By June Norvila
Some new entertainment is going to be included in the Bentley Town and Country Fair and Rodeo August 7-10 this year.
At the Bentley & District Agricultural Society meeting on July 10, it was confirmed that there are going so be some added events.
New this year is the Parkland Llama Show. It will take place in the Bentley Arena Saturday, August 9 starting at 10 a.m. It is free of charge for spectators. The Red Deer club hosted event was considering a new venue and the Bentley Ag Society offered them a time and a place. They have many of their own major sponsors.
A mini model air show, organized and run by the Central Alberta Radio Fun Flyers (CARFF) out of Red Deer, will make its first ever appearance. Remote controlled planes and helicopters will take to the sky across the ball diamonds behind the Ag Centre on Sunday, August 10. There will be no admission fee to the show. It is suggested that people bring lawn chairs. There will be some bleacher seating. The show will run from 1-3 p.m. weather permitting.
A local soccer group has organized a youth soccer exhibition behind the Bentley Elementary School on Thursday, August 7 starting at 3 p.m. and running a couple of hours. Some local youth players will be involved and some outside teams have been invited to participate.
After a brief absence from the fair, the stock dogs are returning. The free show will go Thursday evening in the arena. The dogs and their handlers will be timed as they maneuver sheep through a set course and into a small pen.
A full extra day has been added to the Medicine Hills Arts Festival show and sale. It will now be open in the Bentley Ag Centre all four days of the fair with a Sunday opening added.
Individual school entries will be accepted into the bench show exhibits for the first time. There is no entry fee and prizes are ribbons only (no cash). In the past, only entries collected and entered from schools were accepted. This year individual student entries will be accepted at the Bentley Curling Rink the day the displays are being set up, Tuesday, August 5, until 3 p.m. Entries must labeled with the student’s name, grade, and teacher, and fit into one of the designated categories.
There is a new group organizing the rodeo held inside the arena this year, so people can expect some changes there. The times of the evening performances remain the same - Friday and Saturday evenings starting at 6 p.m. A beer garden has been added. The rodeo dance, sponsored by the Bentley Generals, goes on Saturday night.
Two events will be missing from this year’s line up. The Junior Rodeo, normally staged on the Friday of the fair, will not go this year. There were some mix ups last year due to poor grounds, inclement weather, and the need for last minute cancellation of some of the timed events last years coordinators said, and with the new organizing rodeo committee this year, time ran out to organize the junior rodeo. The event may return next year or could reappear in a slightly different format.
The reptile and exotic insect display held at the local municipal library the past few years will be absent due to library renovations, new library staff, and lack of help for the exhibitor herself this year.
The now well-renowned double-feature drive-in movie shown on the side of the old grain elevator, and the fireworks display, both held on Saturday evening, will remain.
Overall, the four days of family fun will have something for everyone’s interest, whether it be show vehicles, parade, children’s fun, pancake breakfasts, horse show, sports, established farmers’ market, and more.