BARRHEAD - It looks like Agricultural Day is going to be one of the latest casualties of the coronavirus.
Agricultural Day or Gate to Plate is a program organized by the County of Barrhead. Its purpose is to show Grade 4 and 5 Barrhead Elementary School and Neerlandia Public Christian School students the wide variety of careers available in the agricultural industry.
The program, which has been running since 2013, is modelled after a similar program in Stony Plain called City Slickers. Its purpose is to introduce urban children to agriculture.
Unfortunately, County of Barrhead fieldman Kyle Meunier said due to the coronavirus this year the program is in jeopardy as schools are no longer going on field trips due to complications of transporting students and ensuring proper safeguards are in place off-site.
"Which is a little disappointing because my eldest child would have been a part of the tour this year," he said.
Although the Agricultural Service Board (ASB) is currently in the process of reevaluating its priorities, Meunier said it is doubtful the board or council will choose to cut the program.
The ASB's mandate is to serve as the voice of agriculture by advising and responding to issues of local, provincial, and national interest. At the Sept. 1, County of Barrhead council meeting councillors instructed administration to bring back a public engagement plan which would include an online survey asking county residents what direction they would like to see the ASB go.
The ASB board requested the survey to gauge public opinion as they make decisions on the direction of the organization. The ASB expects they will have to make difficult decisions in the coming years because of upcoming cuts in its provincial grant.
The province, in the 2020 budget, stated that it would be reducing the ASB Grant Program by $3,193,000. As a result, local ASBs expect to see an approximate $46,000 annual reduction in their funding over the next five years.
"I am sure [the ASB and council] will make sure the funding is in place because we want to keep doing it," Meunier said.
He is also hopeful that the program may be able to run this spring.
"If restrictions ease up, we could hold it in the spring and focus on seeding instead of our usual harvest," he said.
