OLDS — Plans are set for the 41st Olds Farmers’ and 38th Olds Farmerettes’ bonspiels, which starts today and runs until Feb. 18 at the Olds Curling Club.
Organizers say the number of teams in the Farmerettes’ spiel is down somewhat, from 16 to 12, but the Farmers’ ‘spiel will feature 32 teams, the same figure as in 2020, the last time it was held, according Brian Houchin, a spokesman for the men’s event.
In addition to lots of curling action, plans call for the tournament to include a draw to the button, a couple of nights of live music and a banquet at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #105.
Farmerettes secretary Lori Gans is not entirely sure why the number of teams on the ladies’ side is down, but she has a couple of theories.
“I just think that people are busier, and there’s the age factor. What I mean by that is we don’t get the young curlers anymore like we used to,” she said during an interview.
“There’s a few, but curling's just kind of not prevalent, I guess, in the way of the world right now.”
She said another factor is that as people get older, those who live out of town are less inclined to travel to tournaments.
“There just seems to be a lot of things that come into play, for sure,” she said.
Houchin said 32 teams in the Farmers’ 'spiel is “a good number we shoot for.”
He stressed that the two bonspiels are not really envisioned to be competitive.
“I think it’s half luck," Houchin said with a laugh. “There are some good teams and then there’s your average teams. It’ll be a good event.
“It’s more of a social thing, I think.”