Peace Country talent was highlighted at this year’s World Professional Chuckwagon Association Awards Banquet. Grande Prairie’s Mitch Sutherland received the WPCA Chuckwagon Person of the Year Award, with his son Weston Sutherland being named the Rookie Outrider of the Year.
Manning-based driver Todd McCracken was named Rookie Driver of the Year, while Tuff Dreger received the Herman Flad Most Improved Driver award. Dreger says receiving the award at Saturday’s event was a good feeling, especially with his family, including his grandfather, the “King” Kelly Sutherland, in attendance to celebrate the award.
“Going into the season as a permit driver, I didn’t really think about how high I could finish or how much I really improved. I was just really focused on getting a tour spot.”
He says receiving an award along with others from the area was special, as Grande Prairie and the Peace Country have often been referred to as the “chuckwagon capital”.
“The whole family is from there, and that is what the whole wagon community is, it’s family,” Dreger says. “It was good to see Weston up there; I remember when he didn’t even think about riding a horse, and here he is. He is really getting it, and he looks good on there; he has some real talent.”
Other Peace Country residents who were recognized during the evening included Dale Aebly, who received the Ty Tournier Memorial Award and Chanse Vigen, who is the 2023 WPCA World Champion.