2023 Year In Review
2023 Was a great year!
The 2023 Agricultural Fair was the first fair in many, many years where we earned a profit, thanks to the incredible contributions of local citizens and companies. The Ag Hall is a not for profit corporation, and none of our volunteers are paid, so all of our earnings go back into events and upkeep of the Hall.
We were pleased to have had a successful Market season this past summer, with many local vendors selling produce, baked goods, craft goods, honey, maple syrup, meats and more! Our market is also held indoors, so it is a great place to visit in any weather.
The Hall was also the venue for many community dinners, dances, private events such as weddings and celebrations of life, all of which are made possible by our dedicated volunteers.
The Hall was also honored to receive several grants in 2023 from OMAFRA, the Township of Lanark Highlands, and from the Ontario Trillium Fund (OTF). The OTF grant allowed us to install a new roof and siding on the Dance Hall, upgrade our fire safety system, and install a generator that will allow the Hall to serve as an emergency shelter location for the community in the event of a prolonged power outage. We are proud to offer this service to the community in 2024.
We’ve also been able to put aside some savings to improve our bar area, including applying for a permanent liquor license, which will save us money in the long run by not having to apply for a special occasion permit for every event. This will also help us to make our bar area more visually appealing to customers. The Hall does not receive any form of government funding, so we rely exclusively on grants, donations, and profits from events to fund both our monthly expenditures and our building projects. We are very grateful to the institutions and local community for helping us to achieve our goals.
In 2024, we hope to receive an OTF grant that will allow us to replace our very old windows and improve the efficiency of the furnace we installed in 2022. We also hope to improve our kitchens, and install a shower area that would prove useful to the community in the event of a prolonged power outage. We also hope to apply for grants that allow us to feed the community for free, provide educational courses at a low cost, and make our space more eco friendly. If you have questions about our grant process or the work we’re doing on our building, you can reach out to our Vice President, Erica Racette, at ericadoglady@gmail.com.
In 2024, we look forward to continuing our popular Darts & Games Nights, Community Dinners & Dances, Sunday Markets, and the Agricultural Fair. If you’d like to volunteer with us, please feel free to join us at a monthly meeting on the first Wednesday of each month at the Hall, or contact our President, PattiJo Wilson at pjdavid31@hotmail.com. We’re always looking for volunteers of all skill sets & availability!