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One of the greatest challenges facing Saskatchewan agricultural fairs and livestock shows is finding qualified judges. This apprenticeship program for cattle judges is designed to address this very need and has the potential to increase significantly the numbers and qualifications of cattle judges at Saskatchewan Fairs.
A number of programs - Cattle Congress, Heartland Classic, 4-H Regional Judging Competitions - that train the would-be apprentices in the technical skills and knowledge required. The apprentice program serves as a bridge to connect the technical skills and theoretical knowledge with the practical experience of actual show-ring experience.
By matching the apprentice with a seasoned and respected senior judge as mentor, and providing the real-life experience of judging in the show-ring shoulder to shoulder with a senior judge, this project provides an experience that connects technical knowledge with practical experience.
SAASE members contribute to the success of this program by incorporating apprentices into their cattle shows. The current list of willing and able apprentices currently numbers 43, and will only grow throughout the spring and summer with another round of 4-H Regional Judging competitions.
Greater participation by SAASE members will ensure that this program reaches its potential.
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SAASE is the recipient of the "Best Idea Award" presented by Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions in recognition of the Apprentice Judge ~ Cattle Project.
This award is presented in recognition of new event, new program, new concept or a new technique introduced by the organization in the previous 12 months. Nominations are evaluated on the basis of its appeal to the public and/or improved methods of operation, adaptability to other events, activities or venues, success compared to plans and budget.
Three such awards were presented in 2001. The other recipients were Western Fairs Association, London Ontario for their "Free Bus Rides to the Fair" program and Expocité, Québec City's " Awake the Artist in You" program. Congratulations, London and Québec City.
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One of the most interesting and effective ways to relate the story of agriculture is to connect the message to a favorite food. And is there a more favorite food - especially with children - than pizza?
The It's A Pizza Project will educate it's audience about the ingredients in their pizza in a way no textbook can.
Developed in concert with various commodity groups and agricultural organizations, the display ties the ingredients of pizza - wheat, eggs and oil for the crust, herbs and spices, vegetables for the sauce, vegetables, meat and dairy/cheese for the toppings - to their origins on the farm.
The display benefits commodity groups and agricultural organizations by providing a vehicle for delivery of their Ag-Ed messages.
This is intended to be an educational display and school tours are an important part of the program. The primary audience is children in grades 1 to 3, but it will have significant benefit to higher grades and is an excellent family group experience as well.
The project is comprised of four elements. It's A Pizza signage and display props provide the framework for the display around which the story is told. Additional display items and apparatus add interest and educational content.
A Teacher Resource Handbook is available for teachers and contains lesson plans and classroom activities both before and after viewing the display. It contains grade appropriate activity sheets. SAASE acknowledges Canadian Western Agribition and the Saskatchewan 4-H Council for permission to use their publications and Saskatchewan Dairy Foundation for contributing material to the Teacher Resource Handbook.
A Handbook for Organizers accompanies the display on it travels around the province. This handbook is a "how-to" for the local organizing committee and is filled with ideas and suggestions to assist with staging the display as a major part of a community event.
It's A Pizza coloring books will be distributed to children who visit the display.
The It's A Pizza display is an exciting new attraction at many of the agricultural fairs throughout Saskatchewan. The display benefits SAASE members by providing a major agricultural display to assist them in achieving their educational and entertainment objectives. The display can be equally effective as an exciting addition to the agricultural fair program or as part of an ag awareness activity throughout the year. This fresh, new display will encourage attendance at the fair and will strengthen the agricultural society's presence in the community.
The display is available on loan to the 60 plus agricultural societies and exhibition associations and will travel the province. Watch for the display to make its appearance at summer agricultural fairs and exhibitions throughout Saskatchewan. And it is expected to be a popular addition to Agriculture and Food Month celebrations in October.
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The goal of the Provincial Marketing Campaign is to provide direct advertising support and assistance to Saskatchewan fairs and exhibitions. "Marketing of events" was the area of greatest single concern identified in a survey of all SAASE members. This project was developed as a response to this need.
Many fairs and exhibitions, particularly the smaller organizations, advertise into a very small market. In effect, they are preaching to the choir! The challenge faced by the provincial campaign was to provide exposure of the fair organizations and their events to a broad, cross-section of the public.
