Cloverdale Rodeo Association gets 5-year lease from City
Published 12:00 pm Friday, March 13, 2026
The Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair is set for the next five years.
Surrey City Council voted to approve Corporate Report R056 at its regular council meeting March 9. The report, from the Parks and Rec. Department, recommended council approve a five-year operating agreement between the City and the Lower Fraser Valley Exhibition Association (LFVEA). The operating agreement, attached to CR056, outlines the terms and requirements for the LFVEA—which operates as the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association (CREA)—for hosting rodeos and fairs over the next five years.
Laurie Cavan, Parks and Rec. GM, authored the report. She noted the importance of the annual event.
“This event is of significant cultural and historical value, not only to the Cloverdale area but also to the broader Surrey community and region,” Cavan wrote. “Since 2023, the City and the LFVEA have entered into annual operating agreements, which have defined the respective roles, responsibilities, and obligations of both parties, as well as provisions regarding event hosting requirements, including health and safety standards.”
She added during the past three years the city has given “substantial” support to the LFVEA to put on the last three rodeos and fairs.
“This support has included annual financial contributions of $300,000 and comprehensive logistical assistance, ensuring the safe and enjoyable execution of the event,” Cavan noted. “In 2025, the Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair welcomed over 60,000 attendees to the Cloverdale Fairgrounds over the May Long Weekend. With the expansion of the event to include Thursday evening programming, additional entertainment features and increased costs, the annual grant for 2026 is proposed to be increased to $400,000. The grant will ensure that the LFVEA can continue to host a safe and enjoyable event annually.”
Kathy Sheppard, CREA president, said the new agreement is very important to the rodeo association.
“We’re over the moon!” Sheppard exclaimed. “We’ve got a 5-year contract, so we’re not going anywhere. We’ve got a good working relationship with the city and we’re going to continue to build on that.”
She added the contract allows them to plan better and save money on longer-term contracts.
“Getting this multi-year agreement allows us room to grow, to challenge ourselves to make the rodeo and fair better each year, and to bring in a level of consistency unavailable in shorter-term deals,” Sheppard explained. “So, we’re excited to see what this next chapter brings.”
Money for the agreement is part of the city’s 2026 City Grants Budget. That budget is subject to yearly city approval.
Approval of the agreement ensures “continued collaboration between the City and the LFVEA, supporting the successful planning and delivery of this celebrated annual event,” Cavan concluded in her report. “The Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair is a cornerstone of community engagement and cultural heritage in Surrey.”
The 135th Cloverdale Country Fair and the 78th Cloverdale Rodeo will be held May 14-18 on the Cloverdale Fairgrounds.
For more info on the rodeo or fair, or to grab some tickets, visit cloverdalerodeo.com.
Early bird tickets are now on sale until March 31.