The Province has told the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies (AAAS) the grant funding program will stay intact for 2017.

Tim Carson, CEO of AAAS, says they were given the news on September 26. The funding will stay at the $8.67 million as promised in the provincial budget.

"A lot of our ag societies had been calling weekly to find out what was happening. Obviously, all of the summer programs have been completed, and many of our ag societies rely on those dollars to insure that programming continues."

The 2017 grant money was expected to reach the agricultural societies in June, and they began to wonder if they'd ever see their usual funding.

Carson says, they had all kinds of support from local governments across Alberta during this time of uncertainty.

"Everything from the local municipalities to the local politicians all called to confirm what was happening, and what they might be able to do to assist with ensuring the ag societies had their continued support."

The Provincial Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Oneil Carlier, recognized the good works agricultural societies do in rural Alberta, which Carson thinks was one of the main drivers for the continued funding.

As for next year, Carson says they have received no word about future funding, but this is nothing new for the AAAS.

The provincial association will continue to advocate on behalf of their members to do their best in ensuring this funding continues.

 

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