The provincial government will fund a report that looks for ways to support these important rural organizations
Glacier FarmMedia – The Alberta government has announced funding to study how the province can best support its seven regional agricultural societies.
“I think some gaps will be identified, but the benefits will be in identifying the value of ag societies in general,” said Tim Carson, chief executive officer of the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies.
“I think this is a unique opportunity to see how government support will best support those regional agricultural societies as the program hasn’t really changed in 25 years. It’s a great start.”
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The provincial government will use money from the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s Resiliency and Public Trust Program to complete the study and has hired Deloitte to provide recommendations.
The seven regional agricultural societies include Camrose, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, Olds and Red Deer.
The designation of regional ag societies came from a 1997 shift in funding. Some societies transitioned to major fairs, which, at the time, included Edmonton Northlands and Calgary Stampede. The seven regional agricultural societies were designated based on the number of people who came to events, as well as the amount of prize money allotted.
There are also 284 primary agricultural societies in the province, and they have a different funding model.
Carson said regional ag societies are struggling with financial pressures and operational costs for their facilities, a situation exacerbated by the pandemic. They have asked for more support from the provincial government, which is another reason the study is being undertaken.
Primary and regional agricultural societies play a role in promoting improvements in agriculture and enhancing the quality of life in their communities, he said.
“They do that through programs and events. They also provide facilities for other organizations to be successful.”
Agricultural societies organize a wide range of activities, including fairs, trade shows and bull sales, and are focused on enhancing the industry. Regional agricultural societies develop educational programs, organize major community or special events, and provide services based on community needs.
They run major facilities like trade centres and exhibition grounds. Primary and regional agricultural societies contribute nearly $1 billion worth of spending annually in Alberta.
“They generate that level of economic driver, which is only half of the equation, because the opportunity for vibrancy in that community is really driven by these organizations, whether they are large or small, and the size of the facilities and things of that nature are supported by the community around them,” Carson said.
“Whether you’re a hockey rink in Donalda or you’re a rodeo grounds in Bonnyville, it’s really about how the community comes together and how the organization supports that community.”
Carson said it is important to study societies, their operations, their value propositions and the best steps forward. However, results of the study will likely not be made available to the public.
In Budget 2024-25, the Alberta government provided $11.5 million for the Agricultural Societies Grant Program, including $2.8 million to regional societies. It also provided funding for agricultural societies to make major repairs to infrastructure through the Agricultural Societies Infrastructure Revitalization Program. In 2023, 34 agricultural societies received $2.5 million.
Alberta has 291 agricultural societies, the most of any province.
