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.