The Cochrane and District Ag Society (CDAS)  has received a response from Rocky View County to their March 2 letter requesting direction on the future of the Ag lands .  

In that letter, CDAS proposed 2 options to the County.  One was a long term lease with the County, the other was purchase of the land by CDAS.

Justin Burwash, CDAS President, says the County "really wants to see the results of our needs assessment and business sustainability study that we are just under way with. Last fall they approved some grant funding allowing us to move ahead with some consulting work which would give more credibility to what we are saying about the growing demand for our services." 

Burwash adds that the needs assessment will also help CDAS as they look to grow and expand their services either on their existing land or on a new piece of land.  

In their letter to CDAS, the County explained the policies around acquisition of County owned lands. Burwash added that the County gave CDAS the road map forward should they choose to pursue purchase of the land.  

CDAS is currently pursuing Requests for Proposal for the needs assessment and plan to have a contract in place at the end of April .  The assessment will encompass work with user groups ,members, riding pass holders and the community at large through open houses and direct meetings to gather information.  It will also use some of the studies the County already has that include recreation services in the region.

Burwash says that the Ag Society's  end goal is to have a final report in place by the end of the summer that can then be presented to Rocky View County Council.