These mini farm shows will focus on supporting local farmers and their communities
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
An ag equipment dealer has come up with a way to thank farmers in Western Canada for the countless hours they work during the year.
Thunderstruck Ag Equipment launched the Thanks for Farming Tour in June. The tour will consist of nine events spanning Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta and focus on supporting local producers in their communities.
Each individual event features host farmers, food and drinks from local establishments, donations to 4-H clubs in the communities and opportunities to connect with equipment reps.
The events also feature guest speakers who discuss topics like in-field issues as well as farm stress.
Each community hosts an afternoon and evening event.
These small events are a way to give back to the ag community, said Jeremy Matuszewski, president of Thunderstruck Ag Equipment.
“It’s been a tough year for agriculture, so we wanted to do something where we could connect with farmers and thank the industry that our whole business is built on,” he told Farms.com.
Three of the nine events have already taken place.
From June 22 to 29, the Thanks for Farming Tour stopped in Crystal City, Brandon and Ste. Agathe, Man.
Producers who attended the events were thankful for the opportunity to gather with neighbours, Matuszewski said.
“The farmers that have attended the events are so grateful that people are looking out for their small communities,” he said. “I had a farmer in Crystal City tell me nobody has come there before and a farmer at the Brandon event tell me this is the first time he’s been off the farm in three months.”
The next stops on the tour are in Alberta. Thunderstruck Ag Equipment will be in Trochu on July 10, Barrhead on July 13 and Enchant on July 17.
From there the tour heads to Saskatchewan for visits in Assiniboia on July 24, Craik on July 27 and the final event is in North Battleford on July 29.
Farmers who wish to attend the events must register beforehand. Click here for the Alberta registration page and here for the Saskatchewan registration page.