Funeral service held for Ponoka Stampede icon Frank Mickey

PONOKA -- Long-time Ponoka Stampede contributor Frank Mickey passed away on November 22, 2025.

Mickey was a lifetime member and senator with the Stampede, originally joining the organization as a volunteer in 1947. The Ponoka Stampede Association says that Mickey dedicated a staggering 78 years to building the Stampede. During this time, he served in various roles, including as President of the Ponoka Stampede Association from 1966 to 1971, and again from 1984 to 1985.

Mickey, who served as a lifetime member of the Ponoka Stampede Association as well as the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, also served as the President of the Stampede managers for twelve years. This comes in addition to being the Central Alberta Rodeo Circuit president for eight years and serving on the CPRA board of directors for 20 years.

The Ponoka Stampede says that Frank Mickey oversaw many changes and improvements to the Stampede Grounds and rodeo events over the years, including the transformation from wood to steel of the grandstands, the chutes, the corrals, and buildings. According to the Stampede, some of his other major contributions included the addition of the RV Park, Longscore Saloon, Tommy Dorchester Paddock, the Stagecoach Saloon, the rebuilding of the racetrack and the access tunnel, the Wild West Grandstand and Showdown Dance Hall.

Mickey was born in 1927 and spent most of his active life in the community of Ponoka, where he and his wife Margaret raised their two daughters, Janie and Wendy, and have been blessed with four grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

A funeral service for Mickey was held on December 1, 2025, at the Stagecoach Saloon.