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Rick Wanchuk, better known as Ricky Ticky, is a name synonymous with small-town rodeo for countless fans of the sport, from the coast of B.C. to the flats of Manitoba and almost everywhere in between.
And this summer, with a final holler, bang and cloud of smoke, the rodeo clown officially put his unmissable yellow button-up shirt and oversized Wrangler’s out to pasture after nearly half a century on the rodeo trail.
“My head wants to keep going,” Wanchuk told CBC News. “The only reason I retired is my head wants to go, but my feet don’t want to stay with me.”
Wanchuk, now approaching 74 years old, made his stage persona an entertainment staple over the decades, returning year after year to perform at events like the Grande Prairie Stompede, Lea Park Pro Rodeo, and by his recollection, “pretty much every rodeo in Saskatchewan.”
He performed for audiences at the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton five times, and even travelled across the globe to give Australian audiences a taste of Ricky Ticky in 1992.
But his most cherished shows have always been the small-town stops.
“Every one of them is a favourite,” he said. “There’s none I wouldn’t go back to tomorrow and clown at.”
His final show was Aug. 31 at the Lakeland Rodeo Association Finals in St. Paul, Alta.
A proud Canadian talent, Wanchuk said the idea of touring in the U.S. didn’t tickle his fancy, nevermind trying to get his trailer — stocked with colourfully dyed ducks, skunks, goats, and plenty of dynamite — over the border.
Keeping the Wanchuk legacy alive
Although Wanchuk rolled out his barrel for the last time this year, the next generation is well on its way to keeping the name alive and well in the world of rodeo.
He and his wife Joan are looking forward to joining their sons Kolby and Kyle — affectionately referred to as Halfchuk and Quarterchuk — on the circuits as they work their way up the standings in bronc riding and roping events.
For the past seven years, Rick’s nephew Casey Wanchuk has been helping on the circuit and will now take centre stage.
“It makes me feel great, I think he’s ready,” said the patriarch of his nephew.
“We’ve done everything to prepare him. He’s as good as anybody going down the road.
“He’s got some sharpening up to do here and there, but that’s going to come when he realizes he’s all on his own.”
In an interview with CBC News, Casey described developing a fascination with clowning by watching both his uncle and his father — known on the circuit as Tony Twochuk — perform outlandish acts and stunts.
“[Rick] and my dad were my childhood heroes; I wanted to be them in the worst way,” said Casey.
“When other kids were playing house or just being cowboys, I was recreating the clown acts on my own.”
Casey said while he’s looking forward to continuing the family tradition of taking the fun beyond the fence and into the crowd, he’s not aiming to replicate his uncle’s act.
“I’m going to try to bring as much flair to my shows as I can, but it’s still going to be in a Casey Wanchuk kind of way.”
Meanwhile, Rick’s plans for retirement don’t involve tending to his garden or hitting the links; after putting away the comedic getups and exploding props, he’s eager to get back on the trail and revisit many of the friendly faces he met over the years.
“I’m looking forward to going to more rodeos and sitting back with the people and visiting,” he said.
“I’m going to miss that more than anything — just putting [on] a smile, having a conversation, … forgetting about everything else that’s not right in the world.
“Put a smile on your face and just enjoy the day.”
