The Yorkton Chamber of Commerce has long been an ally to the local agriculture industry. They view it as so important to the city of Yorkton that they have enshrined it in their constitution, making promoting agriculture one of their objectives.
Juanita Polegi, executive director of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce explains that they do this by sponsoring and promoting agriculture programs.
That includes things like the Pizza Farm program, which teaches kids where a pizza comes from starting with the raw ingredients, working with the Ministry of Agriculture. Another example is the Crops of the Parkland display near the Chamber office, which educates people on the different crops that are raised in the region.
It also includes Harvest Showdown and the Grain Expo, with the Yorkton Exhibition Association, as well as through different publications that give information to local farmers and businesses.
“We try to recognize our ag businesses for their accomplishments and achievements wherever possible.”
The city of Yorkton is built on agriculture, and Polegi says that businesses in the city are all affected by the way the agriculture industry moves. Good years can result in business expansion and development, as has happened with ag equipment dealers in and around the city. Bad years also affect everyone, as the spin off of ag business can hit a wide spectrum of businesses.
“We’ve got a huge trading area made up primarily of rural people, and Yorkton is very fortunate that farmers and ranchers in the area continue to support the businesses in and around Yorkton.”
She notes that the impact is not necessarily obvious. While there are many businesses that directly support and supply farmers – agriculture equipment dealers, feed suppliers and so on – there are many others that people might not immediately associate with farm sales, such as small engine repair businesses, fuel and other support businesses. The net goes wider than that for a city like Yorkton, as many other businesses benefit when a farmer and their family come into town to handle that end of the business, whether they’re taking advantage of the city’s hospitality industry or buying clothing or eyeglasses.
“The agriculture community contributes to the entire business community.”
Because of that wide impact, Polegi says that the Chamber recognizes the impact agriculture makes within and around the city of Yorkton.
“I’ve heard from businesses over and over that when the farm community struggles, ultimately the business community struggles. So I think that the Chamber and it’s member businesses have a real appreciation for the contributions that farmers and ranchers make to the local economy.”
