The Olds College centennial committee threw an open house last Thursday, asking for input from residents about a town and county celebration.
"We do not want to come up with an idea and throw a party that nobody wants to attend,î said centennial committee member Paul Gustafson.
Participants in the open house had many ideas. A rib fest was mentioned, as well as a parade and an outdoor laser show. Other people wanted the celebration to be more permanent, like commissioning a special vintage bench or designing a new garden.
"There were some good ideas. We will start building on that,î said Kerry T. Moynihan, general manager of the 2013 college centennial.
The centennial committee will get together in the next weeks to put together a document with the various event options.
"Then, it will go back out to the group, saying here's what we think. Do you agree? That will be the next step,î said Moynihan.
"A decision will be reached sometime over the next two months, because we need to get budgets together and commitments.î
The committee also used the occasion to make public the centennial schedule. Twelve signature events will take place in 2013. The centennial year will kick off with a fashion show in February 2013, followed by the Alberta Outstanding Young Farmer Awards and the Centennial Gala in March. The Equine Centennial Games will occur during the last weekend of April 2013. July will see competitors take to the field for the 2013 World Plowing Championship. The college will play host to young adults from all over the world for the International 4-H conference in August. In September, golf players will have the perfect excuse to take to the green for the Olds College Golf Classic.
The centennial year will conclude with the Centennial Homecoming in October.
Dates still have not been decided for the car auction or the town and country celebration.
