Area farmers and members of the Innisfail business community are teaming up for the 70th annual Farmers and Farmerettes Bonspiel in Innisfail.
This year the event takes place from Jan. 17 to 23 at the Innisfail Curling Rink.
“The whole (basis) behind it was to try and bring the farming community together with the business community,” said Todd Marshall, vice-chair of the event. “The farming community supports the business community with their purchases, and then we hold a bonspiel like this where the businesses have a chance to throw some sponsorship back at it to provide some prizes.”
The event speaks to the success of the long-standing relationship between farmers and the business community in Innisfail, noted Marshall. Over the years, it has become a very popular curling event, he added.
“It allows everybody to come together, have some fun and forget about the business side (of things) for the week,” he said, noting the partnership and opportunity for both farmers and businesses to network.
This year there are a total of 48 teams participating in the Farmers and Farmerettes Bonspiel -- 32 men's teams and 16 women's teams. Curlers come from around the region, including Red Deer to Olds and Caroline to Torrington.
During opening ceremonies on Monday afternoon, the Farm Family of the Year, Scott Little Farms Ltd., and the Small Business of the Year, Day Dental and Bowden Physiotherapy, threw a ceremonial rock to officially kick off the annual bonspiel.
“We have at least two farmers on a team,” said Marshall. “We then as a committee draw out a local business person that joins the team and curls with you for the week,” he added, noting close to 200 curlers participate in the event.
A12-member committee chaired by Tim Kreil ensures the overall success of the annual curling event.
“We have members on our committee that help with organizing the bonspiel, finding the sponsors, putting the teams together and making sure everything runs smoothly for everybody,” said Marshall, noting the positive feedback from both the local community and sponsors alike.
“The support from the community has been absolutely fantastic with the sponsorship,” he added, noting how he looks forward to the farmers and farmerettes curling bonspiel every year.
“We'd really like to thank our sponsors for providing the donations that allows us to put a bonspiel like this on every year,” said Marshall. “It allows everybody to come out, curl and have some fun for the week.”
The 70th annual Farmers and Farmerettes Bonspiel wraps up on Jan. 23 with a banquet and awards night at the Innisfail Curling Club.
Todd Marshall
"The farming community supports the business community with their purchases, and then we hold a bonspiel like this where the businesses have a chance to throw some sponsorship back at it to provide some prizes."