The program seeks to market the Saskatchewan fair industry by promoting Saskatchewan fairs though TV ads; and providing a web site presence for SAASE and its members
TV ads are developed to promote - in general terms - Saskatchewan fairs. The ads have incorporated messages of volunteerism, social and economic benefit, fun and entertainment. Ads are built on the resource base of archived film footage and information found in the "Canadian Association of Exhibitions' Economic Impact and Social Benefits Study, 1994". Campaign 2002 features Venture Projects and run on two major networks - CBC and CTV - throughout the province from June through August, and when resources permit, October - November.
The public benefits of this program are: increased public awareness of Saskatchewan fairs and exhibitions and increased public attendance at events of Saskatchewan fairs and exhibitions; increased public awareness of business opportunities with Saskatchewan fairs and exhibitions
The benefits to members of this program are: potential for an increased volunteer base for Saskatchewan fairs and exhibitions; potential to generate tourism opportunities; awareness of fairs and exhibitions as players in an industry and increased sense of unity within this industry. Saskatchewan fairs and exhibitions receive benefit from free promotion of their events.
As well, SAASE and Sask Lotteries receive public recognition as partners in the project.
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Saskatchewan Association of Agricultural Societies and Exhibitions (SAASE)
announces a new three-year partnership with SaskPower in a provincial environmental project.
Through this program, the partners, working with youth in regional
centres across Saskatchewan, will tackle waste management and
disposal - a common and wide spread environmental issue - in a
positive and proactive 3R program of reduce, recycle and reuse.
Agricultural Societies and Exhibition Associations in 10
askatchewan centres - Battlefords, Estevan, Melfort, Melville,
Moose Jaw, Nipawin, Prince Albert, Swift Current, Weyburn and
Yorkton - will participate in this program.
Working with youth groups in the community each of the
participating fairs would use the SaskPower Clean Team to keep
the fair grounds clean during the annual fair. Currently each one
of these fairs pays community groups to provide clean-up duty on
the grounds and this practice would continue. T-shirts, bearing
the logos of Sask Power and SAASE, will identify the team members
and will publicize the program.
The program also provides each of the participating fairs with
great looking recycle and refuse bins which will make the job
of clean up and recycling much easier and which provide a
year-round reminder of the benefits of this program to the community.
The impact of this program on landfills and garbage dumps has
the potential to be huge. Statistics will be gathered throughout
the year to determine the net effect of the Clean Team project.
In 2001 estimated total fair attendance in these 10 communities
was 177,000. Over-all annual attendance at the exhibition
facilities is significantly greater - likely on a scale of 5 to 7
times the annual fair attendance. The fair goers and visitors
provide a mix of urban and rural audiences and give the program
and its partners tremendous exposure throughout the province.
Exhibition facilities in these communities are in use for many
more days of the year than the three or five day fair. In some
communities the facilities - and the refuse and recycle
ins - are in use 360 days of the year.
The funding generated by the partnership flows through the
participating fair, thereby contribution to their bottom line by
providing the honorarium to the Clean Team and providing a
valuable asset in the bins. Funding flowing from the partnership
assists the local youth groups by providing funds for their club activities.
SAASE and its 60 plus members appreciate the involvement of SaskPower
in this project. "We are excited about the potential that this program
has for our members and the potential that this program has for future
partnerships." says Glen Duck, President, SAASE.
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A new three-year lottery agreement,signed by the Government of Saskatchewan, Sask Sport Inc., SaskCulture and the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association, came into effect on April 1, 2000. The agreement ensures a framework for the provision of lottery proceeds to support sport, culture and recreation programs, services and institutions that address public needs and government priorities and includes a provision for an annual payment to SAASE.
Lottery funding is disbursed to agricultural societies and exhibition associations in support of agricultural programming, that is activities, events and programs that meet one or more of the program objectives of: support to rural living, community development and agricultural awareness. Saskatchewan agricultural societies and exhibitions spent more than $.88 million on agricultural programming in 2001. For that year, more than $225,000 has been disbursed in support of annual agricultural programming and more than $31,000 will be expended in support of Venture Projects.
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Venture projects funding is intended to assist a member to extend its normal range of programming by providing support to "reach beyond their grasp." Visit the Venture Projects page on this website for detailed information about this program.
Since being introduced in 1995, more than $140 thousand has been expended in support of Venture Projects.
Visit the Venture Projects Page on this website for project information.
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