Serving the Heart of Central Alberta for 107 years
VOLUME ONE-HUNDRED EIGHT
PM40011853 R08546
NUMBER SIXTEEN
STETTLER, ALBERTA
April 16, 2014
PRICE — $1.09 Plus GST
MUSTAFA ERIC/Independent editorr
County of Stettler’s café/booth was one of the most visited spots during Stettler’s annual trade show with both the county staff and councillors serving beverages to customers throughout the three-day event.
Exhibitors show off their stuff at annual trade show ROBIN TARNOWETZKI Independent reporter The recently opened Stettler Recreation Centre was buzzing with activity April 11 to 13 as exhibitors from all over western Canada showed off their wares over the course of the three days. The trade show is put on by the Stettler Regional Board of Trade, and has been an annual event for about 34 years. “It’s the event that kind of brings everyone out in
the spring. There’s a break from the winter and everything too, so it’s nice,” said Stacey Benjamin, who works at the Stettler Regional Board of Trade. There were over 100 booths at the trade show, and there were about 2,300 visitors to check out the exhibitors over the course of the weekend. Both numbers are slightly up from last year. Benjamin said the trade show gets exhibitors from Castor, Coronation, and Drumheller. “We like to have the trade show so that custom-
ers get to go around, see some new product that the businesses are offering for the year, and also a chance to visit with friends and family that they haven’t seen in awhile,” Benjamin said. There were a wide variety of things to see at the trade show, from jewelry to vacuum cleaners to hot tubs. But anyone could also have a booth to raise awareness or publicize different things – Clearview school board and County of Stettler both had booths, and there was also a booth
advertising the Relay for Life. There was also entertainment provided, such as face painting and a magician. And of course, the exhibitors got the chance to show off what they’re selling and talk to potential customers. “For the exhibitors, we’re hoping to have a lot of sales throughout the weekend,” Benjamin said. Carla McPherson of Fifth Avenue Collection hoped to book some parties and get some contacts
out of the trade show. The jewelry company is based out of Moose Jaw, Sask., though McPherson is from Stettler. She has also gone to trade shows in Edmonton and Red Deer. “The trade show is excellent, because you get to meet a lot of people,” she said. “This year it feels like it’s not as busy as last year, but there’s still been a pretty steady crowd all three days.” Hayley Leschert of Stettler’s Out of the Barrel Photography has only officially been in the photogra-
phy business since December, so it was important for her to show people that she existed. “Really, the biggest reason for it is that it’s a good way to show other people what I can do, and they can see my photos up and then have a chance to have a conversation with me about it,” she said. Customers Ken and Helen Smith said they enjoyed the booths – Ken’s favourite was the tractor display. “I like the senior one,” Helen said. “Just all of them, they’re interesting.”
Proposed change to ag pest act causing concern
ROBIN TARNOWETZKI/Independent reporter
Children took in the Against the Wall Theatre’s Calfskit at the Stettler Public Library on Saturday, April 12. Please see story on p. 8
More Independent . . . more often . . .
By Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye - Black Press Farmers across Alberta may have one more plant disease to worry about thanks to a proposed amendment to the Agricultural Pests Act through a private member’s bill, called Bill 201. The amendment suggests a cereal fungal disease called fusarium head blight, or Fusarium graminearum (Fg), should no longer be seen as a pest. The exact wording states: “…Fusarium head blight shall not be deemed to be a pest or nuisance unless it is found at a concentration of greater than 0.5 per cent in any plant, seed, crop, vegetation or other matter.” How does Fusarium graminearum (Fg) affect cereal crops? A quick Google search of Fg produces a Government of Alberta management plan on the disease. One issue states the disease can reduce yield and crop grade by producing damaged kernels. These damaged kernels may contain fungal toxins poisonous to
humans and livestock over a certain level. Estimated losses range from $50 million to $300 million annually for producers and Fg can now be found in portions of southern Alberta. In 1999 Fg was declared a pest to the act. Bill 201 would allow seed producers to sell contaminated grains to areas not affected with the disease. Jay Byer, assistant director of agricultural services for the County of Stettler, says that while seed growers have conducted research on breeding resistant barley and wheat , the new breed will still have small amounts of Fg. “All that breeding has been happening in places where you walk down the street and you pick up Fg. It’s totally endemic.” Under the current pest act, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development can allow seed with contamination of Fg under 0.5 per cent to be planted in areas with heavy infestation, not in clean farmland, said Byer. continued on page A11
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and at stettlerindependent.com