UNITY - In what would have been the 40th year of hosting a combined event, Unity Ag Society’s Fall Fair and Trade Show is once again on the cancellation list for this year.
The group, when announcing last year’s cancellation, made a hopeful Facebook post scheduling the 2021 event for Oct. 1 and 2. However, the prolonged pandemic has again interfered, forcing the Ag Society to sideline this event once again.
Unity Ag Society President Elaine Sperle said, "There were multiple aspects to consider in making this decision that was made earlier this year. We considered the expense of paying rent on the facility and then another shutdown being announced or even limitations to gatherings and events that would impact our income and expenses, therefore it was one of the factors in this decision."
Sperle also said they had to consider their exhibitors as in a normal year of this event between 1500-1700 people travel through and this would make it very hard for exhibitors to keep cleaning product. As well, if exhibitors ordered extra product to have at the show and then a shutdown was announced near event date, they would be stuck with that inventory.
Additionally, the Ag Society said they wanted to ensure the health and safety of their organizers, exhibitors and attendees, so their group was uncertain if their small team of organizers that includes four executive and around a dozen volunteers would be able to manage and police such a huge task.
With the Sept. 16 Saskatchewan government announcement, Sperle said, "If we had gone ahead with this event, we would have had very little time to prepare for additional help and to monitor masks and vaccine status. The health and safety of everyone involved in an event of this size, as well as our community, was our first and foremost priority."
This is the Unity Ag Society’s largest event, bringing in the greatest revenue for the group. This year's cancellation will definitely impact the group’s bottom line and force them to make prudent financial choices once again. The Ag Society pays for the maintenance and power bill at the Agroplex and with very little income coming in this past 18 months of the prolonged pandemic, they did not want to incur further expenses with this annual fall fair and trade show. Although, Sperle affirms, this will not affect their annual bursary given to UCHS graduates.
“This was a great opportunity to gather with friends and neighbours to discuss the summer and the harvest, enjoy a community business sponsored breakfast that benefitted a local charity, shop at the trade show and browse at the fall fair as well as have lunch or supper options. The Ag Society did a great job of hosting and we will sure miss this opportunity again, but fully understand the decision,” said one avid fair goer.
