The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth gets started Friday and for many, the rodeo is the highlight of it all.

New for this year’s Stampede is an expanded format that features 30 of the top athletes in each event, broken into three pools. 

The top four athletes in each pool will advance to Showdown Sunday, earning the chance to take a run at the Championship at the World's Largest Outdoor Rodeo.

There are a half dozen Foothills and area athletes who'll be looking for a shot at the $1.85 million in prize money.

In bareback, Ty Taypotat of Nanton will compete in Pool B while in saddle bronc Kole Ashbacher of Arrowwood will be in the chutes during Pool B.

Jordie Hansen, formerly of Okotoks who now calls Amisk his home, competes in bull riding in Pool A.

And in the timed events, Tanner Milan of Cochrane competes in steer wrestling in pool A while the Whiteside sisters of Longview are up in ladies' barrel racing, Bradi in Pool A and Kylie in Pool B.

The rodeo goes in front of the grandstand at 1:30 each afternoon from July 7 to the 16th.