By Jasmine Franklin
For the third consecutive year, Ponoka and District Agricultural Society has won an award from the Alberta Agriculture Society.
Winning in the category of best poster promoting its County Fair, Ponoka beat competition from all over Alberta.
“It’s judged off of artistic elements,” said Ponoka president, Sherry Gummow.
The theme for this year’s conference was “Think Outside the Barn” and provided the societies around Alberta with information sessions along with awards.
One big concern for the provincial societies was that the government has decided to cut grants from $17,500 to $10,000 due to some clubs’ lack of community involvement.
Ponoka however, is not one of those communities, said Gummow.
“In Ponoka we have upped our community involvement 400 per cent,” Gummow said. “That means that our operating grants have actually increased because of how much we are doing in the community.”
Two grants are offered: the basic grant given to clubs that host at least one agricultural event per year, and an operating grant used for putting on events.
Because some ag societies around Alberta are sitting on a large amount of money but not hosting events, the province decided to make cuts. If the community is not benefiting, then the money will not be given.
But because of Ponoka Ag Society’s involvement with the community, their operating grants have increased.
“For three years now we have hosted Novemberfest, for two years we’ve held the producer seminar, and we also put on the County Fair,” Gummow said. “We were also one of the first societies in Alberta to get our business plans in.”
“We’re out there.”
On Jan. 28 the organization hosted their latest producer seminar where speakers discussed issues such as water treatment, and heard an update from county council on nocuous weeds.
Ponoka Ag Society’s next event is Bullarama on April 30 beginning at 7:30 p.m. There will be 30 bulls in the long go and six in the championship round, followed by a cabaret in the evening.
“It will be good family fun,” Gummow said.