MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Olds Regional Exhibition (ORE) officials are interested in creating a region-wide agriculture coalition to bring the local agricultural societies together to promote the area and create a unified voice, general manager Tracy Gardner told Mountain View County council.
The coalition would not see the societies’ merge, but would rather create a team approach to addressing the opportunities and challenges facing the region, she said.
“We are pitching that regional members represent our ag-related stakeholder interests,” said Gardner. “So whether that is all of the ag societies in our county, all of the ag service boards and any other organizations that has a vested interest in ag production or anything related to agriculture.
“The objective of course is to collaborate on funding requests, to talk about allocation, to talk about facility utilization, to create some new and exciting ideas, and just bring some like-minded people together and see what we can do.”
Addressing funding challenges could be a key focus of the coalition, she said.
“Is this the group that gets together when and if the province decides that all ag society funding is cut significantly? This is the group that can get together and talk about what does that mean and what does moving forward look like,” she said.
“What does an agricultural coalition look like and how can we take a vibrant organization that is 122 years old, as the ag society is in Olds, and how can we as the economic engine that we are, how can we be a leader in creating a team at Mountain View County coalition strategy?”
As well, the coalition would work together to attract events and programs that would have direct economic and tourism benefits to the region, she said.
“Could Mountain View County blaze a new trail with Open Farm Days? What would it look like if we had a collaborative conversation about farmers markets?” she said.
Keeping programs and events in this region rather than having them go to areas such as Red Deer, Airdrie and Calgary would benefit stakeholders here, she said.
Councillor Al Kemmere asked if ORE has approached the other ag societies in the region about the possibility of forming the coalition. She said yes.
“They are thrilled to have the conversation because they are worried about infrastructure, they are worried about operations, they are worried about vulnerabilities,” she said.
Asked by reeve Bruce Beattie if agriculture societies are concerned about possible provincial funding cuts in coming months, she said yes.
“We have a situation where non-profit, century-old organizations may be insolvent,” she said. “None of that is what any of us want.”
There are 284 ag societies in the province.
Asked by Coun. Duncan Milne if the intention of the coalition is to merge the ag societies in the region, she said no.
“It is to have one voice that allows us to continue for the next generation, to make sure that the profoundly important program that happens in rural stays that way,” she said.
Mountain View County could help with the coalition project by providing an official endorsement, she said.
Coun. Milne, a member of the Mountain View County agricultural service board, said he will bring the coalition idea to the board’s attention.
Kemmere said council should hear comments from the ag service board before moving forward. Councillors approved a motion to that effect.
Council passed a motion accepting Gardner's presentation as information.
