Photo/article submitted by Holly Trenson
In mid-July 4-H exchange delegates and chaperones traveled from Thorndale, Ont. to join families from the Bluffton 4-H Club to experience what life is like in Alberta.
While here the visiting group attended the Calgary Stampede, toured the Rimbey Gas Plant, watched Rimbey’s Shoot-out, had a wagon ride driven by the Beelby family, attended a four-day camping trip to Jasper which included white water rafting, horseback riding, soaking in the hot springs, and a tour of the ice fields. Wonderment from the Thorndale counterparts was what were those big yellow fields - as canola is typically not grown in Ontario.
The beginning of August found Bluffton 4-H members flying to Ontario for the Thorndale Club to be their hosts. The 10 days were packed full of activities including a trip to Toronto to tour the CN Tower and attend a Blue Jays baseball game, a visit to Niagara Falls for a ride on the Maid of the Mist as well as a stop at the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum. The members also attended the Stratford Festival and experienced a drive-in movie as well as many pool/beach parties, which helped beat the heat.
Of note, the Bluffton group found that the weather in Ontario is a lot warmer and much more humid than Alberta.
These young 4-H members have experienced parts of our amazing country this summer and their involvement in this unique exchange of learning and making friends will undoubtedly stay with them for many years to come.