ST. PAUL - The St. Paul AG Society is grappling with increased costs associated with hosting the Lakeland Rodeo Association (LRA) finals, and is unsure of what the future may hold for the landmark event.
During a delegation on Feb. 13 with Town of St. Paul council, St. Paul AG Society president Andre Chamberland offered information to council about current negotiations that are taking place between the long-running agricultural society and the Lakeland Rodeo Association. While it typically costs just over $100,000 for the ag society to host the rodeo finals in St. Paul, that number is expected to increase by at least $16,000, as per the current negotiations.
In addition, the Town of St. Paul has changed its policy around facility rentals and rather than offering town facilities free of charge to non-profit organizations, the municipality is hoping to operate at a break-even and charge 50 per cent of the regular rental costs. This increases the costs to host to rodeo to about $135,000, according to Chamberland.
He also noted that over the years, the ag society has done a lot of work at the Clancy Richard Arena, and there is a long list of non-profit organizations that benefit from the rodeo being hosted in St. Paul.
"We don't ask for a lot of money, but we're starting to have a hard time making this work," said Chamberland, as he spoke about the increased costs. "We're just not adding up our budgets." Speaking alongside Chamberland were fellow ag society members Colette Labrie, Brian Pederson and Clem Corbiere.
Mayor Maureen Miller acknowledged that with the changes that have been made with facility rentals and community grants, there will be "mistakes and challenges" that come up. "We hear you," she said, adding, council needs to be sure it is balancing the needs of the community.
During the delegation, the rodeo in St. Paul was described as one of the biggest events the town hosts annually. It was also noted that the LRA finals specifically are seen as a premier finals rodeo event across the wider rodeo community.
Town of St. Paul CAO Steven Jeffery noted that while the Town would like to see the rodeo continue to be held in St. Paul, the municipality is not immune from costs associated with hosting the event, specifically around the time and labour involved in getting the Clancy Richard Arena ready.
The topic will be brought back to council's next regular meeting, with the AG Society requesting facility rental fees be waived, as was done in the past.
"The rodeo is important to us as well," said Miller, adding, "We're all in it together."
High school rodeo
Concerns that Chamberland hopes can be dealt with sooner rather than later also surround the high school rodeo being hosted in St. Paul in April at the AG Corral. The event takes place from April 21 to 23, which happens to be the same weekend the RCMP Regimental Ball is set to take place at the St. Paul Rec. Centre.
The issues expressed by the ag society deal with parking throughout the weekend. Typically, rodeo competitors park throughout much of the area that stretches along the two arenas and toward the Rec. Centre. With hundreds of people expected to attend the regimental ball, Chamberland says the ag society is concerned there will be issues with so many vehicles in the area.
Following the discussion, Town of St. Paul administration was directed to look at the parking arrangements for that specific weekend.
