Hello, Diamond Valley. Well what a glorious summer it’s been so far. You have until August 31st to get your tickets for the Foothills Search and Rescue Summer 50/50 draw. The draw date will be September 1st. Foothills Search and Rescue provides responses to wilderness emergencies and disaster response assistance across Alberta. The organization needs updated rescue equipment, vehicles, rope gear, and other items to best support Albertans. To get your tickets please go to FoothillsSearchandRescue.ca.
It’s Alberta Open Farm Days on August 16 and 17. This event brings Albertans together through educational and experimental agricultural based initiatives to learn about where your food comes from. The 2025 theme is Water, the Lifeblood of Every Farm. It’ s a hands on experience where you can do almost anything there is to do on a farm or ranch, and there’s a list of open farms on Alberta Open Farm Days.com. Some in our area include the Priddis/Millarville Fair, the Hartell Homestead, and the OH Ranch Calgary Stampede.
The 118th annual Priddis/Millarville Fair will be held on August 16 and 17 at the Millarville Racetrack. I went last year and had the best time. We walked through the Farmer’s Market, saw a tractor pull, a pie and watermelon eating contest, a llama obstacle course, owls, hawks, dogs, rodeo, and so much more. I highly recommend this amazing weekend for the whole family. Admission is free with donations welcome. Visit the Racetrack’s website for a full schedule of events.
Music Festival anyone? The Southern Alberta Music Festival in support of STARS Air Ambulance is on for August 8 and 9 at the Aspen Crossing. Some of the line-up includes our favorite Travelling Mabels, the Shannon Smith Band, Mark Parsons, Brettyn Rose, and much more. Lots to see and do, and camping is available. Also available are volunteer and sponsorship opportunities. For more info or tickets, email info@aspencrossing.com or call 403-534-2129, or you can go to the website.
Another great show coming up is the Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, they are called Fleetwood Magic, and they will be playing at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks on August 23. Amazing local musician Brettyn Rose and others will be opening for them, she is also the long time Okotoks Dawgs anthem singer. For tickets and more info go to dawgsbaseball.ca.
Did you know that Longview has a Farmer’s Market? I happened to be in Longview the other Saturday and they had a good amount of vendors and lots of good fresh produce. Other vendors included pet portraits, pies, jewelry, baked goods, and buskers. The Market runs Saturdays from 9-3, and is located across from the Longview Elementary School.
The Bar U Ranch is located about 15 minutes south of Longview, and they host the Pekisko Creek Western Market on August 17 from 10-5. Also on that day is their annual Old Time Ranch Rodeo, which is really fun to watch. The Bar U is a historic dedicated working ranch, sort of like a smaller version of Heritage Park in Calgary, and a really nice way to spend a day. For more information, go to parks. canada.ca/baru.
Did you know that our own Sheep River Library offers rentals of equipment and items you can take home and use? You can rent bicycles and helmets, pedometers, hiking poles, snowshoes and poles, telescopes, Nature Explorer Backpacks for all ages, puzzles, tools, a Grab and Go Bags on a variety of topics. It’s not just books anymore at the Library! And in use for the Library, they have board games, microphones and audio recording equipment, piano and other instruments, children’s toys and puppets, and walkers for mobility. Find out more by popping by our beautiful Library located on Main Street in Turner Valley.
If you end up borrowing hiking equipment, you could try out the Sandy McNabb trail for a short and easy 1.5 km. hike. This hike curves through forest and wetlands to a Sheep River valley viewpoint. Benches at the viewpoint invite viewers to a panoramic scene. Alexander “Sandy” McNabb was a noted horse trainer when he arrived in Turner Valley during the 1913-15 oil boom and began working for the Royalite Oil Company. This native of Scotland also loved fishing and spent man of his days off riding the rutted road west from Turner Valley to his favorite fishing hole on the Sheep River. He also distributed food to Royalite’s unemployed during the hungry 30s. He also was a founding member of the Turner Valley Fish and Game Club.
Any news or event for September, please drop me a line before August 15 at elaine.w@telus.net.
Hope you enjoy the rest of the summer!
Elaine Wansleeben
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