Organizers of the Horticulture Show at the Bentley Fair and Rodeo indicated entries were up in the fruit and vegetable categories this year, about the same in the flower classes, but down from junior aged entrants.
Winners were announced at the awards presentations at the Bentley Curling Rink on August 8.
Winning the Best Dressed Bentley Town Yard Overall award from among those nominated was the yard of Niel Rietema.
Best Front Yard went to Lorna Landry, and Best Back Yard to Harry and Georgina Hutchison.
Donor of the above awards was the family of Florence Peterson in her memory.
Winning the Wilson’s Funeral Chapel Floral Table Centerpiece was Sandy Turnbull.
Winning the Drost Seed Potatoes Floral Arrangement depicting the current theme “Celebrating Community” was also Sandy Turnbull.
She also won the Ed Jahraus Basket Arrangement for tribute to the Farmer’s Market and the Floral Garden Creations (Leslie and Bill Garries) basket arrangement for Tribute to the Rodeo.
Dell Collins won Best Rhubarb that was donated by Leonard and Gail Skjonsberg in memory of Herb Stevenson.
There was no entry in the Junior Best Bouquet of Wild Flowers with donors Keith and Ena Boot.
The Judge’s Choice Best Flower of the Show rosette was described as the most perfect rose you could have and it was displayed in a rose bowl. Some of the designated ‘special prizes’ were not awarded, as there were not enough qualifiers.
The Horticulture Show convener was Ena Boot who had help from Kathy Platinga, and Beth and Allen Lipon. Judge was again Martha Krause from Bluffton.
Local horseshoe tourney one of best attended
The Bentley Horseshoe Club’s annual fair horseshoe tournament remains one of the best attended in the whole province and this year was no different as two players from B.C. even attended.
Although attendance was down slightly, it appears that participation throughout the entire province is on a decline. Diminishing numbers are being attributed to the high price of fuel and travel to attend the different venues hosting tournaments, and the increase in the age of players.
Wonderful financial support from donors/sponsors adds to the prize money for placing first in each class at Bentley. As well this year, the local horseshoe club added extra prize money to go along with the top prizes.
Results of those who placed in the prize money from the Bentley tournament were:
For Singles play on Saturday, Aug. 9:
Men’s 40-foot “A” - 1st Allan Boettger of Bentley, 2nd Scotty Miller.
Mixed “A” - 1st Bill Hinds of Alsike in a playoff with 2nd place player Jane Cordingley, 3rd Myrna Kissick.
Mixed “B” - 1st Don Cookson of Lougheed in a playoff over Theresa Laforce, 3rd Don Courville, 4th Hilda Brubaker.
Mixed “C” - 1st Shirley Langmaid of Red Deer, 2nd John Paley, 3rd Bob Peterson.
Mixed “D” - 1st Ken Miller of Bentley, 2nd Evans Carson, 3rd Roger Laforce.
Mixed “E” - 1st Arnold Kubista of Bentley, 2nd Len Tabler, 3rd Ben Fecho, 4th Eric Befus (a junior player).
Results of Mixed Doubles play on Sunday, August 10:
1st: the team of Bill Hinds and Arnold Kubista, 2nd: Don Cookson and Ken Miller, 3rd: Don Courville and Len Tabler, 4th: Archie Radowitz and Larry Kubbernus.
All agree that the Bentley facility is one of the finest outdoor facilities in the province and participants enjoy the added events going on during the fair and rodeo that they can attend and partake in.