David (Buddy) Wayne Bensmiller calls Dewberry, Alberta home. He was born in the Islay Hospital and is the youngest son of Allan and Evie Bensmiller.
Following in his father's footsteps, he began driving Chariot at the age of twelve years. He started outriding for Chuckwagons at St. Walburg at the age of thirteen. At seventeen Buddy went to the Calgary Stampede to outride there for the first time.
After leaving school he had numerous jobs including driving a logging truck, pipe fining, construction work, and driving a gravel truck. Each summer, however, saw him continuing his participation in Chuckwagon and horse racing.
In 1979 at the Calgary Stampede, after a disastrous week of racing, Buddy won the Stampede Chuckwagon race using a borrowed lead team from his father. The final race that year was the first time Buddy had raced against his father. Allan finished in second place.
Since that time he has continued to race and accumulate an impressive number of trophies and buckles. He has won almost every show he has competed in at least once. His wins include:
Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Champion 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, and 1992
Calgary Stampeded Champion 1979, 1989
Calgary Stampede Aggregate Champion 1994, 1995, 1997
Cheyenne Wyoming Champion 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 199, 1992, 1993 and 1995
Edmonton Klondike Derby Champion 1996
Los Angeles County Fair Champion 1996
Grande Prairie Stampeded Champion 1997
World Professional Chuckwagon Champion 1997
Winner of the prestigious Guy Weadick Award at the Calgary Stampede 1994
Winner of the People's Choice Award at the Lloydminster Finals 1994, 1995
Buddy and Darlene (Smith) who married in 1977, live with their family of one
daughter and three sons on their land near Dewberry.
Each Spring Buddy Bensmiller can be found training his horses
for the upcoming season of racing. In Chuckwagon racing, as in all sports,
you have to strive for improvement if you wish to stay competitive. Buddy credits
his dad, Allan for much of his success.