The Weyburn Agricultural Society is planning for a very event-filled summer and fall, and there will be a need for volunteers for some of the events.
Clay Schira, president of the Ag Society, gave a detailed report to city council at their meeting on April 8, to keep council informed about some of the activities that people will be seeing on the exhibition grounds.
The events will start up in May with the Weyburn High School Rodeo on the May 11-12 weekend, along with the Calf Cruze competition at the Ag Society barns. Also on this weekend will be the first-ever “Fur and Feathers” sale, where rare and exotic animals such as rabbits, chickens, ducks and other varieties will be sold by auction.
The farrier competition will be back this year after it was postponed last year, said Schira, noting the farriers had a big competition at the Calgary Stampede, making it necessary to cancel the Weyburn contest.
At the end of June, the area 4-H clubs will hold their achievement day competitions just ahead of the regional 4-H show and sale, which comprise a part of the Fair, along with the 4-H Light Horse Show.
The Fair will get underway on Monday, July 1, with chuckwagon races on the Monday and Tuesday. This year the Ag Society will take the Wednesday off, then the Fair resumes on Thursday, July 4, and will wrap up on Saturday, July 6. The professional rodeo will go on July 5 and 6, and the kids rodeo will be held in the morning on July 6. The demolition derby will wrap up the Fair that evening, along with a band for the beer gardens or Curling Rink that evening.
At end of July, the Ag Society will host a Charolais show. “It’s a big event, potentially more than the 4-H Show,” said Schira, noting a junior Hereford Show will follow that. “We do have quite a bit over this summer and we’ll need volunteers.”
Other activities for the Ag Society will take the form of donations, such as funds for free swimming over the summer at the outdoor pool, and donating the Curling Rink to the Humane Society for their large garage sale.
“We’re trying to help out as much as we can, and we look forward to working with other groups. We’re trying to create an environment where people will come and work with us. We’re trying to build on our facilities and help Weyburn to grow,” said Schira.
Asked if the Flavours of Fall event will be held again, he said it will run again.
“We’ve had a ton of positive feedback on the Flavours of Fall. That date may change this fall,” he said, noting it had been held on Thanksgiving weekend last year, but this fall it may go a week earlier.
At the end of his presentation to council, Coun. Dick Michel commented, “That’s fantastic what you do. You people haven’t backed up at all. Thank you so much for what you bring to the city.”
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had my eyes opened since joining the board,” said Schira, adding they are always looking at ways to improve their events, including the iconic Fair.
“There’s no reason why we can’t have one of the best fairs in the province. We want to see the community support continue to grow,” he said, pointing out the one factor to last year’s fair was three days of heat warnings, which is completely beyond their control.
