Big Country Ag Society pursues grants, plans rodeo dates

By Your Southwest Media Group

OYEN - The Big Country Agricultural Society covered grant applications, facility upgrades and event planning at its May 11 general meeting.

The board is pursuing the RME Community Grant to help fund the purchase of a side-by-side and will also apply for the Community Foundations for Canada Post grant.

Directors reviewed the budget for Open Farm Days, scheduled for Aug. 15, 2026.

The Farmer's Market committee is recruiting additional volunteers for the season. Anyone interested can contact Delaine at deenvolk@netago.ca.

Lloyd Bosch will continue to work the ground before bookings. The board plans to reapply Calmag flakes after Beef Expo 2027, once the ground is soaked and the facility is cleared.

Planning for the Oyen Indoor Rodeo is well underway, with more than half the sponsorship already collected. Barrels and roughstock dates are set for Nov. 21, Dec. 12, Jan. 16, Feb. 20 and March 20.

The board will look into having the septic tank emptied this spring. Cameras have been hardwired in, and the society continues to pursue lighting upgrades. Work on a new website is ongoing.

A panel inventory has been completed and will be uploaded to the society's Google Drive. The board has approved designing permanent south-end outdoor infrastructure.

The BCAS is seeking a director to fill a board vacancy for the remainder of the year.

Directors reviewed a request to sponsor the Buffalo and District Agricultural Society KCRA Rodeo on Aug. 14, 15 and 16. The board also approved a sponsorship for Hayden Tye as she pursues a dance scholarship in New York.

The Crossroads Centre has a new address: 229 Dorosz Drive.