TRACK WATCH July 2021 MILLARVILLE RACING & AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OUR VISION: MILLARVILLE RACING & AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY IS DEDICATED TO BUILDING COMMUNITY SPIRIT. OUR MISSION: MILLARVILLE RACING & AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY PROVIDES AUTHENTIC FAMILY EXPERIENCES AND EXCEPTIONAL FACILITIES WHICH CELEBRATE OUR AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE, INSPIRING A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR OUR COMMUNITY OFFICE HOURS Starting June 15th Tuesday- Saturday, 10am – 2pm For all general inquires please email [email protected] and for all market related matters [email protected] www.millarvilleracetrack.com – 403.931.3411 Dear MRAS Members, I hope that you have had the opportunity to visit our Saturday farmer’s markets already, if not please join us from 9am to 2pm each Saturday until October. The first two markets were a great success. Thank you to Melonie and the market committee for all your hard work. We are looking for volunteers to help run the gate, which is by donation. If you are interested in volunteering at the market gate, please contact Colina Clark: [email protected] As we enter July and as the Provincial health restrictions reduce, we will be adding more vendors to the markets plus more picnic tables and musical accompaniments. We will also be re-opening the hall and quonset for meetings and rentals. After 16 months of virtual meetings, we are all looking forward to “physically” seeing each other again. We look forward to welcoming you back to your MRAS and seeing our facilities fully utilized again. Office opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 2pm from June 15th onwards. Jake Braconnier has returned and looks forward to being of assistance for any enquiries. For the campground, reduced restrictions will mean the provision of water and the allowance of tenting beginning in July. Thanks again to Brad and Sharon Ward, our campground hosts, for your support this season. There are still some spots available at the campsite this summer, you can book online at: https://www.campspot.com/book/millarvillecampground In June we enjoyed the first of our MRAS Cowboy Challenge fun days, a huge thanks to Sylvia Checkley and Hoagey Hill for arranging these. Our 6-year-old son Dominic had a wonderful time being a “real” cowboy for the afternoon! The photograph accompanying this letter shows Sylvia, Nancy, Dominic and myself after our cowboy challenge adventure. Please contact Nancy Seaman at [email protected] for all enquiries relating to riding memberships or equine bookings. On July 10th, the Honorable Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry will be coming to MRAS to present us with our innovation award. If you are interested, you can come and watch the presentation at 9:45am in the marketplace gazebo. A reminder that there will be no races on July 1st this year. Some dates for your calendar for the summer are: June 19 – October 9: Farmer’s Market, Saturdays 9am – 2pm August 6: Golf Tournament at Turner Valley Golf Course August 21 & 22: 114th Priddis & Millarville Fair September 10-12: Chuckwagon and Chariot Races Wishing you a wonderful summer, stay cool! Anna De Paoli President 2021 MRAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Anna De Paoli President Barb Parker Vice President Brent Foster Treasurer Patt Peterson Secretary Sylvia Checkley Director Colina Clark Director Darcie Jensen Director Brad Ward Director Nancy Seaman Director Lara Wiebe Director Roy Mathis Director Feedback for Executive Board [email protected] The MRAS is looking for 1 new volunteer Board of Director member. Preference will be given to those that can fill some of the specialty gaps we currently have such as IT or financial expertise (CPA or equivalent). If you are interested in joining the Board, please Are you looking for something do keep you busy? contact Anna De Paoli – MRAS President at Are you Social Media savvy? Millarville Racing & Ag Society, along with the Millarville Farmers’ [email protected] Market and The Priddis & Millarville Fair are looking for a volunteer to help us with the 2021 season of event and facility social media! If you are interested, please contact Melonie at [email protected] or call 403-988-4142 Millarville Campground Reservations The Millarville Racing & Agricultural Society is excited to announce the launch of our new campground booking software! Our Island and Creekside campgrounds have 37 un-serviced, single and group, well-treed sites for your camping pleasure. We are located at 306097 - 192 St W, Millarville, AB Please visit www.millarviileracetrack.com, select the campground tab to book your sites. Monday thru Thursday sites are $23/day/unit and there are still lots left to reserve! We look forward to seeing you at the Millarville Campground this season! EUGENE