Nanton, Alta. grain elevators up for preservation award

Apr 18, 2024

A total of $65,000 is available in The Next Great Save Competition

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Three grain elevators in Alberta are finalists to receive a grant to support their preservation.

The buildings in Nanton at the Canadian Grain Elevator Discovery Centre, are among the candidates to receive a $50,000 grant from The Next Great Save Competition.

The competition, administered by the National Trust for Canada, a national charity, awards a total of $65,000 to communities.

In total, 12 sites across the country are up to receive financial support.

The second-place winner will receive $10,000 and $5,000 will go to third place.

Canadians are encouraged to vote for their favourite sites between April 18 and May 6.

The National Trust for Canada and Ecclesiastical Insurance will announce the winners on May 7.

Any winnings would be put towards multiple initiatives at the elevators.

“With your help we will be able to begin restoration and paint our two former Alberta Wheat Pool beauties,” Nanton’s competition webpage says. We are also working to ensure the property is secured and carry out several vital studies which are necessary to stabilize the structure.”

The elevators aren’t Alberta’s only entry into the competition.

The Roxy Theatre in Coleman is also a finalist for the grand prize grant.

The $50,000 would be used to “restore the classic lines of its historic facade, marquee, entry way doors and windows, aluminum and brick siding, and iconic Roxy neon sign,” the theatre’s page says.

The theatre has been closed since 2003 until the Crowsnest Cultural and Recreation Society purchased it in 2021.

The other Western Canadian site in the running for the grants is St. Andrew’s Lodge in Qualicum Beach, B.C

Video: A Farm Song (Busy) | Parody of A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey

Lyrics:

My days begin with workin’, Alarm’s at 5 o’clock,
I Fill 5 gallon buckets, The feeders and the troughs,
This five to nine ain’t workin’, why the heck do I work so hard?,
I can’t worry ‘bout health problems, I can sleep in when I’m gone,

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

I’ve been working pretty stressed but,
I ain’t changing for some cash,
Lord knows that I’m very blessed (More chores),
But I gotta say it’s hard,
Workin’ outside gettin’ charred,
Living out here on the farm, (more chores)

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history
There’s another 20 chickens that still need feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm getting’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Fun, here on ranch that’s what you can’t ignore,
Might be pretty hard but I love it to its core,
Flannel’s gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores (Tell ‘em sing with me)

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
Watching cattle in the dark, don’t miss me,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
(Yeeeeeehaw)
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
It’s the best bro, go get yourself a farm