The Yorkton SnoRiders Snowmobile Club recently purchased a new trail groomer. The new John Deere tractor was paid for by club funds saved over the years as well as donations from loyal corporate sponsors, says club president Jason Popowich.
The purchase was necessitated by a tough year for the club's trail groomers, Popowich explains. Last year two major breakdowns made it obvious that the SnoRiders needed to upgrade their trail grooming equipment. In selecting the new John Deere tractor, the club recognized that current farm tractors are built for today's extreme winter conditions. Parts and service are both available locally. "We believe if we have a local business supporting us, we should be trying to support local businesses any way we can," Popowich states. It was decided to mount a track kit on an agricultural machine and use one of the drags from a groomer the club had sold.
In addition to existing funds, donations and local corporate support, money from the trail fund, sale of memberships and fundraisers will all help[ to pay for the new trail groomer, Popowich says.
Popowich points out that all Yorkton SnoRiders trail groomers carry a decal with the photo of a groomer operated by former long time club member Phil Lane, one of the two original trail groomer operators who passed away last fall after a brief battle with cancer. "In his honor we decided to put a decal with his picture on all our trail groomers," Popowich closes.
