A history book is one thing ñ but a world plowing championship or Canadian 4-H Council symposium Ö now that's something worth looking at.After giving a cool initial response to a $50,000 funding request from Olds College, councillors warmed up to the idea of investing Mountain View County sponsorship dollars in signature agricultural events planned for the college's centennial in 2013.ìI changed my position ñ I do kinda support this now,î Div. 3 Coun. Duncan Milne said at last Wednesday's policies and priorities committee meeting, after Jordan Cleland, the college's vice-president of advancement, said county funds could go toward sponsoring ag-related events rather than the college's centennial history book.ìWe thought (the history book) would be a good fit, but if you want to support the whole thing more generally, that would work too,î Cleland told P&P, saying he had given the same option to Olds town council, which was also considering a $50,000 funding request.The tentative schedule of events planned for the centennial year includes: Inter-Collegiate Equestrian World Cup, grand opening of the Olds College campus in Calgary, Hort Week, 60th World Plowing Championships, Alberta's Outstanding Young Farmers event, a 4-H symposium on Feeding Canada and the World, and International Agricultural Bio-Tech Congress.A centennial stamp with Canada Post, student awards and a centennial wine are among other planned initiatives.Pointing to the agriculture components, deputy reeve Bruce Beattie said: ìThose are the kinds of things that I could support. I wouldn't be saying it's out of the question in that case.îOther councillors agreed, suggesting the county sponsorship could be targeted to two or three major events. They also responded favourably to Cleland's option of spreading the contribution over two or three years.ìThat allows us to fit it in our budgetary restraints,î said Div. 7 Coun Al Kemmere, who represents MVC on the college's centennial committee.While no commitment was made for a dollar amount, councillors each expressed support for the request and voted unanimously to bring it back this week during budget discussions.Under the sponsorship framework, for a $50,000 contribution the county would be one of six ìchairman levelî sponsors, placing the county logo on the college centennial letterhead, website and quarterly newsletter, as well as co-branded merchandise, among other promotional benefits.Asked by Beattie how councillors could explain to ratepayers the benefit of contributing $50,000, Cleland said the college brings people and economic development to the region.ìMany are alumni of Olds College, do business with Olds College or work at Olds College. What's good for Olds College is good for the county Ö and it's a high tide that floats all boats.î
