Claresholm town council supports bench show

By Rob Vogt
Claresholm town council will support the Claresholm and District Bench Show with advertising in the bench show catalogue of $170 and awards of $600 for the 2026 and 2027 bench shows.
The decision came at council’s March 23 meeting, after they reviewed correspondence from the Claresholm and District Fair Board.
In previous years, the town sponsored the following cash award(s) each year:
• Town of Claresholm Cash Award, $50, first adult, Class 1, commercial gardens.
• Town of Claresholm Cash Award, $50, first adult, Class 2, container/balcony gardens.
• Town of Claresholm Cash Award, $50, first adult, Class 3, rural/acreage home grounds.
• Town of Claresholm Cash Award, $50, first adult, Class 4, rural vegetable garden.
• Town of Claresholm Cash Award, $50, first adult, Class 5, town home grounds.
• Town of Claresholm Cash Award, $50, first adult, Class 6, town vegetable gardens.
The total is $600 for the next two years.
The town also purchased a full-page ad in the bench show catalogue for $170.
Coun. David Knox said he wanted to support the event but noted the cost of policing and education property tax is increasing.
He observed council was considering several requests for funding at that same meeting and wondered if these groups could focus on canvassing businesses.
Knox said the town supporting these events means tax payers are supporting these events.
“We have to re-think what we’re doing as far as donations go,” he said.
Coun. Kandice Meister said she is a local business owner and did donate to this event.
She also pointed out the town has a budget they set out every year for donations and this request and the others is within it.
In the end, council voted unanimously to support the bench show.
This year’s bench show will take place on Friday night, Aug. 7 and Saturday, Aug. 8 at a venue that is yet to be determined.
The bench show is an opportunity every year, during Fair Days weekend in August, for people to enter their best baking, art, crafts, photography, and much more in various categories to be judged and prizes awarded.
The categories are outlined in a catalogue which will be available at select locations around town as well as on the town’s website.