Vegreville Agricultural Society Receives Funding for Facility Upgrades

Vegreville Agricultural Society Receives Funding for Facility Upgrades

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

The Vegreville Agricultural Society (VAS) recently received a financial boost from the Province of Alberta.

Craig Horon, Vice-President of VAS, was on hand to accept a cheque for $10,545 from Fort Saskatchewan- Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong- Homeniuk on January 10. Those funds will be matched by VAS and used to replace the aging furnace, air conditioner and hot water tank in its administration building.

“We sincerely appreciate the financial assistance from these government programs for non-profit groups,” stated Jocelyn Svensen, VAS Office Manager.

Svensen said the equipment dates back to 1992 when the administration building was constructed. There will be substantial cost savings with the new equipment that are now 96 per cent efficient as opposed to 60 percent with the old equipment.

Funding was made possible through the Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) which provides financial assistance for non-profit organizations to acquire, build, purchase, repair, renovate, upgrade or expand sports, recreational, cultural or other related public-use community facilities.

Craig Horon, Vice-President of the Vegreville Agricultural Society accepted a cheque for $10,545 from Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk on Jan. 10.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Every year VAS hosts the Spring Horse Show and Chuckwagon and Chariot Races, the Father’s Day Show and Shine and Demo Derby, as well as the Country Fair in August.

The Vegreville Agricultural Society was established in 1903 and is a nonprofit organization. Formerly called the Vegreville Exhibition Association, the Vegreville Agricultural Society was registered under the Agricultural Societies Act in Alberta on September 28, 1983.

The Vegreville Agricultural Society’s primary focus was to promote and improve various types of livestock, grain and homemaking skills in a social environment. This aspect remains to this date and has grown to include an annual exhibition and fair, ongoing educational courses and many community sponsored events.