Dear Editor:
The Stettler Agricultural Society was started over a century ago by a hardworking group for the people of Stettler and area. The grandstand went through various stages of construction until finally there was a covered grandstand that can be used for various programs for the entertainment of the people.
Along with the grandstand are the rodeo grounds and racetrack with protective rails and through time all three were put on “ignore,” with even some dismantling done by some disinterested people. Recently, repairs and painting were done on the grandstand, rodeo grounds and racetrack, bringing them up to operable levels, ranking with the best.
The Ag Society is operated by a group of people and it seems lately that this group has taken a laidback approach (work and programs being totally ignored). It seems the goal for these people are to get the jackets and let all else fall into a sad state of affairs, with no programs developed for people’s entertainment.
A while ago, this board decided it was in their best interest to destroy part of the racetrack rails so they could move in tons of dirt on to the rodeo grounds. I guess their first act was to decommission the track so they could destroy it for their own selfish interest. Buildings and bridges have been decommissioned for a good sound reason in the past, for the safety of the people, but it would be a longshot for a person to get injured on a racetrack unless one was to fall off the track (maybe inebriated).
This dirt is rumoured to be highly contaminated, and along with animal manure stored in the same vanity, this amounts to a deadly combination. Contaminates from the contaminated dirt and the animal manure could seep into Red Willow Creek and saturate Red Willow Creek to dangerous levels. People will have to brought in to test for pollutants in Red Willow Creek and fines could be leveled if pollutants are found so contaminates would not enter streams that Red Willow Creek empties into. This testing should be carried out some ten to twenty kilometers downstream and this would be north of Stettler.
What should be happening is the Stettler Ag. Society should be putting in place things of interest for the people of Stettler and surrounding area also keeping in mind the tourist that could be visiting the area.
The Alberta Prairie Railway excursions have put Stettler on the map with the well-known train rides to Big Valley. Once there, the people are fed a big dinner and they browse through artifacts relating to railroads from the past and the working system.
Another group of people are working hard to restore the elevator and shed. There is also a tour of the elevator and refreshments are available, the tour includes looking at some equipment people used in the past by early pioneers.
The grandstand and rodeo are already in good condition. The track now will need some repairing and could no doubt be brought up to a stage where chuckwagons, chariots and some flat races could safely run. The people of Stettler and area would enjoy these events plus tourist would also take in these events.
A Stettler business woman has already came forward and offered a long van that is no longer road worthy and this could become an entertainment centre in front of the grand-stand. She also stated she knew a person that could cut out one side, put hinges on the bottom so it could become a stage and local talent could use this after shows. This entertainment unit would be hooked up to lighting and speakers and could be moved in front of the grandstand to be used after performances.
The Stettler ag grounds would be safe place for tourists in the area, and the society could work in conjunction with the train ride and elevator tours. Inside the Stettler ag building, a restaurant could operate full-time and local ranchers brands could be put on display from the past and current brands.
Another area could be set aside as a chuckwagon and rodeo contestants’ hall of fame. There have been a lot of successful contestants in the Stettler area and these hard-contesting people should not be forgotten. This would no doubt become a tourist favourite.
The sheds already in place could become a ranchers’ museum with old tractors, cars/trucks and other machinery form the past. This museum could be viewed at any time with donations made freely into a barrel. The southern shed, or part thereof, could become a petting zoo, which surely would have animals that would delight younger people. There are already horseshoe pits in the area and these no doubt attract attention.
Could rodeo and chuckwagon racing happen in Stettler again? The answer would be a resounding YES. Tourists coming to Stettler would also be beneficial for the surrounding area.
The oil and gas industry will surely be replaced by tourist dollars.
Dave France,
Stettler