Okotoks chuckwagon driver Mark Sutherland is still a little pessimistic about how things are going to go at the Calgary Stampede Tarp Auction Thursday, March 23.

He says while there's signs of life, the listless economy is still being felt by sponsors.

"I don't think anybody's got a whole bunch of free money that they're going to be passing out at the tarp sale. I think it's going to be another difficult year to try to find company's who have stable enough economic footing to spend a bunch of money."

In all sponsors bid just shy of $2.3-million in 2016, while Sutherland pulled in $85,000 from The Cowboy's Casino Posse, $12,000 more than his 2015 total of $73,000.

The WPCA holds their auction Thursday, April 6, with the Ponoka auction set for Friday, May 5.

The WPCA season gets rolling Wednesday, May 31 at Evergreen Park in Grande Prairie.