SSGA creates charitable foundation

Feb 03, 2020

The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation has four main goals

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

A Saskatchewan farm organization has created its own charity.

The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) launched the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation (SSGF) during its semi-annual general meeting in Saskatoon, Sask.

The foundation became a federally registered charitable organization in Dec. 2019 and has been in the works for the last few years, said Chad MacPherson, general manager of SSGA.

“Our board has talked about it for a long time and have wanted to give back to the community but in the last few years (conversations) really picked up steam when we were delivering different projects,” he told Farms.com. “Not being charitable has been a bit of a barrier to being able to execute (the projects) to the best of our ability.”

The SSGF has four main objectives:

to conserve agricultural lands
to advance education
to relieve poverty
to assist victims of disasters

SSGA members have already been doing some of this work before the charity’s official launch.

In 2016, the organization began its Beef Drive to donate ground beef to local food banks. In its four years, the drive has helped distribute over 25,000 pounds (11,250 kilograms) of ground beef.

“We’ve also done two different disaster-assistance programs in the last three years to help producers affected by fires,” MacPherson said. “The charity gives us a tool to help issue receipts and apply for other funds that we otherwise wouldn’t be eligible for.”

The charity’s board of directors is still organizing the foundation and upcoming initiatives will be announced in the future, MacPherson said.

Anyone looking for more information on the SSGF or interested in making a donation can call (306) 757-8523 or use the form here.

Video: A Farm Song (Busy) | Parody of A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey

Lyrics:

My days begin with workin’, Alarm’s at 5 o’clock,
I Fill 5 gallon buckets, The feeders and the troughs,
This five to nine ain’t workin’, why the heck do I work so hard?,
I can’t worry ‘bout health problems, I can sleep in when I’m gone,

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

I’ve been working pretty stressed but,
I ain’t changing for some cash,
Lord knows that I’m very blessed (More chores),
But I gotta say it’s hard,
Workin’ outside gettin’ charred,
Living out here on the farm, (more chores)

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history
There’s another 20 chickens that still need feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm getting’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Fun, here on ranch that’s what you can’t ignore,
Might be pretty hard but I love it to its core,
Flannel’s gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores (Tell ‘em sing with me)

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
Watching cattle in the dark, don’t miss me,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
(Yeeeeeehaw)
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
It’s the best bro, go get yourself a farm