ADAMA Foots the Bill for Agriplex Upgrade
The health and safety of the horses and riders that use the Claresholm Agriplex will be on more solid ground with the facility recently investing in two electric hose reels.
“Footing is the most important thing in a facility like ours and that all starts with proper moisture content in the arena dirt,” says David Hansma, General Manager of the Claresholm Agriplex.
To maintain that moisture content, heavy-duty hoses as long as 120 ft. have to be uncoiled and dragged by hand – not an easy task and one that risks injuring the staff. Electric reels were what was needed, but at around $2,500 each, so was funding.
“I was talking with Stacie Schellar at the Co-op agro centre and she mentioned a program called Stomping Grounds from ADAMA Canada we could apply to for a grant,” says Hansma. “After I read the requirements I thought our need for the reels might qualify, so I applied.”
Craig Olson, Area Business Manager for ADAMA Canada, paid the Claresholm Agriplex a visit to present the “cheque” and to meet some of the horses and their riders that make use of the space.
“When I was chatting with everyone about the project it really struck home how big an impact a simple investment like this can have,” says Olson. “Places like these run on volunteers of all ages and these reels make it easier to do their job, which makes it safer for the horses and more comfortable for the spectators, which in turn makes the facility as a whole more popular with both.”
Hansma agrees and adds that a program like Stomping Grounds also has an impact far greater than the sum of the grant.
“The only way to generate that revenue without a grant like this from ADAMA would be to raise our rates,” says Hansma. “We want to keep this space open to as many people in our community as we can, and keeping our rates affordable goes a long way in allowing us to do that.”
About ADAMA
ADAMA Canada has been supplying the Canadian agricultural community with crop protection products for more than a decade. We offer an innovative approach to ag and proactively seek opportunities to listen to what our customers, experts and colleagues have to say, taking their inputs and learning from their experience. We combine these insights with our expertise and respond with new products, solutions, services, tailored commercial policies, or information that is relevant to them. We are passionate about agriculture and approach what we do as much more than just a job. Our straightforward, get-it-done attitude helps us stay focused on what we care about most: helping our customers create more sustainable, profitable businesses. ADAMA is the seventh largest crop protection company globally with sales in 100 countries and has the largest portfolio of any company with over 270 active ingredients.