By Charles Lefebvre

WPCA not holding tarp auction in Medicine Hat this year

Mar 22, 2018 | 8:14 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Going once. Going twice. Gone.

The World Professional Chuckwagon Association will not be holding a tarp auction this year for several cities on the tour, including Medicine Hat.

A statement from the organization says over the past five years, local race committees, drivers and the organization have determined the current auction format was not working.

“One challenge was the sale was on average 7 hours long, to sell 36 driver’s tarps in eight race locations,” the statement reads. “There were increasingly more drivers having their sponsorship lined up before the sale and with the growing costs to host a sale in six different locations in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan the WPCA has opted to not have a sale this year.”

In Medicine Hat, the tarp auction, which often provides a glimpse at the local economy, has seen a decline in the amount raised for sponsors since 2015, when $131,800 was paid to sponsor the 36 drivers on the tour.

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In 2016, the total amount raised dropped $28,800 to $103,000 and last year’s auction raised $98,750.

There will be auctions held in Grande Prairie on April 6 and Ponoka on May 4 for their events, while Saskatoon, Medicine Hat, High River, Strathmore, Dawson Creek and Rocky Mountain House tarps will be for sale directly through WPCA. Information about sponsorship can email the organization at office@wpca.com or call 403-236-2466.

The WPCA stops in Medicine Hat from June 14-17.