Volume XVI-Issue 864
www.vermilionvoice.com
March 9, 2021
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Illuminate Your Marketing Strategy
Vermilion Tim Hortons Donates To KidSport
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Gas Bar
Volume XIX-Issue 994
www.vermilionvoice.com
September 19, 2023
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New Dirt Brings New Events To Town
From left Manager Rommel Mandocdoc, KidSport representative Derek Young, and Owner Greg Whitney. Photo Jerianne Bardoel
Barrel jackpot organizers Lindsey Westman, Ashley Kelts, and Carla in the announcers’ booth at the fairgrounds. and photos continued page 2 Lorna racing Hamilton a donation on March 5. Pocock The donation from Vermilion andVermilion surrounding areas;Articlegrant funding uponto $300 for children
Reporter was proceeds from the ‘Smile Cookie’ this isn’t possible without them.” He also under the age of 18 to cover registraCaylie Gnyra Tim Hortons owner Greg campaign The dirt that quietly its debut at reach its his full staff potential the dirt itself and its reguVermilion was made held from Septemthanked for allfor theequestrian hard work this tionproject: and/or equipment costs. Eligibility is Reporter the Vermilion Fair this summer. It was performances. lar maintenance. Whitney along with manager Rommel ber 14-20, 2020. The presentation was they put into the campaign. based on the total income and number all of this,” useddue at the Alberta and HighWhitney School Jared’s brother Jason owns ofFirst, theper original dirt was scraped M a“The n d o cdirt d o cstarted p r e s e nte d K i d S psays o r t- next delayed to COVID KidSport Vermilion has Harder been operatpersons household,” commented Nicole Templeton, Of fice Manager which was for held fair- OCD thwor company based and then replaced: the base layer is Vermilion representative Derek Young Rodeo, said, “I was thankful all at thethe support ing forEar more thanx,15a years and provides Young. of the Vermilion Agricultural Society. grounds September 3–4 and attracted out of Carstairs whose slogan is “Dirt now a silty clay material, while the “Horse people won’t do anything with- over 30 0 kids and their parents to m at te r s .” K n o w n a c r o s s We s te r n top two inches consist of five-millimeout good dirt,” she attests. Ve r m i l i o n f o r t h e w e e k e n d . T h i s Canada as “THE dirt work guy,” Jason ter screened sand. When mixed with Ashley Kelts, Carla Pocock, and rodeo—the first held on the grounds had developed a passion for safe moisture, they create a texture that Lindsay Westman have been busy in about 30 years—was organized by and fast footing after seeing arenas holds shape and creates safe footorganizing four consecutive weekly Lori and Jared Harder, owners of the across the province up close with his ing for all equine contestants. Hard barrel racing jackpots at the Vermil- local clothing and tack shop Branded barrel racing daughter. He had been ground can create slippage that is ion Agricultural Society’s fairgrounds Western Wear. approached years ago to build some dangerous to both horses and riders; for the Alberta Barrel Racing AssociT h e H ar d er s h ave b e e n i n s t r u - equestrian arenas and saw a need for with moisture, there is cushion, which ation (ABRA). The first jackpot, held mental in bringing new dirt into the safer ground, recognizing a niche to is much safer for horses’ joints and September 6, was the third event to grounds. With kids in rodeo, the Hard- be filled. He even went to “dirt school” tendons, and traction, which leads to test out the new dirt—an investment ers had visited riding arenas across in Florida in 2017, where he learned faster race times. that the Agricultural Society is hoping Alberta and knew that Vermilion’s fair- the intricacies of riding arenas’ mateThe second aspect of the dirt work will pay off in attracting new events grounds had some of the best event rials and maintenance. is its ongoing maintenance. Doug and visitors to the town. This $60,000 infrastru c ture around, but that its T h e A g r i c u l t u r a l S o c i e t y h i r e d Stewar t expressed his gratitude on ground improvement project received dirt was an issue. They approached Jason to consult on this project, and behalf of the Agricultural Society to g enerou s c o m munit y su p p or t , for the Agricultural Society with visions the work was completed just days Lakeland College for providing access which the Agricultural Society extends of hosting events, but explained that before the Vermilion Fair this summer. to the right equipment to maintain the its sincerest appreciation. the ground needed to be replaced to There are two main components of dirt. Continued on page 2