It was a record turnout last week in support for water management and soil health education in the Red River Valley.

Dr. David Lobb was the keynote speaker at the 2017 banquet. Submitted photo.

The Red River Basin Commission - South Chapter is a group of over 40 municipalities and conservation districts and is designed to help facilitate a cooperative approach to water management in the region. Steve Strang, Manitoba Director for the group, said about 150 people attended the organization's 2017 fund raising banquet and noted these numbers were up about one-third from previous years.

"Our Arms are engaged and so are our conservation districts...we think it's really important that we allow them the opportunity not only to educate themselves, but to educate other folks."

He explained that all the money raised from the annual banquet goes right back into supporting the Red River Basin Commission's education mandate.

Strang added that the successes sought by the organization must come under partnership.

"Together we can solve problems or we can make things better, but separated we can't."

He said this is where the Red River Basin Commission comes in and explained it's role is to create partnerships in order to stimulate conversation (and) to find solutions.

Last week's fund raising banquet featured Dr. David Lobby, a soil scientist at the University of Manitoba, who facilitated the learning and discussion portion of the evening.