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Lisa Olson
A Taste of BC Agriculture
Food producers will enjoy their just desserts at the 2014 BC Agriculture Council Gala on January 29 in Abbotsford.
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BC Agri-Food Industry Gala 2014
There are just a few weeks left to get your tickets to the Agri-Food Industry Gala, BC’s annual celebration of the best in farm food products.
The event is always a sellout, and this year tickets will go fast as this is also the centennial celebration for the 4H Club in BC.
“There are two things happening this year that are a bit different,” says Reg Ens, executive director of the BC Agriculture Council. “The first and most important is that this is the kickoff the 100 Years of 4H in BC, so we’ll have one of their ambassadors here talking about that.
“As well, we see the need for something like the 4H Club as just huge, and we want to make sure all the alumni in our group connect with them, so there will be a kickoff fundraiser at our event as well.”
Ens says the 4H ambassador will take the place of the normal keynote speaker, and that’s partly because this year the BCAC wants to focus on the social aspect of the gala.
“It is a time of celebration,” he points out. “People enjoy each others company and celebrating the great work we’ve done, so we said let’s really embrace that and leave a lot of time for people to socialize.
“I mean, it’s a sheer crush at this event every year,” he adds. “It’s a chance to meet people outside your own niche market, so it’s the grape growers hanging out with the dairy farmers, who are hanging out with the egg producers, and so on.”
The gala starts at 5 with a champagne reception, giving people a chance to socialize over hors d’oeuvres and fine cheeses (sponsored by the BC Dairy Association) before sitting down at 6:30 to a banquet dinner of locally produced foods, wines, and beverages.
Unlike almost any other banquet in BC, every product on the table will have been produced by people at the event!
During the banquet the BCAC will be presenting its two major awards; the Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year, and the BC Agriculture Council Leadership Award.
Ens says the BCAC is still taking in nominations, so if anyone has really impressed you this year, now is the time to nominate them for an award.