The Stettler Curling Rink hosted the Farmer/Farmerette Curling Bonspiel from Thursday to Sunday, Jan. 19-22 with a good turnout of both participants and viewers from near and far.
Teams participating in the bonspiel came from all over Alberta to join in the friendly and fun competition.
"This bonspiel was started as a way for our local and surrounding community agricultural producers to get together for a weekend of friendly competition and social gathering," said Jamie Devnich, iceman for the rink.
With 27 teams participating in the bonspiel this weekend – 19 in the men's division and eight in the women's division – the competition format for both divisions was a three-event draw style bonspiel.
The winners in the men's division were:
A event winners was the team of Ryan Mulgrove
B event winners was the team of Danny Brown
C event winners was the team of Brian Whitemore
The winners in the ladies' division were:
A event winners was the team of Daylon Rairdan
B event winners was the team of Lorna Sinclair
C event winners was the team of Lois Wells
With the curling rink getting a boost from the Canada 150 funds, it was an even better venue for the bonspiel.
"I feel the use of the Canada 150 funds for the renovation of the Stettler Curling Club puts a breath of fresh air into the arena," Devnich added. "I am hoping that it strengthens our club and keeps it viable for many years to come."
Devnich who has been making ice and have curling since 2000 is a familiar face at the rink.
"When I went to college to become a golf course superintendent, ice making was an optional course you could take as part of our program and being that the golf course position was a seasonal, I figured what better way to gain winter employment than ice making," Devnich explained.
According to Devnich, there are up to about six bonspiels each year.
"Some of our main ones being the Farmer/Farmerettes, Juniors Funspiel, Mixed Bonspiel, and our Ladies' Bonspiel," Devnich said. "I would like to thank our title sponsor Cervus Equipment and all our event sponsors – UFA Petroleum/Farmstore, Wells Furniture, Bills Farm Supply, Wish Kitchen, Rushton Agencies, and Savage Value Drug Mart. I'd also like to thank our Saturday morning breakfast sponsor Viterra and our banquet sponsors – Central Alberta Co-op, Johnson and Connors agency, Royal LePage Central, Chapman & Co. Accounting and Sean's No Frills."
Devnich said that without so many awesome businesses and organizations that support curling, it would not be possible to host a tournament on this scale.