The Stampede canvas auction sold for $3.1 million

It was a big night at the Big Four Roadhouse and a good sign for Alberta's economy — the 2024 Calgary Stampede canvas auction took place Thursday night, with bidders bidding for $365,000 more than last year.

Chris Molle, winner of the 2022 Cowboys Rangeland Derby, received the top price – $210,000 from Graf Mechanical Ltd.

The average bid among the 27 drivers was over $115,000, which the World Professional Chuckwagon Association believes is the highest average bid in the event's 44-year history.

The auction is often considered a barometer of the local economy; During the boom of the oil and gas industry, during the Riots, companies willing to advertise on chuckwagons offered record sums of money.

This year, donors contributed just over $3.1 million.

The money supports the drivers and their teams at the Rangeland Derby and throughout the year competing.

The 2024 Calgary Stampede runs from July 5-14.