Some capital expenses and a couple of events that had lower-than expected attendance caused the Estevan Exhibition Association (EEA) to suffer a deficit in 2015.
The EEA finished the year with a deficit of about $36,000, according to financial statements released during the organization鈥檚 annual general meeting (AGM) on Jan. 27. Past-president Chad Ross said the capital improvements have been needed for some time, but were accelerated because the EEA will be the site of the equestrian events when Estevan hosts the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games in July.
The renovations included tinning the horse barns, fixing the outside stalls, painting the outside storage building, and improving the booths for the ticket window, the rodeo announcer and the horse arena announcer. The bathrooms for the EEA鈥檚 hall were also upgraded, and the doors were replaced.聽
鈥淲e鈥檙e pleased that we鈥檒l host the Summer Games on the equine side,鈥� said Ross.聽
The total cost was between $40,000 and $50,000.
Ross believes they鈥檙e now in good shape to host the marquee sporting event. The grounds look better than they have in years.
They still need upgrades to their fencing and their campground, but those are big expenses, and so the EEA will delay them for the time being.聽
Lower attendance at the rodeo and the annual Rumble in the Dirt cabaret also hurt their financial results. In the case of the rodeo, a series of thunderstorms dropped 5 1/2 inches of rain on the Estevan area during the second day of the event in September, which caused many people to stay home. The EEA also didn鈥檛 charge admission to the rodeo the day of the storms.聽
The rodeo鈥檚 dates for 2016 could be moved into August. Ross believes it would be better for the competitors, and it would return the rodeo into the summer months. An exact date will be announced once they get approval from the Canadian
Cowboys Association.聽
The Rumble in the Dirt cabaret in June also had low attendance, and so the EEA lost money on that fundraiser, too. There was a lot happening in Estevan that night, and Ross believes the state of the local economy factored into the diminished interest, since people have less money to spend.聽
The EEA board will have to decide whether to continue with the long-running fundraiser.
鈥淚t does take a lot of volunteers and work, and to lose money on it, after all that work, is kind of tough,鈥� said Ross.聽
The organization wants to add some events to the annual fair in June to attract more people for the three-day show. Last year鈥檚 fair attracted nearly 8,000 people, but the only other added attractions were the annual domestics show and entertainment from local musician Riley Horton.
Ross said the board is discussing ways they can bring in more people.
鈥淭o have a viable fair and to keep our midway coming, you should attract the same amount of people as your population,鈥� said Ross. 鈥淪o our goal is around 12,000 people through our gate.鈥澛�
They would also need additional volunteers if they want to have that many people at the fair.聽
Byron Stepp was elected as the new president during the AGM. Ross will be the past-president, but will also serve as one of the vice-presidents. Graham Collie will be the other vice-president. Ken Stelnicki will be the treasurer.
