North Peace ranchers are eagerly awaiting the return of their annual banquet and dance fundraiser in February.
The Feb. 25 dinner is the first time the North Peace Cattlemen’s Association has been able to host the event since the Covid-19 pandemic, and organizers say planning is going super and tickets selling fast.
“It always was a good time to get out, have some fun, and visit with your neighbours in the winter time,” says association president Renee Ardill. “It’s been going on for years, Covid took all that away from us because we couldn’t go anywhere or see anybody. I think people are ready to get out and do something again.”
Proceeds from the fundraiser go directly back into the association, which hosts information events throughout the year for local cattle producers and is a substantial supporter of North Peace 4-H.
Importantly, the association gives members a voice at the provincial level through the B.C. Cattlemen and the federal level through the Canadian Cattlemen associations.
“The economy is tough right now,” says Ardill. “We got a better price this fall for our calves than we have for quite awhile, which sounds goods, that makes everybody happy. But how much did fuel go up? How much is equipment now?”
Ardill says farm commodities prices have not kept up with the price of production, and though grocery stores, packing plants, and supply chains are making healthy profits from rising prices, farmers and producers aren’t seeing it in turn.
“If people don’t smarten up and realize this, and government has a role to play in this, they’re going to be in seriously trouble because people can’t keep doing it,” Ardill says. "There's only so many things you can do to cut back and people have cut back to the point where there isn’t much more cutting back to be done."
Doors open for the dinner and dance at 6 p.m. at the Pomeroy Hotel, and includes music by Debbie Butler and Brian Collins, as well as Country Horizon Sounds. There will be a live and silent auction, as well as a midnight lunch.
“I hope that we have a good turnout, I hope that people will come and enjoy themselves,” said Ardill. “It doesn’t have to be cattlemen, it’s open to anybody. It’s always been a good event, it usually sells out, and it’s just usually a lot of fun.”
Tickets can be purchased at 8 Seconds Western Wear or by calling Braden Sutherland at 250-261-9166.
For more info, check out the Cattlemen’s advertisement in the Feb. 3 edition of the Northern Horizon, and check out their Facebook page.