JOSEPH KIERAN Submitted by Gene Blakley Millarville Historical Society E. J. Kieran along with daughter Mollie, arrived in Calgary in 1890 from Limerick, Ireland. His wife, Mary Russell had passed away. Originally, they homesteaded in the Pine Creek District but unable to find water they gave up that quarter and moved one mile south to again homestead. This quarter had two lovely springs, so they built a log house and named it Glendale Ranch. The logs for the three-room house were hauled in by teams, three logs at a time. In 1892, son John Russel arrived and joined his father. J. R. homesteaded NW27-21-2-W5. He became known as “Little Johny” and he became the local safety deposit box for the remittance men. They would receive their pittance from home and leave a small amount with Johnny so they could not go “bust.” E.J. “Sam” Kieran (left) and W.H. “Billie” Cochrane holding horse, Eunice at Millarville Races. E.J. purchased this mare for $45. Eunice won 60 races at various distances at meets from Winnipeg to the Okanogan. In Calgary, Eunice won 2 races with only 8 minutes between events. E. J. was known as “Sam” all his life and he raised some exceptionally good Thoroughbreds. In 1910 he sold out to Johnny and returned to Ireland. But he returned within three months. He was one of the founders of the Millarville Races in 1905 and he remained an active member of that organization until 1935. His son, Johny, became President of Millarville Race Club, 1936- 1948, after his father retired. Johnny married Audrey “Mikie” Griffin in 1929 at age of 52 years. Interesting as he had promised this marriage since she was three years old. Johnny looked after his day until he passed away in 1938 at age 93. Johnny was councillor for twenty-one years. In 1952 Johnny sold out and moved to Victoria until he died in 1964 at the age 87. Not much has changed since then but having a good supply of water is imperative or you do not have a good place. Read more historical articles on Facebook - Millarville Historical Society or email us millarvillehistorical [email protected] if you have photos, information, or questions. 7th Annual MRAS (Millarville Racing & Agricultural Society) Golf Tournament at the Turner Valley Golf Club Let this be your post-COVID celebration with outdoor fun for you and friends and family! Date: FRIDAY, August 6th, 2021 Golf format: 18-hole Texas scramble 8:00 am check in 9:00 am shotgun start Cost: $150.00 per individual player, $550.00 per 4-person team if registered as a team. All prices include power carts and GST. Includes lunch - your choice of Steak, Chicken, or Vegetarian Get to the course early to have some coffee, and warm up your swing on the driving range. Participants to convene in the Clubhouse Tournament Room following the round for lunch, refreshments, as well as team hole and door prizes. A Silent Auction will be held online in support of this fundraiser for all golf registrants. Watch for further news on this on the MRAS website. Donations are welcome. All the money raised from this year’s tournament will help with programs and projects at the MRAS facilities. If you are not familiar with the Millarville Racing & Agricultural Society, please come a visit us at the summer Farmer’s Market, the Annual Fair and other events which are listed on our website. Your sponsorship, donations to the silent auction and most of all your participation in the golf tournament will help us reach our fundraising goals. For more information and registration: Check out the MRAS website at millarvilleracetrack.com → Events → Golf Tournament Call the office at 403.931.3411 Email [email protected] Hope to see you at Turner Valley on August 6 for a day of golf and fun! NEW LISTING 274126 304 STREET WEST This mountain view is the biggest you will ever see! Totally private 59 acres of trees, open meadows and wildflowers surrounds this easy living walkout bungalow home complete with guest house and second garage. Every room commands a stunning view but the year round sunroom with its views and south exposure will captivate you. $1,589,000 NEW LISTING 10 -176142 HWY 549 WEST SPOONER PLACE RANCH. 2470 acres ( 4 sections). This historic ranch, originally known as Ardmore, was purchased by the Spooner family in 1928 and sold to the Cross family (current owners) in 1964. It enjoys a privileged close in location on the north side of HWY 549 across from the Millarville Race Track and Farmer's Market and just 2 miles south of the Cross Conservation Area. The three contiguous sections, 17, 18 and 19 form a block of some of the prettiest land ever with stunning foothills and Rocky Mountain views. View "Spooner Place Ranch" youtube video for a full tour. Call for details Millarville Horticultural Club ([email protected]) Meetings are held at the Millarville Anglican Church House on the second Tuesday of the month, September to May, usually at 7:30 p.m.