SASKATOON – The Canadian Farmers’ Curling Championships won’t be getting over the hog line in 1995.
After eight years, the event will not be held this season because the main sponsor, BASF Canada Inc., withdrew its funding.
BASF communications manager Ron Scheurkogel said the Canadian Curling Association and the Brandon World Curling Committee “violated the spirit of co-operation and support BASF had enjoyed for a number of years.”
The company said the Brandon World Curling Committee sought sponsorship from other crop protection companies, so BASF’s contribution would have been diluted without it being the exclusive crop protection sponsor.
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“We founded and sponsored the event to support rural curling clubs and our farmer customers,” said Scheurkogel. He said the event was designed so farmers had to be members of curling clubs belonging to the Canadian Curling Association, if they wanted to participate. “It meant extra support for small curling clubs in rural areas.”
“I am sure (it) will be missed by the clubs and it might deter some farmers from belonging to the clubs,” said Don Bacon, executive director of the Saskatchewan Curling Association (SCA).
Bacon said the SCA tried all summer to find a new sponsor to match funds provided by the remaining supporter, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. “We couldn’t find anyone that would carry the championships.”
Bacon said the SCA didn’t want the cost of running the event: “We did not think it was our place to run an occupational championship.” The SCA has managed the event for the pool and BASF for six years.
