A pair of well-known locals have made the short list as finalists for the Calgary Stampede's Western Legacy Award.

Former High River Mayor Eldon Couey and Chuck Groeneveld are up against Ron - Buckshot - Barge in the individual sustained contribution category.

Legacy Awards committee chair Sandra Clarkson says they're handed out annually.

"They are intended to recognize the unsung hero, often they're people who are very passionate volunteers who go over and above the regular citizens so to speak, just in terms of just being exceptional and inspirational people," she says. "I can say that this year, of all the nominations we have received, and we received quite a few, it was very challenging for the committee to narrow down the field down to the 12 finalists."

Historian Bill Dunn of Cayley is a past winner of the award.

Clarkson says this year they'll also be presenting two Chairman's Awards on behalf of Bill Grey, the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Calgary Stampede.

"In the term as President, the chairman hand select recipients for a chairman's award of their choosing and this year Bill Grey has selected Anne McCaig and Steve Snider, who were co-chairs of the We Are Greatest Together capital campaign," Clarkson says. "They were very successful in co-chairing that campaign and in fact surpassed the fundraising goal of over a $11-million."

She says those funds will allow the Stampede to expand its park plans, build a youth campus, Enmax park along with other projects.

The Western Legacy Awards will be handed out November 12th at the BMO Centre.