Brooks, Alberta
Brooks is a town of 9,000 in the middle of a near-desert climate with a shortgrass prairie environment called the "Palliser Triangle". This region is suitable for ranching but not for farming. Early settlers built a irrigation aqueduct that in 1915, was then one of the largest concrete structures in the world, spanning 3 km of prairie. Brooks has 105,000 hectares (260,000 acres) of irrigated farmland and 400,000 hectares (1,000,000 acres) of prime grazing land. The aqueduct was operated until 1977, and is now a National Historic Site as a monument to the early engineers and farmers. Brooks is also a center for oil & gas production, with 26,000 wells in the area. South of town, Lake Newell is the focal point of the area’s recreation, providing sailing, windsurfing, fishing, hunting, and camping. Kinbrook Provincial Park is on the eastern shore of the lake.
Annual events include: Kiwanis Ice Derby at Lake Newell (February), The Gather-a big sale of 10,000 cattle (March), Annual Trade Show (April), Little Britches Rodeo (June), Brooks Kinsmen Rodeo (June), Eastern Irrigation Ag. Society Fall Fair (August), Pheasant Festival Week (October).
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