Chance Meeting Keeps Rink Running
Marwayne’s curling, hockey, figure skating and CanSkate programs were at risk of being put on ice this winter, but a chance meeting between two people who really appreciate what that would mean for the community may have saved the season.
“The ice plant that serves both our arena and curling rink is on its last legs,” says Yolanda Oberhofer, President of the Marwayne Agricultural Society. “Much work has been done to keep the plant running for as long as possible, but the time has come to replace it and the need is urgent. We were unsure that the plant will pull us through another year.”
And so it was with a stroke of luck that Oberhofer bumped into Cheri Farrell, an Area Business Manager, with ADAMA Canada.
“I was chatting with Yolanda and the challenges they were having with keeping the rink going came up and I just thought to myself, this sounds like something that is right up the alley for Stomping Grounds,” says Farrell.
Now in its second year, Stomping Grounds was created by ADAMA Canada with the mandate to invest in local initiatives that support youth, health and connection. Farrell encouraged Oberhofer to fill out the application and in April their application was selected for a $10,000 investment - one of 22 community-nominated projects the company will be investing in across Canada this year.
“When you apply, you don’t want to get your hopes up, but when we heard we got it that was really exciting,” says Oberhofer. “We're really grateful for the support and the opportunity provided by ADAMA. Its going to keep these programs going and affordable.”
Prior to the investment from ADAMA, they Ag Society was looking at other ways to raise money, including increasing user fees.
“Significantly increasing user fees was really a last resort for us,” says Oberhofer, fearing higher fees would limit accessibility to the heart of the community. “It isn’t just hockey players and curlers that use the space. People go there for shows or meetings, but without the facilities for hockey and curling all those other activities wouldn’t be possible.”
“Running into Yolanda at an ag event in a facility not unlike their arena, shows you how important places like this are to communities. A lot of fun and games goes on in those places, but sometimes even a little business gets taken care of,” says Farrell.
About ADAMA
ADAMA Canada has been supplying the Canadian agricultural community with crop protection products for more than a decade. We offer an innovative approach to ag and proactively seek opportunities to listen to what our customers, experts and colleagues have to say, taking their inputs and learning from their experience. We combine these insights with our expertise and respond with new products, solutions, services, tailored commercial policies, or information that is relevant to them. We are passionate about agriculture and approach what we do as much more than just a job. Our straightforward, get-it-done attitude helps us stay focused on what we care about most: helping our customers create more sustainable, profitable businesses. ADAMA is the seventh largest crop protection company globally with sales in 100 countries and has the largest portfolio of any company with over 270 active ingredients.