The museum’s 11th annual Christmas in November was another success. Pictured above, left to right: Pam Beckstrand, Sandra Robertson, Brenda Leach, Shelly McLean Claire Heron and Cheryl Mullock. The event is sponsored by the Prairie West Historical Society with all proceeds used to help fund museum projects.

The local museum, the Prairie West Historical Society, held its 11th annual Christmas In November on Saturday, Nov. 17.

The evening has been deemed a success with many great comments about the meal, the fashion show and the silent auction.

Lacey Owens, who was slated to speak, unfortunately was called out of town due to a family emergency. But she did send some speaking notes to event chairman Verna Thompson, who read them to the audience.

“I wanted to share stories primarily on women in agriculture,” Owens wrote. “I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by amazing farm women, and I have had the pleasure of meeting many amazing farm women and have been honoured to sit at many kitchen tables around the province.  

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“Women have always been very involved in their family farm operations.  What is certainly encouraging is the increasing amount of women who are sitting on boards, pushing policy, and advocating for the agriculture industry.

“I have to say that I am truly grateful for all the women before me who have blazed a trail in the agriculture industry and many other industries, so that women like me can live out our passions and be treated with respect, in what would have been considered “a man’s world.” Let me clarify this though: I don’t ever want women to feel they have to “measure up” to the roles that are normally played by men. We go far beyond “measuring up” all with our own special gifts.”

“In 2003 when my mom and I were writing an obituary for my grandmother, we referred to her as “The Heart of the Farm.”  I am not going to say that there aren’t amazing men out there; there certainly are. I don’t feel it should ever be a competition. I do feel for the most part, women really are the Heart.  

“We are capable of absolutely anything! The agriculture industry needs us and so does every other industry and society in the world. I have never been wrapped up in what roles women play, it really doesn’t matter. No matter what we do, we are lead by our hearts! 

“The agriculture industry has been taking some serious heat from media and companies that are marketing with fear. Women are speaking up about this and inviting consumers in to learn about what we do. There are many more women putting themselves out there right now to share their stories and connect with consumers. We want the world to know that the families feeding the world care deeply. We care about the health and quality of the food we produce. We care about the people we produce it with. We care about the animals we raise. We care about the soil that grows our food. We care about the environment we live in and the future of our planet. We want to leave this farm land in better shape than when we found it. We want to make sure there is enough food for when our planet grows to nine billion people.”

For the 11th year, Frances McManus of LaBelle Boutique curated the Christmas in November fashion show, a glittering part of the evening showing the latest in fashion and living up to the evening theme of denim and diamonds. 

Chenille is back in sweaters, as are velour and crushed velvet, shown in a number of items. Sweaters featuring bell sleeves were shown in various styles and lengths including coat sweaters and tunics. Down filled jackets and coats are popular as is fun fur, which was shown in a number of elegant styles from coats to vests.

Leather jackets are making a comeback, particularly featuring the biker look. Suede is also popular again. Leather-look and suede pants were shown as were various styles of jeans worn with fashionable boots.

As always in fashion, accessories are everything and used to pull outfits together. Scarves remain popular, as is jewellery, large and chunky and smaller and elegant. “Pearls, pearls, pearls,” McManus said. “This year pearls are on everything.” They were shown scattered on a jean jacket and for evening on a black sweater.

Models for the fashion show were Pam Beckstrand, Claire Heron, Brenda Leach, Shelley McLean, Cheryl Mullock and Sandra Robertson.

Christmas in November committee members were Judy Andrew, Shari Collinge, Maureen Jacobson, Leslie Kraft, Margaret Olorenshaw, Jody Schmidt and Verna Thompson.

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