The City of Weyburn is asking for volunteers to step forward to take over the Weyburn Wheat Festival board, after the chair resigned, citing an inability to find volunteers to help her organize the event.
The main events of the Wheat Festival will still be held, and city council will re-evaluate after the event whether the board should be dissolved.
Maureen Clay sent a letter to the city advising that she is no longer able to continue coordinating the event, held in August one week after the long weekend.
“I have been unsuccessful finding committee members. I will turn over the bank account as requested by the city, and hope the accumulated funds will support other agencies that will continue educating the public about our agricultural importance,” said Clay in her letter to the city.
Mayor Debra Button assured that the main events for that weekend, including the Heritage Days at the Heritage Village with children’s activities and demonstrations, and the bread-baking contest hosted at the Soo Line Historical Museum, will still go ahead regardless.
“I hope the word gets out, if there are interested people. We’re closing in on the 20th anniversary of the event. It would be a shame to lose that,” said Coun. Rob Stephanson, noting that the late Coun. Marlene Nedelcov spent a lot of time and effort with the committee working to keep the event going.
The city established the board as a committee of council in 1997, to be comprised of at least 11 members, including a city staff person.
