The Olds Farmers and Farmerettes bonspiels do a great job of bringing rural people and town residents together, thereby building a stronger community overall.
That's the word from Al Kemmere, a Mountain View County councillor and president of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) association.
Kemmere spoke during the banquet for the two bonspiels, held Feb. 16 at the Olds Legion. The 39th annual Farmers and 36th annual Farmerettes bonspiels took place Feb. 12-16 at the Olds Curling Club.
"Thirty-nine years as the Farmers and 36 years as the Farmerettes is going to be a record hard to keep up with in other communities," Kemmere said.
He said the key to keeping events like those two bonspiels going is lots of participation from volunteers.
"You've got tremendous volunteers who work at this year after year, whether it's at the club level or even at the bonspiel organizing level. So without them, we all know that our rural communities wouldn't be what they are today," he said.
Equally important though, Kemmere added, is the support received from local businesses, despite the current economy.
"You're all aware that we've gone through some rather interesting business-type adjustments in this province. I'll call it a downturn, and that would be an understatement," Kemmere said.
"But the businesses still keep coming through and I think that's important to recognize. Not only the ag businesses, but the businesses in town that are also part of this, because (that) is what makes this gel and makes it work.
"And I have to tip my hat to the businesses because they're the ones that help finance this and give you that opportunity to be here together," he added.
"We've got people who are curling in this from the town, so it's bringing the county and the town together, it's bringing agriculture and business together. It's what the community is built out of.
"So you guys are a great example of what we try to do when we work with the town of Olds and the county and try to build a strong community. So I think it's learning from you that we get to do that."
In fact, Kemmere said curlers from four different counties took part in the two bonspiels this year.
"On behalf of Mountain View County, congratulations to the volunteers, to the businesses, and to the event winners. Somebody has to come out a winner. Every year it's somebody different, but you all keep coming back to try. So congratulations to you all and thank you for hosting such a great event."
