ABOUT TUFF
​
A rising star in the world of professional chuckwagon racing, Tuff Dreger was born in April 2003. Tuff has spent every summer on the road with his family, and expressed a desire to drive his own wagon early in life. Shortly after turning 15, he was given the opportunity to do just that. After training with his dad and grandpa all spring, he made his Chuckwagon Racing debut at the Boots and Moccasins show in Grande Prairie in 2018.
After a fun and successful first season, Tuff finished 13th in WCA standings, and proudly took home the Rookie of the Year Award. In 2019, he won the WCA Sportsmanship Award, and he was the 2023 recipient of the WPCA Most Improved Award.
​
Tuff works very hard, and he strives for excellence in the sport of chuckwagon racing. Horse care is a top priority for him, and he can often be found sitting in a stall just hanging out with his “boys”. When he is not racing wagons or doing chores around the farm, Tuff is a hockey fan and an avid guitar player.​​​
​Tuff Dreger’s signature eagle feather is a Sutherland family tradition started by Tuff’s grandfather, Kelly Sutherland.
In 1974, Kelly was experiencing a tough racing season and a friend suggested he tie an eagle feather to his cowboy hat for good luck. Many roughstock cowboys wore tail feathers as they were shorter and wider, but Kelly wanted to fly so he chose a wing feather – after which Kelly won his first Calgary Stampede.
The eagle feather is an important symbol in Indigenous culture; it’s believed that those who carry an eagle feather are blessed. This belief has been passed down through generations of Sutherlands, bringing a bit of good luck to every race
