By GEORGE BROWN
With an eye on the region’s rich agricultural past, the Ponoka Ag Event Centre Society (PAECS) is stepping into the future.
A major fund raising campaign is underway to raise $5 million locally to ensure the new ag event centre is fully functional when it opens for business later this year.
PAECS vice-president Sherry Gummow said supporting construction of the ag event centre is a good advertising tool for businesses in Ponoka and the region. “The centre will offer new facilities to groups throughout the province.
“We noted the need for the development of a year-round agriculture, recreation, special events and agricultural education centre to serve our community, the region and other participants from across Alberta and beyond,”
Gummow told the business people. “Our project will be built remembering our strong agricultural history, while at the same time using the facilities to build for the future.
Businesses who support the project will present their message to a new market attracted to Ponoka and its services, Gummow said. “We believe that Ponoka is strategically located in the heart of the oil and gas industry as well as traditional and alternative agricultural producers.”
RC Strategies conducted a survey of potential users in central Alberta and found there is a growing demand for an indoor agricultural centre in the Ponoka area to host livestock shows and equine events, clinics and riding lessons, banquets and club meetings, and rodeos.
Gummow said the ag event centre offers flexible space “to meet the widest range of user needs.” The ag event centre will add to a vibrant entertainment, recreation and cultural scene in Ponoka, she added, complementing municipal and private facilities such as the Ponoka Stampede Grounds, the arena and curling rink, swimming pool, tennis and racquet sports courts, bowling alley and cinema. “The ag event centre will round out what is already available to us.”
Gummow said the centre will accommodate events such as:
- rodeos
- concerts and festivals
- team penning and sorting competitions
- horse and cattle show and sales
- barrel racing
- dressage and show jumping
- bullarama and rough stock competitions
- Broncs Rodeo Academy
- 4-H achievement day
- stock dog trials
- ag equipment and vehicle show
- trade shows
“The use of the facility is pretty limitless,” she said.