The Weyburn Agricultural Society and two of their longest-serving volunteers received honours at the provincial convention for the Saskatchewan Association of Agricultural Societies and Exhibitions (SAASE), which was hosted in Weyburn at the Legion Hall on Friday and Saturday.
The Weyburn Ag Society received a plaque and certificate for reaching its 110th anniversary this year, and two of their volunteers, Neal and Rae Keefe, received an honourary life membership in the SAASE for serving for more than 40 years.
“I’d like to thank the Weyburn Ag Society for nominating me and Rae,” said Neal in accepting the award. “More than 40 years is a long time. You know, it’s so much fun, you just don’t want to quit.”
Neal has been volunteering with the Ag Society since 1974, and became a director in 1988, serving as Ag Society president from 1991 to 1993.
Rae has also been volunteering for many years, since the late 1980s, and like her parents John and Isobel Norman, has helped out with the bookkeeping at the Ag Society. Together, Neal and Rae have been involved in every part of the Ag Society, including their dinner theatre, and were a big part in organizing the yearly talent search and kids tractor pull events at the Fair.
They have also represented Weyburn at numerous fair conventions, and Neal is currently on the SAASE board, volunteering his time and knowledge. Two years ago, Neal was recognized nationally at the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions national convention for his dedication and volunteer work in Weyburn, with the Weyburn Ag Society and in the province.
The plaque for the Ag Society’s 110th anniversary was accepted by TJ Metheral, past president, and current president Jeff Clay. Metheral noted his grandfather, C.B. Metheral, was part of the inaugural board when the society was first known as the Weyburn Horse and Turf Club, and his father Ron was also involved for many years in many positions of the Ag Society, including as president.
Local dignitaries Mayor Marcel Roy of Weyburn, and Souris-Moose Mountain MP Robert Kitchen, spoke at the Volunteer Champion Awards luncheon held on Saturday.
“We recognize the great work that ag societies do for our community. Since I became an MP, I’ve attended many fairs around the riding,” he said, quipping that as a chiropractor, he considered ag societies “the backbone of my riding. Oil and gas are the appendages, but the backbone are the ag societies.”
The MP said the agricultural industry has been “feeding Canada and the world, and it’s a tribute to your hard work and dedication. We’ve come a long way with research and tools to help farms and ranches do their job today.”
Mayor Roy noted he grew up on a farm near Griffin, and learned the importance of farming. He said the work of agricultural societies is continuing to promote that importance in their communities, as the Weyburn Ag Society is doing.
“Weyburn is first and foremost an agricultural community, and the Weyburn Ag Society and other societies are making such an impact across the province,” he said.
Friday’s workshops included a “Serve it Right” Saskatchewan Liquor Servers workshop, bylaws/board procedures workshop and Social Media workshop. On Friday night, a session was held on the legalization of cannabis and what it means to Saskatchewan’s Agricultural Societies and Exhibitions.
Liz Roberts, from Liz Roberts and Associates, was this year’s SAASE keynote speaker. She gave a great presentation on “Rethinking Your Organization”. Saskatchewan Agriculture ran a presentation on the Premise ID program, and what is expected of Saskatchewan’s fairs.
The SAASE Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday afternoon. Saskatchewan’s Agricultural Societies and Fairs have long been the heart and soul of our communities, with some of Saskatchewan’s most dedicated volunteers ensuring that events across Saskatchewan are successful. SAASE’s 62 member Agricultural Societies – representing 62 Saskatchewan communities – look forward to meeting at the SAASE annual convention next year, on March 1-2 in Prince Albert.
