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2015 was a busy year for the ag society

Annual meeting sees new president, new directors selected for ag society
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Linc Drynan

A look at 2015 showed the Ponoka Agricultural Society (PAS) had a busy year after taking over operations of the Calnash Ag Event Centre.

Linc Drynan, interim president, speaking to attendees during their annual general meeting (AGM) Monday, Jan. 4 said, being the vice-president, he had taken up the position following Lauraine Weir’s resignation a few weeks before the meeting. Drynan was confirmed in his new position as president in a meeting of the board of directors immediately after the AGM.

Ag society directors took stock of the situation while also voting in new directors for 2016. There were six vacancies and eight applicants for director positions, which called for votes from members at the AGM.

Among the candidates were incumbents Sherry Gummow, Joyce Winter and Ken Pohl and new candidates Trevor Hook, Doug Hosler, Nathan Stone, Marty McKinney and Joanne Volk. After a brief voting process, the results showed Hosler, Winter, Hook, Stone, McKinney and Pohl were elected in.

This completed the list of 12 directors with Dan Dixon, now vice president; Trish Friis as secretary,Winter as treasurer, Verna and Ken Pohl and Dennis Ecklund, Cec Dykstra.

This changeover also created the need to elect a member to join the Ponoka Ag Events Centre Society (PAECS) as Gummow was on PAECS for over two terms. Drynan said Dixon replaced Gummow in that position and he and Dykstra would continue to be members.

Other directors had decided not to let their names stand and PAS administrative assistant Donna Davies had also resigned. Drynan had nothing but positive comments for all past members. “We’ve lost an awful lot of experience and expertise and enthusiasm,” he said in an interview.

He added that with Gummow gone, other members would have to share in the work she did for the society. Despite the change, he added that the new directors will all be able to bring something to the table.

“I’m looking forward to 2016 because I think we’re going to have a really strong board,” offered Drynan.

During the organizational meeting after the AGM, the directors were introduced to the society’s newly adopted business plan, which provides for each director to take over a specific event for their portfolio. Drynan said it would help share the load and each director could take on an area that they’re interested in.

A major mandate of PAS is to educate on farm safety and Drynan wants to see the group expand on those goals. He referred to the last two years that the society hosted an ATV safety course. With recent changes in Bill 6, Drynan wants PAS to be a liaison for farmers and the government. He also hopes to develop safety templates specific to individual agriculture industries although it is too early to tell what that would look like.

As for 2015, the society had a strong period after having one full year of operations of the Calnash Ag Event Centre under its belt. From $50,000 a year operation to $1.2 million with the ag centre, members have been busy, said Drynan.

Numbers for 2015 show PAS had revenues of $1.9 million with expenses at $1.77 million giving an overall $131,000 excess of revenue over expenses.

Drynan has another goal for 2016: to streamline the sponsorship process. With the economic downturn in the economy, he said PAS wants to make it easy for groups and businesses to sponsor an event.