A long-time Nanton tradition is starting to lose traction and the Nanton Curling Club is hoping to turn it around.

The annual Nanton Meatspiel runs March 30 to April 2 but so far only 28 teams have signed up for the event which awards meat, instead of cash prizes.

For the last 35 years the year-end curling has taken over the whole Tom Hornecker Rec Centre turning the skating rink into curling ice so they have nine rinks available for the event.

Doug McDonald, president of the Curling Club, said 64 teams would be perfect, but that probably isn't going to happen.

"It was a few years ago since we did that," said McDonald. "It's a sign of the times economically."

The last couple of years attendance has dropped off about 40 teams.

There are beef prizes for 1st and 2nd in each division and Meadow Creek meat packages for 3rd and 4th.

"It is a $160 chunk of meat, a striploin, so you can cut it into steaks or roasts."

The club is hoping to get 32 or 36 teams, To sign up call McDonald at 1-403-312-9487.