INNISFAIL – For 72 years area farmers, farmerettes and local businesses have been an example of teamwork in the community.
The annual Innisfail Farmers and Farmerettes Bonspiel takes place Jan. 14 - 20 at the Innisfail Curling Club.
"It’s about bringing the farming community together with the business community,” said Todd Marshall, vice-chair of the event. "We go out into the community and get sponsorship dollars from these businesses as well, that these farmers are doing business with throughout the year.
"They’ve been really, really supportive again this year,” he added, noting registration finished Jan. 5 and this year there are a total of 16 ladies teams and 32 men’s teams participating in the event.
Draws are scheduled to take place throughout the day and evening during the week-long bonspiel.
"You enter as a team of three. We need two farmers, either retired or those currently active farming, and they’re able to bring in one other person,” said Marshall. "We do a draw and pair them with a business person from the local community and they curl as a (four-member team) for the week.”
Farmers and farmerettes from Innisfail and across the region team up with local businesses for the annual bonspiel.
"This year we have teams from Red Deer, Innisfail, Torrington, Olds, Sundre and Sylvan Lake area, pretty much all over Central Alberta,” said Marshall.
"It gets everybody together for a week of fun and fellowship,” he said. "We hold a banquet on the Saturday night at the Innisfail Legion. We hand out our prizes and have a DJ come in for a dance as well.”
They also hold a sponsor night, to thank sponsors of the event, and give them a chance to see some curling and meet the teams.
Opening ceremonies take place Monday afternoon around 3 p.m.
"We’ll pipe in the teams and we’ll have the small business of the year and the farm family of the year throw a ceremonial rock,” said Marshall.
In addition to the farmers, farmerettes and local businesses show of support, the annual bonspiel is also well attended and supported by members of the Innisfail community.
"We get lots of fans out, lots of family and friends of the players out there and we usually get quite a few people that are looking for something to do that come down and partake in the festivities as well,” Marshall concluded.
Todd Marshall, vice-chair
"It's about bringing the farming community together with the business community."
