Area ag. societies plan AGMs, continue to struggle during COVID-19

“We’re still hoping that our general public and some of our sponsors that have sponsored us in the past would step forward and just donate a little bit,” she said.

Any contribution would help with the organization’s fixed costs, Ritchie said. People can donate through Facebook.

The non profit owns nine buildings and the racetrack on the exhibition grounds on property it leases from the city.

It has been able to access a number of government grants to a degree.

“Unfortunately, federally we’re still hoping to get some money,” Ritchie said. “All ag. societies and exhibitions throughout the country are still hoping that the federal government will come through with something in the end.”

The cancellation of the fair this year due to the pandemic was a major blow to the ag. society, and community. The organization as well as all the service clubs and user groups involved in the Northwest Territorial Days exhibition usually make over $500,000 in total in one year from the fair, including all sponsorships, so it has been a tough year for everyone.

The 2020 Mistletoe Craft and Gift Sale was the latest event to be cancelled.

“We would have possibly been able to have it at a smaller scale. But with all the new COVID cases and everything, we just don’t feel comfortable with it,” Ritchie said. “So as the board, we made the decision to cancel it for this year to keep people safe.”

The Battlefords Agricultural Society annual general meeting is planned for Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Agrivilla building, with capacity restricted to 30 people. Masks will be required.

Ritchie is encouraging people to purchase an ag. society membership to show their support, at a cost of $25 each until the end of January 2021. After that, they will increase to $50 each.

For the Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Association, the organization is also struggling, and continues to look to reduce costs due to the financial impact of COVID-19.

General manager Jenelle Saskiw said the non profit saw a 90 per cent decrease in revenue since last year.

“We’ll be reviewing here after the AGM again where we should possibly make some more cutbacks as well,” she said. “So it’s a tough time… We’re looking at a number of scenarios to see how we can get through this next phase.”

The Lloyd Ex Fair was one of the big events the organization had to cancel this year due to the pandemic.

Saskiw said the organization has fixed costs of $125,000 per month, while revenues now are averaging only about $20,000 per month.

“It’s been very difficult,” she said.

Saskiw said the association was successful in applying for a $50,000 Tourism Saskatchewan grant. It also received its regular ag. society operational funding from the Alberta government. But these are the only funds received so far.

The organization started the Lloyd Ex Foundation for those who want to make a charitable donation to help the non profit. Funds will serve as bridge funding during the COVID-19 situation, and also help with future expansion. As well, five per cent of all donations will be allocated to youth programs and scholarships.

“[The foundation] is another way we are hoping the community can support us,” Saskiw said.

The Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Association will have its annual general meeting Dec. 8, with restricted capacity. The event will also be shown online via Facebook.

The organization wishes for some type of recovery from COVID-19 in the future.

“We’re hoping and being creative, and realize that things might have to change a little bit. And, we’re adding virtual components when we can,” Saskiw said. “We won’t give up.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW

by Angela Brown

Area ag. societies plan AGMs, continue to struggle during COVID-19

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