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A view of one of the prior Mistletoe Craft and Gift Sale events. (Facebook/Battlefords Agricultural Society)
Planning for New Year's Eve

Battlefords Agricultural Society hoping for more members

Nov 10, 2022 | 3:42 PM

The Battlefords Agricultural Society is getting ready for its upcoming Annual General Meeting and is putting the call out for new members.

The date for the meeting is still being confirmed but there is plenty of time to sign up to become a member.

“Memberships are on sale right now, if anybody is interested in becoming a member of the ag society,” General manager, Jocelyn Ritchie, said. “If you do come to our annual meeting, you will need to be a member to vote.”

She added that society is always looking for new people to join the board or to get involved with new ideas for projects for the year ahead.

“Everyone is welcome,” Ritchie said.

The general manager said 2022 is looking to be a strong year for the non-profit, with the pandemic restrictions from the last two years now lifted.

“We’re pretty much wide open again, and we were able to have a very nice exhibition this year,” she said. “We survived through the two years of COVID and being shut down for quite a bit of it. So we welcome everybody that comes and attends our events and all our sponsors that have stood by our side over the years. I think we’re on track for another 100 years or so.”

The Agricultural Society just wrapped up its Mistletoe Craft and Gift Sale on Nov. 5 and 6 (Saturday and Sunday).

“The weather did not cooperate, but it went well,” Ritchie said.

The two-day event ended up with a pretty good turnout this year overall.

The Oktoberfest fundraiser held Saturday, Oct. 22 also had a successful run for the society.

“It’s been really good. Lots of people have come out,” Ritchie said.

The ag society next plans to host a cabaret celebration fundraiser on New Year’s Eve at the Agrivilla. The evening will include dancing and live entertainment from popular local band Danny and the Dusters, as well as a light lunch at midnight.

“We will have lots of giveaways throughout the evening, and a champagne toast at midnight,” Ritchie said. “It will be a very nice event.”

The society used to hold a New Year’s Eve gathering in the past a number of years ago. Ritchie said it seemed like a good year to revive it, with Dec. 31 landing on a weekend this time.

“The biggest reason is because New Year’s Eve is on a Saturday this year,” she said. “It just worked out very well. If New Year’s Eve is on a weekend, [people] will come to an event.”

Ritchie said with the recent announcement that the Operation Red Nose volunteer group will be up and running again this year in the Battlefords to keep everyone safe over the holidays, it was another good reason for the ag society to hold the New Year’s Eve dance for the community.

“People will be able to get their cars home and themselves home, and not have to worry about it. So that’s a good thing,” she said.

Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow

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