Ag society poster wins awards

Adelle Ellis
Times Reporter

 

The Strathmore and District Agricultural Society scored two big wins at the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies (AAAS) annual convention on Feb. 4, where their 2017 Strathmore Stampede and Heritage Days poster entry won two awards.
The poster, depicting three young boys sporting cowboy hats, won first place poster honours for events of more than 5,000 attendees, and it also won delegate’s choice.
“We have a good history with these kinds of wins,” said Herb McLane, Strathmore and District Agricultural Society general manager. “It’s nice when people appreciate the artistic and thoughtful effort that goes into the development of these kinds of things.”
This year’s poster is the third of a three-part series the ag society conceptualized over three years ago. The poster from the first year featured a cowboy, last year there was a barrel racer, and this year there are three young boys on the poster. All posters are silhouette images and convey the same type of feeling and message. This is the second year in a row the ag society has taken home both awards.
“A picture says a thousand words and that old saying rings true in connection with our poster,” said McLane, adding that the ag society tried to develop a similar feeling between the last three posters. “This year focuses on family. There are three boys, all brothers, who are the principal players on the poster. It was important for us this year to capture some element of family and the connection to rodeo and the lifestyle.
“This poster does that with the three young lads in their cowboy hats. In one sense, it embodies the future that one day they may become professional cowboys and compete in rodeos and maybe one day at the Strathmore Stampede and Heritage Days.”
The ag society is already working on planning a new three-part poster series starting in 2018. For now, the decision is whether or not to stick with what they know or go off in a new direction.
“[This award] is recognition of the success of our poster program; we want to continue conveying our message, and preserving and expanding our brand image,” said McLane.