Attention 2008 CanAm Contestants

We are sorry to announce that despite our best efforts, we have been put in a position to cancel the 2008 CanAm Top Hand Penning, which had been scheduled for August 2-3 in Kalispell, Montana.

In the end, we were no match for diesel fuel prices.

Our entries were far below what would have made it worthwhile for penners who wanted to drive any distance, in terms of potential payback. Clearly the pre-entries were far below what was even close to a breakeven on the event as well.

We tried very hard to make the event work for everyone. We looked at a variety of ways of making the event still work, at the last minute. There was some innovative thinking, and the creation of an integrated online team entry tool will be a lasting legacy that can be utilized elsewhere for other team penning and ranch sorting events.

We had the arena, the cattle, the judges & other officials and everything else necessary to make this unique version of the CanAm Cup happen. But given the state of the US economy and the unprecedented price of fuel...this outcome is not really a total surprise to us.

We want to thank the large and surprising number of Novices and Amateurs who pre-entered in their respective Top Hand classes. That alone told us that there is a market for an event with this Top Hand format, perhaps in a future event somewhere. We also want to thank the large number of Canadians who stepped to the plate as usual, with their intent to support this event. However, it was just not anywhere close to being enough to make the event pencil, for all sides.

We hope to see you in the arena, sometime in the future, down the road. 

Anyone who had submitted a check as Form Of Payment, please note that your checks have been destroyed.  Those who have submitted Credit Card information as FOP, no charges have been, nor will be made against your cards and all card data has been destroyed.

The CanAm Cup Top Hand Challenge Producers
Tom Britz • Matt Manley