The third annual Growing the Community Farming Initiative in La Glace netted just over $66,000 for the La Glace and District Agricultural Society (Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP staff)

By Shaun Penner

Growing our Community

La Glace canola harvest nets $66K for new community arena

Oct 15, 2021 | 9:54 AM

A group of La Glace area farmers have once again rallied to help raise funds to complete the new arena and recreation centre in their community.

Through the third annual Growing Our Community Farming Initiative, the group was able to raise just over $66,000 through a canola crop, which was harvested Thursday afternoon.

The funds will go towards the La Glace and District Agricultural Society as they look to complete the final stages of their new arena.

Karren Richards, who has organized the annual harvest for the last three years, says the yield this year came in at just over 40 bushels per acre, a figure they did not think would be achievable earlier this year.

“Mother Nature wasn’t exactly on our side, and so we feel very fortunate to be able to have this kind of a yield,” said Richards.

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This year’s crop was kickstarted by Richards’ son Dan, who owns and operates Scenic Heights Farms in La Glace.

Dan, a shareholder in Canterra Seeds, nominated the Ag. Society for a $2,500 donation through the company’s Rooted in the Prairies program, in celebration of Canterra’s 25th anniversary.

However, Dan opted to amplify that donation, taking $2,500 worth of seed from Canterra in lieu of the money to use for this year’s charitable crop.

“We’re super excited to be a part of this,” said Candace Reinbold, the Territory Manager of the Peace Region for Canterra. “We want to target these farming communities, and it’s near and dear to my heart, to Dan’s heart, to everybody here. So, I think it was a really great thing to be a part of.”

The land used to plant the crop was donated by Darren and Jade Nyland, the latter of whom serves on the board of the La Glace and District Ag. Society.

She says this initiative has raised a substantial amount of money towards the construction and operation of the facility over the last three years.

“What (the initiative) also does, is it brings the community together, and it really gives people an opportunity to contribute in a different way,” Nyland said.

She says as it stands now, Phase 2 of the La Glace Regional Recreation Centre has been completed, meaning the shell of the building has been completed. The needed infrastructure and concrete flooring has also been installed.

However, the project remains paused at this time as fundraising efforts continue.

Phase two of the La Glace Regional Recreation Centre has been completed, though more fundraising is needed to carry forward with the project (Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP staff)

The 2021 Growing the Community Farming Initiative was also supported by Nutrien Ag. Solutions who donated the fertilizer for the crop, while the Farmers Business Network provided the needed chemicals to maintain the crop throughout the season.

With that, Richards is thankful for the businesses and community members who rallied around this initiative.

“You couldn’t ask for a better community, getting together… for this cause,” said Richards. “We’ve had to be innovative in our fundraising, and this is a great way and great support from the community.”