About 300 people attended the Olds Agricultural Society's sixth annual Chautauqua on Saturday night at the Cow Palace.
Aside from naming the rural family of the year — the Hepps — and the volunteer of the year — Joe Halerewich — the evening was an opportunity to thank the many volunteers that continue to support the OAS, said Curtis Flewelling, OAS board president.
“We were really excited about the turnout. We made a big effort to get some tickets sold and get some people here to experience the event,” he said, characterizing the event as the OAS's “state-of-the-union address.”
“It's just more of a social get-together for the people that support us. Lots of people that are our clients and suppliers (are here). As far as … our capital expansion plans for the future, those are all part of our business plan that is still ongoing. I wouldn't say it's been put on hold, but a plan of that magnitude does take some time to develop,” he said.
Most in attendance took advantage of this year's theme — the Kentucky Derby — to dress in colourful garb, including hats. As part of the theme, people were invited to bet 50/50 style on three historic horse races that were run on the big screen. The races were announced by Shannon “Sugar” Doyle, the announcer at Northlands racetrack in Edmonton.
The evening also featured a presentation by Doug Griffith, MLA for Battle River-Wainwright — and a candidate to replace outgoing Premier Ed Stelmach — on 13 ways to kill Your Community. Not painting a town, having a negative attitude, not having any business competition, or not assessing a community's needs were just some of the ways Griffith said a community can be killed.
People are key to rural development, he said.
“It's up to people in the community to do it,” he said.
"We were really excited about the turnout. We made a big effort to get some tickets sold and get some people here to experience the event."Curtis Flewelling, president, OAS