The Calgary Stampede chuckwagon tarp auction is set for Thursday at Stampede Park.

There's not a lot of optimism out there for local driver's with oil prices still under $40 a barrel.

High River's Jordie Fike says he's sure they'll be tightening their belts again this year.

"Pretty sure the sale's going to be down again this year. Just the way things are in Calgary and around Alberta. But, hopefully there's some new blood in the sale and some new guys coming to buy and we'll see some different tarps out there this summer."

Fike says he's been looking outside of the oil patch for sponsors.

"There's a lot of different businesses doing very well still. I know the I-T industry is strong, and they're going to be strong I think forever. So it'll be nice to see some of those type of businesses get in there. Stuff that you don't usually see around the chuckwagon barns but it'd be nice to kind of get their feet wet and see what it's all about."

The WPCA and Grande Prairie tarp auctions go next week Tuesday, March 22 and Thursday, March 24, respectively.

The season starts May 25 in Grande Prairie with the Stompede.