Mountain View County's agricultural service board has approved grant funding for a number of community groups and organizations.
During the board's monthly meeting on April 14, members granted a total of $14,600 to the Olds Regional Exhibition (formerly known as the Olds Agricultural Society), the Didsbury Agricultural Society, Carstairs and District 4-H, and the Bergen Institute for Agriculture and the Arts. The funding decision came following changes to the county's budget process, whereby a portion of rural community grant funding has been reallocated to the agricultural service board for funding of agricultural societies and non-profit organizations for agricultural-related projects.
The Olds Regional Exhibition received $5,000 in support of the July 7 – 13, 2014 “Summer Synergy” youth livestock event in Olds.
In a letter received by the board, Tami Gardner, event manager, said the money will be used for a number of things, including the Spring Classic Youth Steer and Heifer program, the Central Alberta Draft Horse Classic youth program, and the Olds Regional Exhibition's Signature Youth Livestock Development program.
“Summer Synergy is a platform to promote evolution and transformation within the agriculture sector through the generation that will drive the industry in the future,” said Gardner.
“There is no question that rural youth development can provide a bridge between the individual focus of the stakeholders that is critical to maintaining historical identity while forging a progressive program that promotes strong agricultural relationships.”
More information on the July Summer Synergy event can be found at www.summersynergy.ca.
The Didsbury Agricultural Society received a grant totalling $6,650. The money will be used for construction of public washrooms on the society's grounds.
“Currently we are looking to start upgrading our facilities; first step in doing so is to offer our visitors public washrooms,” office manager Rhonda Davidson said in a letter to the ag. services board.
“We would like to start the process this spring and to start we need to purchase and install a septic holding tank. We are looking to the county to help offset some of our costs.”
The Bergen Institute for Agriculture and the Arts received a $2,450 grant to help fund a number of projects, including the Feast of Bergen event, a farmers' market manager position, and liability insurance for the farmers' market.
The board also approved a $500 grant to the Carstairs and District 4-H Show and Sale. The money will be used to cover the cost of trucking shavings that will be placed on the floor of the arena during the sale.
