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Stettler P&H Elevator Preservation Society hosted buffalo and bannock fundraiser

The fundraising dinner was in support of a new heated building for the historical site.
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Staff and volunteers gather for a group shot after the buffalo stew and bannock supper on Wednesday, July 5. PHOTO BY MOUSH SARA JOHN

Kaitlin Poapst

For The Stettler Independent

More than 100 people participated in the fundraising dinner on Wednesday, July 5, and gathered to enjoy a meal of buffalo stew and bannock to raise money for the society’s Feed Shed Addition.

Held at the Alberta Prairie Station, guests and community members enjoyed the bannock made with wheat threshed and milled by an engine like in days past, along with a hearty, home-cooked buffalo stew, and a sweet dessert of strawberries and ice cream.

The event was on the last day of the week-long Rails and Tales, and the meal aimed to stay within the historical theme, but also offered the community something a little different than the usual traditional fundraising fare.

Donna Langelle, who has been volunteering with the P&H Elevator Preservation Society since 2012, said, “The cooks deserve a great deal of praise, everybody loved it.”

Stan Eichhorn, president of the society, added that it was a “heavy day for volunteers,” with over 15 working hard all day to make the fundraising meal a success.

Proceeds from the meal go towards the society’s current project, the construction of the Feed Shed Addition building. “Construction began a few weeks ago,” said Eichhorn, “with a goal to get as much built this summer as possible with the funds that have been raised up until this point.”

The new heated building will allow for year-round use and will feature bathrooms and a small kitchenette to allow for a wider diversity of events and functions. The current Feed Shed and adjacent rooms in the elevator are open during the summer, with tours running Thursday through Sunday, every day that the Alberta Prairie Train runs.

The society restores and preserves agricultural heritage, buildings and equipment with a focus on education and demonstration for present and future generations, according to Eichhorn.

People are encouraged to visit the Coffee Stop, open year round Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings, and to stop by for tours throughout the summer.

“We appreciate and thank everyone who did come out and support us,” Eichhorn stated. “I hope to see more local folks out at our next event, a Fall Dinner that will be taking place on Saturday, Aug. 26.”