The Cattlemen's Golf Classic is returning to the Killarney Golf Course in early August, this to raise funds and awareness for the Manitoba Livestock Marketing Association (MLMA) who hosts the event.
The August 3rd event is the largest fundraiser for the MLMA, drawing 180+ golfers together from across Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan. There's a waiting list to join the golfing portion of the event as it sells out every year!
The Cattlemen's Golf Classic started out as a fun event for a group of cattle-buyers to just enjoy a round of golf before the fall-run, says Rick Wright, MLMA Administrator. "As it progressed, we had more people wanting to come with us and we ended up making it a big tournament, and it's now become the major fundraiser for the MLMA."
Proceeds are allocated out in a few different ways. Last year the group donated $4000 to the Killarney golf club towards new pumps for the watering system. In recognition of the great sponsorship from the Boissevain area, they donated $1000 to the Boissevain Golf Club, used to purchase a new fertilizer spreader.
The remainder of the profits go directly back into the livestock industry for educational meetings for cattle producers on market projects and lobby efforts on behalf of the livestock industry - on issues such as traceability, transportation, animal welfare and employee health and welfare.
Wright says they've been hosting the event for over 25 years on different golf courses such as Virden, Shilo and Oak Island, but needed to move the event to a larger course to accommodate the increase in enthusiasm.
"We're extremely happy that we have a strong group of volunteers from the area and Killarney, they come and support the tournament by working at it, and our sponsorship support from Boissevain, Killarney and southwest Manitoba has been just incredible over the past few years," he notes.
"We will be serving about 240 people for supper after the golf tournament," adds Wright. "We have a number of sponsors and non-golfers who come and support us by coming for the supper and attending the auction sale that evening, so it's a big event!"