A new event complex for the agriculture sector is coming to Milverton, Ont.
The Waterfalls Agriplex is primarily an events centre for horse shows, sales and events, but will be available to accommodate other large-scale events, including cattle and other livestock shows.
WHY IT MATTERS: There’s a lack of a large agriculture events facility in Ontario’s midwest and most equestrian events have to be held in a city, usually in the Toronto area.
“This is about creating something that will serve our community for generations to come,” said Eli Ebersol, horse enthusiast and local entrepreneur. “We want to build a place that creates opportunities for agriculture, supports local businesses, welcomes visitors and provides a home for major events.”
Needed resource
The 250,000-square-foot facility to be built on the south end of Milverton has long been a vision of Ebersol’s and is supported with investment from several local agricultural businesspeople.
“The opportunities for a facility like this are endless, and we’re pleased to have so much support from local representatives to get this project off the ground,” said Drew Spoelstra, master of ceremonies at the groundbreaking for the new facility. Spoelstra is also president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, and he and his wife Heather Spoelstra run the Roy-A-Lea Clydesdales breeding program, along with a dairy farm.
Ken Knox, at the microphone, and Drew Spoelstra, Clydesdale breeder and Ontario Federation of Agriculture president, spoke at the launch of the Waterfalls Agriplex in Milverton. Photo: John Greig
Heather Spoelstra led a horse parade onto the site with a four-horse hitch of Clydesdales.
Event potential
The facility will host the 2029 World Clydesdale Show as one of its first major events.
“Having the opportunity to host the World Clydesdale Show in 2029 is an incredible milestone for this project,” said Ebersol, a Percheron breeder who has owned a concrete company and livestock nutrition company, Nature’s Wave.
The site is still a wheat field, but once constructed, the facility will include indoor and outdoor show rings, event seating and two barns with room for up to 600 horse stalls.
Local support
The plan is ambitious, but the local municipality, Perth East, fully supports it; its mayor and mayor-elect attended the groundbreaking to speak about the project.
Other partners in the project include Waterfalls Agriplex president, Tony Ropp, of landowner Percon Developments; John Martin, president and owner of HFH Construction; and Gary Boshart, owner of Boshart Industries, a water solutions supply business in Milverton. Jamie Gerber, recently retired as Kindred Credit Union branch manager, is helping with the finances.
