Starland County continues to lead the way with its farm solar initiative and last week, its Municipal Planning Commission approved 10 solar installations.

The county has been a pioneer in the industry, first by adding the technology to it own facilities, and then working on a template to facilitate farms and ranches to install solar arrays to generate power, offset power bills and reduce their environmental impact.

CAO Ross Rawlusyk said recently a number of county residents were able to take advantage a program offered by Enmax to facilitate the installation of the arrays.

“We were in the right place at the right time and we were able to get a lot of those installations,” said Rawlusyk. 

According to Al Hampton, one of the residents having an array installed, about 19 installations are happening in the county. He sees the potential of the technology.

“Number one is you are creating energy from the sun, doing something theoretically is probably a little more environmentally responsible,” he said. “You are creating energy and generating it into the system and getting paid for the production of it. So actually, over a set amount of time, there is a payback.  Also the cost of energy is likely to go up over time, and this should buffer that.”

Currently, Rawlusyk explains the programs are designed so that installations are “right sized” for the user, producing enough energy to offset their usage, but will not provide a substantial surplus to sell on to the grid. He hopes this will evolve.

“Any market needs definition. You have to know what the rules are and you have to predict with some certainty to justify your investment what you are going to get, whether it is power, or wheat for example. If that uncertainty is too high, that is probably a year you don’t seed wheat,” he said. 

“My biggest concern is that we have a fledging solar industry in Alberta, and the longer we wait to clarify these rules the more difficult it is to sustain those Alberta businesses. That could be my main concern, is we will lose the ability to deliver those programs once the certainty comes.” 

Rawlusyk sees potential in the technology.

“We have been using solar to reduce our electric charges for 10 years,” he said. “We don’t expect it, on an average day, to cover all of our power requirements, it reduces the amount of power we need to buy.”

Their program has expanded to other applications beyond the office.

“We did have one of the first in Alberta, application of solar for a pump house and it is working fabulously. In Verdant Valley we have a battery based solar back up for a water station. It has been kicking in several times, and our staff doesn’t even know it is doing it. It has run the plant for as long as 10 hours with no cost to us,” he said.  

Just as important as adopting new technology is to reduce the energy that you use.

“There is a good gain from that and it is relatively low hanging fruit. It is relatively cheap compared to a solar installation but there are many things you can do to take steps in that direction.”

The village of Big Valley has something to yahoo about. 

Twenty-two year old Saddle Bronc rider Zeke Thurston of Big Valley rode his way to the grand prize at the 2016 Calgary Stampede. 

What is even more extraordinary is that this is the second time Thurston has won the title, the first time being almost exactly one year ago.  

“To win a rodeo that big and to compete against the best, on the world’s best stock and to win it two years in a row, is crazy. It was awesome. You can’t ask for a better rodeo. There is a reason they call it the greatest outdoor show on earth,” says Thurston.

Not only is the Calgary Stampede one of the biggest rodeos in North America, it was also very close to home for Thurston. 

“You know, me being from Alberta, and to be considered a hometown boy is a really cool experience. It's cool to represent your country, especially on home soil. My family was there the whole time. I had lots of friends come out. Also my grandma, mom, dad, siblings, and my girlfriend came to watch, so I had a big entourage.”

Thurston was raised in the village of Big Valley and cannot remember a time when he wasn’t on a horse. 

“Both sides of my family have a strong rodeo background. My mom and dad both did it. My dad rode professionally for twenty-some years. He had a really successful career and rode in the National Finals, and in the Canadian Finals. So I just kind of grew up in it. I can’t remember learning to ride, I just grew up with it,” says Thurston. 

This year’s Calgary Stampede forecast called for one thing only, and that was rain. This caused the infield and track to become a muddy, sloppy mess for the cowboys and cowgirls of the stampede. 

“The conditions weren’t the best.  It was kinda nasty. You had to make sure to keep your equipment dry. Stay dry as best you can and stay on. Every horse is different. It doesn’t affect the cowboys as much as the horse.” 

In the Calgary Stampede finals, Thurston met his third match up with bucking horse Spring Planting, and left the audience in awe with an impressive 84.5 point ride winning the championship prize.  

“I knew she was going to do good, she has been around for a long time. She is an older horse but she is solid and dependable.” 

Thurston plans to continue competing in rodeos in the United States this summer, chasing after the grand prize. 

You can see Thurston competing in the upcoming Strathmore Stampede on July 29-31.