North Thompson Agriplex Project Overview
The North Thompson Agriplex Committee was formed in January of 2011, and now consists of nine members comprised of community stakeholders, contractors, and businessmen. All are members of the NTFFRA and include the NTFFRA president Jill Hayward, past-president Donna Kibble, and vice-president Karl Rainer. The North Thompson Agriplex is part of a five year plan that the NTFFRA implemented in 2008, to begin construction of the building in 2011. The Agriplex has been constructed on NTFFRA property (clear title) in the District of Barriere, and is managed in its entirety by the NTFFRA. The North Thompson Agriplex provides new opportunities for the NTTFRA to engage in and to enhance and expand its agricultural presence within the Thompson Nicola Regional District. It also provides significant new opportunities to improve the economic, environmental, social and cultural capacity of Barriere and its surrounding area.
The agriculture focus of the region is on cow/calf operations, sheep, poultry, forage crops, nurseries, and market gardens. By enhancing the area’s agricultural activities through events at the North Thompson Agriplex it will further encourage growth in small acreage alternative crops and food sustainability within the region. The partnering of various community and government agencies in the Agriplex Project has greatly enhanced Barriere and the area’s rural community capacity building, leadership skills and development; and continues to strengthen strategic partnerships between local governments and community agencies. This ultimately is promoting Barriere and the surrounding area as an ideal place to live, work and play; as well as a tourist destination.
“Build it and they will come”, best describes the success of the 36,000 sq.ft. North Thompson Agriplex. It is already proving to be a busy place; just five months after construction began in 2011, the new building hosted our annual Fall Fair beef show. Since that time the Agriplex has hosted not only our own events, but the 2011 and 2012 Provincial Winter Fair, and the highly successful 2012 New Years Eve Bullarama. Major events in 2013 will include the Celebration of Rural Living Expo and Trade Show, the Celebration of Art, the Back Country Horseman of BC Rendevous, the Canadian Sheep Breeders Classic Show and Sale, and of course the North Thompson Fall Fair, the Provincial Winter Fair, and the 2013 News Year’s Eve Bullarama.
The Agriplex on its own, offers a full compliment of rodeo arena pens and chutes, a 3000 sq. ft. meeting and banquet hall, full washroom and shower facilities, offices, and ample parking for any sized event. The balance of our facility offers a full outdoor rodeo arena with grandstand seating for over 2500, an outdoor light horse arena, a pony chuck wagon race track, barns for horses, sheep, goats, beef and poultry, two additional banquet halls, indoor picnic area, showers and washrooms, dry camping areas, and plenty of green space. All in the heart of Barriere, B.C.