1 week Ago By Malin Jordan
Jamie Rogers was known as a man of dedication and service to the Cloverdale Rodeo. The long-time rodeo volunteer and worker passed away earlier this year in June. Jamie lived and breathed rodeo and was actively employed as an administrator by the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association up until the time of his death.
Jamie was born April 18, 1956, in Fort Langley. The youngest child of Bill and Betty Rogers, Jamie grew up with older siblings David and Katherine. In the ’60s, Bill and Betty owned and operated Stampede Feed and Tack in Cloverdale.
As such, Jamie spent a lot of time around the town and the rodeo in his youth. He was also an avid sportsman, finding success in both rugby and polo. Jamie started hanging around the local rodeo and eventually became part of the rodeo’s arena crew.
Later, in the late 1970s, he ended up working alongside Will Senger, the chairman of the Cloverdale Rodeo. The legendary rodeo-man inevitably became a mentor to the twenty-something kid from Fort Langley, taking him under his wing and showing him the rodeo ropes. When the years gave way to decades and it was time for Will to hang up his hat, Jamie stepped in and took the reins as chairman.
Jamie would book the stock contractor for the rodeo every year and he insisted they bring in top calibre roughstock to help draw in the toughest of top competitors. Often the U.S.
National Finals Rodeo, held each year in December in Vegas, will showcase the sport’s top athletes and roughstock animals—many of whom, man and beast, would have completed earlier in the year in Cloverdale. According to Rick Hugh, Cloverdale Rodeo 1st vice-president, Jamie “helped elevate the Cloverdale Rodeo to even greater heights.” After Jamie passed, Rick said he’s been contacted by many people in rodeo circles across the continent to express their gratitude for the positive impact Jamie made on the sport in both Canada and the U.
S. “Jamie put us on the map in a big way, piggybacking on the hard work done by his mentor, Will Senger,” Rick noted. “He was on a first name basis with key rodeo folks from all over North America.
” Whenever Jamie attended the Canadian Finals Rodeo, he’d watch the competition with a love for the sport and an appreciation for the skill of the cowboys and cowgirls. More than anything, perhaps, he loved strolling around the arena concourse the most, chatting and laughing with numerous friends and acquaintances he’d made over the decades. He never forgot a face or a name.
On Sept. 15, the Rodeo Association held a celebration of life for Jamie in the Stetson Bowl on the Cloverdale Fairgrounds. The tribute opened with an entry into the bowl by the Bit-A-Bling Grand Entry Team.
Bob Tallman, a famous rodeo announcer from Texas, who has also been an announcer in Cloverdale since the 1980s, sent a message for the celebration of life. “Jamie has been an ambassador and the face of the Cloverdale Rodeo throughout the industry,” he wrote. “His professionalism and attention to detail was second to none.
” The long-time rodeo volunteer died on June 24 after passing away suddenly at home. He was 68..
