”

Gates open at 5 pm Friday and Noon both Saturday and Sunday.