ADAM JACKSON/Black Press
It was a surprising sight for residents of Stettler last week, as hundreds of RVs filled with Good Sams gathered at the Stettler Agriplex for their annual ‘Samboree’.
A total of 254 rigs flooded the campground from June 15 to 19 for fun and entertainment — some coming from as far as British Columbia, Ontario and the United States.
The banquet on June 18 drew a grand total of 525 visitors.
“It went very well despite the weather,” said The Good Sams’ Elpha Senft. “There were a couple of games that we couldn’t play outside, but it was good overall.”
The Good Sams took the time to play games and tour the area, including 176 visitors who boarded a train and toured Big Valley.
Sixty-eight of the men also had a Texas scramble style golf game at the Stettler Golf and Country Club.
The Stettler Ag Society hosted the Samboree back in 2002 and Senft attributes the success of this year to the previous hospitality shown by both the merchants and the people of Stettler.
“The town is great to them,” said Senft. “A lot of them give discounts and are really hospitable to the visitors.”
“Thanks to the good people and merchants around Stettler, we were able to give away 120 draw prizes.”
Senft received rave reviews about the town from many attendees.
“They were taken back by the quality of the shops that we have here for such a small town,” said Senft.
The Samboree brought three major Alberta Sams Clubs together: the northern zone, the central zone and the southern zone.
“The Good Sams rally happens every year, but they alternate between the different zones,” said Senft.