The Cochrane & District Agricultural Society grounds are here to stay, for now.
After a yearlong process of Rocky View County (RVC) seeking a buyer for the 145-acre parcel of county-owned land, located within the Town of Cochrane, the county determined that no offers for the land met conditions RVC was willing to accept.
The deadline for request for proposals from potential purchasers was in June but county officials never released the number of proposals or who sent proposals.
“All things considered – I am very pleased with the outcome because at least this ends what could have been a worrisome outcome for many people,” said Jerry Arshinoff, Rocky View County division two councillor.
The decision to explore other options for the land was decided in January after the county denied a 50-year lease proposal from the society.
The society announced in March that it supported the request for proposals as long as three conditions were met: a replacement property of 120 acres or more is secured; the new location of the land would be in relative proximity to the current site and be able to continue serving users and user groups; and sufficient funds were in place to replace and rebuild all of the current Ag Society facilities on another piece of land.
According to the official motion passed by RVC on Tuesday, the county is “committed to working with the Cochrane and District Agricultural Society to ensure the society’s long-term success. The county has provided funding to assist the CDAS in developing a needs assessment, business case, and facility development strategy.”
“Obviously I’m still absorbing what this means for the Cochrane and District Ag Society, I don’t know that council’s vision or support or direction for the ag society has necessarily changed,” said Justin Burwash, society president.
“I don’t know that this changes our direction or future of the ag society … the exact path forward isn’t as clear as it was.”
The land is leased to the society until Feb. 15, 2025.
