Strathmore

Local musician Drew Gregory is hitting the Country Thunder stage this weekend.

The weekend-long music festival takes place in Calgary and features tons of talent, including:

Real Canadian Wrestling is bringing the ring back to Strathmore next month.

The Fall Brawl will be at the Strathmore Ag Pavilion on Sept. 19 and feature former WWE Superstar Paul London.

"The show is sort of the start of a fan expo weekend. We've got the AG pavilion booked for the entire weekend," said local wrestler Steve Wilde.

During the weekend, a wrestling camp will also be taking place.

Harvest time is just around the corner with some producers already started and there are many things to keep in mind before harvest to ensure your grain can be sold into any market. Before applying pesticides as a pre harvest application, always understand the label and be aware of any restrictions that may affect the marketability of your grain.

The Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Eleanor Olszewski was in Saskatchewan earlier this week for two key announcements, including $4.2 million for the province's ag sector. 

"By building on Saskatchewan’s many strengths and investing in them, we’re helping create good jobs and grow one strong Canadian economy."

This week, Alberta farmers learned more about the $5.2 million in funding planned for the province's two crop diversification centres.

Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation RJ Sigurdson says the province's farmers directly benefit from the work being done at CDC North near Edmonton, and CDC South near Brooks.

The funding supports upgrades and replacements to greenhouses, labs, and administrative buildings at both sites, as well as research essentials such as seed, fertilizer, and pesticides.  

Alberta Beef Producers have decided to withdraw from the Canadian Cattle Association.

Board Chair Doug Roxburgh says they've been talking with the organization about their concerns for years regarding governance and fiscal transparency.

He notes over the past five years there's been some discussion going on around the move, noting the final decision came following extensive deliberation and strategic review.

The Alberta government is awarding grants to support the mental health and learning needs of First Nations students in reserve schools.

A total of $4.6 million in funding will be distributed among 27 First Nations, including the Siksika Board of Education, to enhance classroom supports and improve access to mental health resources for kindergarten to Grade 12 students during the 2025-26 school year. 

The funding is a part of the province's effort to address long-standing mental health and educational disparities among Indigenous youth.

Langdon is gathering feedback from residents on the possibility of launching an indoor soccer program. 

The town has released a public survey for parents to share their input. The deadline to respond is Friday (Aug. 15). 

The hailstorm that briefly hit Chestermere in July caused close to $92 million in insured damage.

The estimated cost comes from the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), with damage to vehicles representing 65 per cent of all claims. 

Although neighbourhoods like Strathmore were unaffected by the storm, many of the insurance claims came from the Calgary area. 

The Alberta Open Farm Days returns for its 13th annual edition. 

On Saturday (Aug. 16) and Sunday, farms across the province will open up their gates to the public. Wheatland County participants include Field Stone Fruit Wines and Eagle Lake Nurseries.

Throughout the weekend, Field Stone Fruit Wines will offer guided tours of its 50-acre orchard. Guests can sample wines and speak directly with the winery's growers and winemakers to learn more about the wine-making process. 

The raspberry U-Pick is also ongoing and will be available to visitors over the weekend.