WILKIE — A long-standing tradition, the University of Saskatchewan Ag College, often referred to as Agros, undertook their 40th annual bed push to raise money for Telemiracle. 2022 included Josie Huber, Ag student and McLurg graduate.
Students push a bed from Saskatoon to Regina every other year when Telemiracle is held in the Queen City in their efforts to raise funds for Saskatchewan's charity.
"Huber is in her fourth and final year of obtaining an agriculture degree, majoring in agribusiness, with convocation this spring. She graduated from McLurg in 2018.
"My calves are feeling it as Thursday and Friday (March 3-4) of the bed push, we only had about 20 runners so we each had to continually take turns pushing our 80-kilometre section," Huber tells the Press-Herald / SASKTODAY.ca,
Huber says on the final day of Saturday of the push, March 5, more students were able to join making for a division of sections among 70 participants.
As the president and treasurer on the Agricultural Student's Association, Huber said she was part of the bed push committee. She had helped two years ago and saw how amazing the experience and cause were. This inspired her to be heavily involved with the event this year.
"It is a truly astonishing feeling being able to be part of something greater than yourself, and that's what this fundraiser and student association is about," says Huber.
2022's total of $88,142.69 was the largest amount the Ag students have ever raised in their bed push, and is $30,000 higher than the goal the students had set.
Huber adds, "We received donations of food, water and many words of encouragement from the towns we passed through … in our three-day adventure. Our sponsors are also crucial to the Ag team success as they provide funding, lunches, snacks, pilot vehicles and much more."
The bed push team became concerned Friday when a storm set in. By 11 a.m, howling winds and heavy snowfall prevailed, creating large drifts. Huber says snow plow trucks and cautious drivers enabled them to continue despite the challenges. Bed pushers wore ski goggles, face coverings and multiple layers to stay warm.
When they arrived at the Regina sign, there was a five-foot drift in front of it, which the Ag team used as opportunity to have some fun and climbed it as a celebratory arrival after all of their hard work.
As of 5 p.m. March 6, Telemiracle had more raised a record setting $8 milion, thanks to groups like the U of S Agros.
