The LaDue Ladies Lunch (LLL) is a not for profit society of women who, like Flores, embody the Cowgirl Spirit: tenacity, innovation, imagination and a rancher’s work ethic.
Their mission is to celebrate and raise awareness of those wild and wonderful early day cowgirls who did it all; and inspire a future generation of Western women to be their grittiest, unforgivingly female, best selves.
The LaDue ladies come together for lunch every year on the day before Stampede. Originally formed as an excuse to bring together old friends over cocktails, the lunch has since grown to become a sold-out charity event. In addition to our annual lunch event, the LaDue Ladies Lunch is proud to support a sponsorship program for young women rodeo athletes and their aspirations – whether strengthening their rodeo careers or fostering new academic adventures.
Flores (Florence) La Due – Grace Maud Bensell 1881 to 1951
La Due Ladies Lunch was founded in 2010 to honour and recognize the life and times of Flores La Due.
La Due Ladies Lunch celebrates and raises awareness of those wild and wonderful early day cowgirls who did it all. We believe that as a top rodeo performer, pioneer woman and early day rancher in Alberta, Flores is symbolic of all cowgirls past and present who demonstrate the true cowgirl spirit.
Flores, born Grace Maud Bensell, grew up close to an Indian Reserve near Montevideo, Minnesota. She learned to ride horses at an early age becoming an expert rider and roper. Her brave and determined spirit were present even in her youth and, when still just a young girl, she ran away from home to join the circus.
It was from this time forward she would be referred to by her adopted stage name, Flores La Due.
After performing a few seasons in the travelling circus, Flores joined the Col. Fred T. Cummins Wild West and Indian Congress as a trick rider and roper. This is considered the turning point in her performing career.
While touring and performing Flores met and fell in love with Guy Weadick. They were married in Memphis, Tennessee in 1906 when Flores was twenty-three. Together the Weadicks performed their western show and toured all over North America and Europe.
In 1912 Guy Weadick produced the first Calgary Stampede. Flores played a significant supporting role as his partner but due to the nature of the times little recognition was bestowed to her.
The Weadicks purchased the first Stampede Ranch in 1920 in Eden Valley along the Highwood River, south of Longview Alberta. Flores was very instrumental in the operations of this ranch where they raised cattle and horses. Later, they ran the ranch as a dude ranch entertaining many Hollywood celebrities and certain members of royalty.
In 1950 the Weadicks left their beloved Alberta and moved to the warmer climate of Arizona due to Flore’s poor health. In 1952 Flores La Due died during a visit to Calgary and is buried in the High River cemetery. On her gravestone Guy placed the words “A Real Partner.”
