The future of Heritage Days looks dismal, Ag Society looking for public input

Times Reporter

 

Concerns over the future of the Heritage Days Stampede is what brought members of the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society to council on Feb. 15. 

Grant Klaiber spoke on behalf of the Ag. Society,  stating that they wanted to inform council and the citizens of Strathmore of some potentially major decisions that may have to be made in the near future that will have an impact on the community as a whole. 

After giving a brief history of agricultural societies and their mandate Klaiber brought up the issue that is at the forefront for the Strathmore Ag. Society.

“In the past few years we’ve identified some major changes that we feel are having a profound affect on the role of the Ag. Society in our community and is the primary reason that we are here tonight. Without question the largest undertaking our Ag. Society has each year is the Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede,” said Klaiber. 

Two of the trends identified include that it is getting harder each year to fill the grandstands, and it has been a challenge to provide a show that has something for everyone. 

“The legions of rodeo enthusiasts are dwindling, each year the grandstand seems to become a little bit greyer. We’ve tried to appeal to a younger crowd by bringing in acts such as the stunt motorcycles, and of course the running of the bulls has been a resounding success,” said Klaiber. 

“The budget for our annual show approaches seven figures and due to inflation there are constant demands for increases from the entertainment providers, and on the other side the reluctance of our guests to accept any further increases to our gate admission. 

“The consequences of this squeeze are that our margins are becoming so tight that any kind of a glitch such as bad weather threatens the very future of the show itself.”

Klaiber said it has also become increasingly difficult to provide peripheral entertainment for the rodeo, and this year the Ag. Society is unable to secure a midway. 

Because of all of the challenges and issues being faced, the Ag. Society has decided to reduce the 2012 event to four days from the previous five, and has been looking at all aspects of the show to trim expenses. 

Discussion has also already begun about the future format of the rodeo beyond 2012.

“We, the board of the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society are looking to the future and tonight we are serving notice to our community and the many interest groups in our town that we want their input to help us determine what direction we are going to take,” said Klaiber. 

“The challenges we face will have an impact on our town and our community, whether or not that impact will be for the good or not is entirely up to the participation of those involved.”

Klaiber said the show will go on this year, and the Ag. Society will continue putting on a show as long as they can. They have identified though that the show has to change, and the weekend has to change and they are looking for ideas, especially on how to get the young people out. 

The Ag. Society did receive the support from council they were looking for when Councillor Sobol made a motion that council indicate support and that steps be taken to demonstrate the support to the Alberta Government either in writing or in person.