Just like the saying goes, the show must go on.
Cornfest sees thousands from throughout southern Alberta travel to the community to take in the celebrations, and offers a significant boost to the local economy. Cornfest co-chairperson Louie Tams put to rest any suggestion that a possible lack of corn would lead to an outright cancellation of the traditional event.
“There’s been some talk and some rumours that Cornfest was going to get moved or cancelled — it isn’t. Cornfest is staying right where we hold festivals. We’re going to run a Cornfest — carrying right on,” said Tams.
According to Tams, Taberites should expect a celebration that will rival any other year.
“With Cornfest, the plans are all in place, we’re ready to go, and I think we’re going to have a great time.”
But with many corn growers in the area confessing a not-so-metaphorical broken leg in regards to the progress of their corn crops, the question still remains open for the possibility of an absence of cobs at Taber’s annual Cornfest celebration at the end of August. The Taber and District Chamber of Commerce held a meeting with corn growers last week, and for now it appears the jury is still out on the area’s famous tasty delight.
“No guarantees,” said Cornfest co-chair Louie Tams. “Basically, the corn growers said there’s corn, there’s corn coming — but no guarantees for the end of August.”
Discussion at the meeting centred on the most immediate concerns.
“Just how the crop was progressing, and what we were doing with Cornfest, stuff like that,” said Tams.