Agriculture

A serious soil borne disease that has been making its way across Alberta has now been officially found in Ponoka County.

A group that included representatives from Ponoka County, the Grey Wooded Forage Association, the Medicine River Watershed Society and several environmentally-concerned individuals met last Thursday west of Rimbey to discuss and examine methods of reducing or eliminating harmful farming and ranching practices while increasing productivity.

The cattle industry was beefed up at the Alberta Beef Producers Media Tour on Aug. 20.

The Alberta Beef Producers hosted government officials to help address issues in the beef market at a special producer summer meeting on July 24 at the Rimbey Community Centre. More than 125 people attended the session to hear from John Knapp the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from the Alberta government and MP for Wetaskiwin Blaine Calkins.

Silver Valley 4-H Riders have ended for another season. On May 30, 31 and June 1 weekend West Central 4-H their year end horse show at the Westerner Grounds in Red Deer. We showed our horses all day then in the evenings they held dances and fun activities for us. It’s always a good time for all. On June 14, we had our awards banquet/camp out at Schultz Hall. We barbecued and everyone brought a potluck item.

The Ponoka Stampede Cattle Raffle was again sold out and the lucky winners were Ray and Elsie Berreth from Strathmore. The couple decided to take a cheque for $40,000 instead of the 50 bred heifers.

Brittney Matejka from the West Ponoka 4-H Club leads Samantha Sperber’s cow Phoebe with a yellow ribbon painted on during the Ponoka Stampede parade on June 27.