Saskatchewan farmers collect donations for those in need

Oct 31, 2017

Provincial stock growers association has raised nearly $200,000 so far

By Diego Flammini
News Reporter
Farms.com

The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association is collecting donations from across the country to help local producers affected by recent wildfires.

The farm organization has accepted about $200,000 in monetary, feed and labour donations.

When farmers are in need, the ag community is ready to come together, said Shane Jahnke, president of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association.

“We’re a member-driven organization and some of our members were impacted by the fire,” he told Farms.com today. “It just felt like the right thing to do.”

We are donating #linPRO-R to @SK_StockGrowers #wildfire relief fund to support #cattle producers recovering in southern #Sask. #Peoplefirst pic.twitter.com/2Ml5v8YkCA
— O&T Farms (@OandTFarms) October 24, 2017

And the generosity stretches beyond the local agricultural community.

A producer from Ontario, for example, has pledged to donate a large amount of hay, and a local vehicle dealership donated $15,000 to the cause.

Justin LaBrash, a sixth-generation Saskatchewan farmer and country music artist, is putting on a benefit concert this Saturday at the Cabri Community Hall in Cabri, Sask.

Local construction crews have even come forward to donate labour to help rebuild fences.

The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association is thankful for the outpouring of support but is still looking for some specific donations.

“The hay transportation is one thing that’s in need to get the hay where it needs to be,” he said. “Hay is expensive to begin with and when you have to start hauling it long distances that can really drive up the costs.”

The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association will continue to collect donations for as long as it can, Jahnke said, adding what’s already been donated is an indication of how much people care about one another.

“Some of our directors have heard from some of the affected farmers and they’re extremely appreciative,” Jahnke said. “It’s been a remarkable display of generosity.”

Anyone interested in donating can contact Shane Jahnke via email or at (306) 784-2899.

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