OLDS – Olds Regional Exhibition is among agricultural societies throughout the province potentially set to benefit from a new government-funded study.
The provincial government announced plans Wednesday to fund a study intended to outline recommendations on how it can best support seven regional agricultural societies.
“Agricultural societies are part of the backbone of farm and rural communities … and they play a huge role in their surrounding communities,” the provincial government said in a July 31 press release.
The regional societies are in Camrose, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, as well as Olds and Red Deer.
Each organization is comprised of Albertans who are passionate about their communities, says the province and they endeavour to, for example, develop educational programs, plan community or special events and provide services based on community needs. They also operate facilities such as trade centres as well as exhibition grounds.
“To determine how best to support regional agricultural societies and the work they do into the future, the government of Alberta has hired Deloitte to provide recommendations,” the province said.
Deloitte is a large, multinational firm that among other services offers clients auditing and consulting services.
“Regional agricultural societies are a huge part of Alberta communities and a lot has changed since they were established more than a century ago,” said RJ Sigurdson, minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, in making the announcement.
“We need to understand their challenges and opportunities to better position our agriculture sector and rural communities for success.”
In this year’s budget, the provincial government has provided $11.5 million for the Agricultural Societies Grant Program, including $2.8 million to regional societies. Additionally, the government provides funding for agricultural societies to repair infrastructure through the Agricultural Societies Infrastructure Revitalization Program.
Last year, 34 agricultural societies received a total $2.5 million.
The latest study will be funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s Resiliency and Public Trust program, which is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments “to strengthen competitiveness, innovation and resiliency in Canada’s agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector.”
