A bit of a surprise at Thursday night's Western Legacy Awards at Stampede Park in Calgary.

Former High River Mayor Eldon Couey, Past President of the Alberta Beef Producers Chuck Groeneveld and Ron "Buckshot' Barge were all up for the individual "Sustained Contribution" award, and despite being a heavy underdog, it was Groeneveld who walked away with the award.

Couey says he knew he was in some elite company when the nominations came out.

"I thought it was really tough you see. Because Ron Barge was in our category, and Chuck Groeneveld and myself and I thought to myself, my god, I'm going up against a couple of good ones."

Groeneveld has been involved with the Calgary Stampede for 69 of the last 70 years and has been a "leader and role model" in the western community most of his life.