Leading the Medicne Hat Stampede Parade, Stampede president Darlene Keeler (front) rides with Olympian Sage Watson, the honourary parade marshal, on Thursday morning. - NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Darlene Keeler has waited a long time to take the reins at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede and could now oversee the last dash toward a major upgrade on the exhibition grounds.
Keeler, the long-time volunteer who begins a two-year term as board’s first female board president of the area’s agricultural society, presided at her first president’s luncheon for community leaders, volunteers and major sponsors on Thursday.
Two years ago, the Stampede made public the plan to renovate the decades-old grandstand and add a connected 9,000-square foot space for exhibits, trade shows and conferences. The $35-million project would take two years to construct.
“The proposal is very, very strong, and now we’re getting fundraising going on,” Keeler told the News. “We’re still talking and getting some good reception from the provincial government. Hopefully, we’ll be receiving some support from some of the other governments.”
Down the road, the Lethbridge Exhibition is preparing to open its new 270,000-square foot Agri-Food Hub and Trade centre, including 100,000-square feet of trade show space, at next month’s Whoop-Up Days.
That $70-million project is being paid for with grants from the province, city and county of Lethbridge, as well as the federal PrairiesCAN agency.
Keeler takes over from now-past-president David Ziegenhagel and says the organization is continuing to perform at a high level as the annual fair is underway.
“We’re doing very, very well and that’s thanks to 25 committees that are heavily involved in Stampede week,” she said. “They’ve gone above and beyond to make sure the citizens of Medicine Hat and surrounding area will have a real treat and some fantastic things to do.
“We have a fairly young operations group, and they’ve stepped up unbelievably.”
Watson: No place like home
Sage Watson says that running provided her a chance to see the world, but that in turn has given her a greater appreciation of growing up in this corner of it.
Watson, this year’s honourary Stampede parade marshal, addressed dignitaries at the President’s Luncheon following that morning’s procession.
The 29-year-old, two-time Olympian said she “couldn’t wait” to leave the region as a high school graduate, but now misses the area and hasn’t been able to take in a Medicine Hat Stampede in years due to her competitive schedule.
Life on a mixed farming operation has many difficulties, she said, but “it’s the little moments that make it worth it.”
“With the Medicine Hat Stampede we have and moment to showcase agriculture and celebrate it,” she said. “It’s our way of life and culture should be celebrated.”
Watson said that growing up, she found chores and helping out as a teen was just a fact of everyday life and often times mundane. But, after talking with teammates at college in the southern United States, and later at international competitions, she discovered how unique her upbringing was.
“Many people believe that agriculture is undervalued,” said the product of Seven Persons who won an American University championship and twice represented Canada at the Olympic and Pan-Am Games.
