Ride-A-Thon participants gather at the rodeo grounds. (Photo Courtesy of Michelle Cowie)

By Chris Brown

In the saddle

Foremost gets behind indoor riding arena project

Oct 9, 2020 | 2:42 PM

FOREMOST, AB – The community of Foremost rode closer to its goal of a new indoor riding arena this afternoon.

The groups held a Ride-A-Thon from the proposed site of the new arena to the town’s current rodeo grounds.

Riders have been collecting pledges over the past couple of weeks. Foremost Ag Society treasurer Stacey Barrows says about $170,000 had been collected prior to the ride with more to come in and a silent auction to follow the ride.

Arena committee member Michelle Cowie says the entire community would benefit from the arena.

“It would be big right now for all of the students that are involved in high school rodeo. It’s really starting to take off and our numbers in the youth involved in rodeo are really starting to increase,” she said.

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The arena wouldn’t just be used by the rodeo community, adds Cowie. Machinery sales, Farm Safety Days and high school sports practices are some other ideas that have been kicked around for usage.

“Foremost is a pretty special community and we’re really proud of how the community has gotten behind us,” she said.

Barrows says the group had previously raised close to $400,000 toward the project before today’s Ride-A-Thon. The group aims to reach $750,000 and then apply for a grant from the provincial Community Facility Enhancement Program. The need to apply for that by June 2021.

The total cost of the arena is projected to be $1.5 million.