Crops for Community is looking for someone to donate at least a quarter section of land
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Ag community members from Central Butte, Sask. are appealing to fellow members of the farming community to help with a fundraiser.
“We’re looking for a quarter section at least,” Todd Erickson, an organizer with Crops for Community, told Farms.com. “The land doesn’t have to be in the area. Last year we had a quarter donated over in the Brownlee area (about 40km away). But we’re slowly running out of time.”
Erickson and other organizers started Crops for Community in 2019 to raise money for Central Butte and its population of 372.
In addition to land, the ag community donates seed, equipment, crop protection products and helps feed farmers on harvest day.
The group started Crops for Community to change how fundraising is done in the community.
“Functions are great to go to but a lot of the time you’re seeing the same people,” he said. “I thought this way it changes things up a little bit, we put in a little bit of work, and you can actually see the crop come up.”
Since starting the community fundraiser in 2019, Crops for Community has raised about $80,000.
Those funds have bee used to build a splash pad and a day care, upgrade the community rink and upgrade Iver Main Place, an assisted living facility in the community.
Seeing the local buildings receive the care they need makes the hard work worthwhile, Erickson said.
“It’s overwhelming,” he said. “Without a rink or a grocery store or a school, you don’t have a community. These are old buildings and we’re a small community, and new buildings aren’t in our budget. So to see people donate whatever they can to help our little community continue to thrive is wonderful.”
Anyone interested in donating land or looking for more information can contact Erickson at 306-796-7550 or Sandra Bathgate at 306-795-4420.