By Angela Brown

Battlefords Ag Society still hoping to hold fair this year if restrictions lift

Mar 12, 2021 | 5:54 PM

NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. — While the Battlefords Agricultural Society has had to cancel the Agri-Mex Farm, Trade and Home Show again this spring due to the pandemic, it is still hopeful to have some events later this year when the province’s restrictions start to lift.

With the COVID-19 vaccine rollout progressing, general manager Jocelyn Ritchie said there might be more opportunities for activities over the summer.

“We’ve got everything on the back-burner, and we are ready to go as soon as everything opens up a little bit,” she said.

The society is hopeful it will be able to hold its fair in 2021, depending when the restrictions ease. The Northwest Territorial Days Exhibition and Parade had to be cancelled in 2020 due to the province’s public health orders in place.

“We’re definitely hoping for some sort of fair. I’m sure it’s going to be a little bit different than it has been in the past,” Ritchie said.

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The Battlefords Agricultural Society is encouraging the general public and sponsors to send letters of support to the society to use to lobby the government for more funding during the pandemic.

“Please support us,” Ritchie said. “We will still be here. We’ve been here since 1885 and we’ll continue on.”

The society received a grant of $15,000 from the Saskatchewan Tourism Sector Support Program last year. While the program is being renewed for 2021, the society is still hoping for a larger grant amount this time around. According to the province, for the accommodation sector and large event facilities, up to $50,000 in grant payments are available, depending on sales revenue.

“We are lobbying for more money through that program or the Saskatchewan programs in general…,” Ritchie said. “Any user group that has helped us out in the past or has lost income because they are usually part of our exhibition or other various events that we put on out here, if they can just forward a letter of support that we can include in our package to the government that would be wonderful.”

While the society had a stressful year in 2020, and lost roughly between $400,000 to $500,000 in income from not having events, the non-profit has not given up for the future.

“I’m pretty certain we will limp through, and our community will stand by us,” Ritchie said.

Being under the city’s insurance program has helped reduce some costs for the society as a benefit, she said.

During city council’s meeting this week, mayor David Gillan said the Battlefords Agricultural Society is a “very important part of our community.”

“They have really struggled like all ag societies in COVID times…, but are optimistic nonetheless,” he said. “It’s a vital part of our community. It’s the fabric of our community as well. I’m quite concerned.”

He invited the society to address council to give an update at an upcoming meeting.

The society has indicated they have “navigated 2020, but 2021 without any revenues will be extremely difficult,” he said.

“They are going to do their best to have some activities, even if they are limited,” Gillan added.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow