Lloydminster and District Co-op is partnering with the Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Association with a canola bag sales promotion. (Submitted Photo/Lloyd Exh and Krista Thiessen)

By Josh Ryan

Promotional partnership

Lloyd Co-op partners with Lloyd Exhibition for pandemic support

Sep 14, 2020 | 5:37 PM

Amidst financial difficulties from the pandemic, the Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Association is getting a leg up from one of its biggest local partners.

Lloydminster and District Co-op is running a promotion for the next six weeks which will donate $5 from every bag of canola seed sold. The promotion will take place at the four Lloyd Co-op locations (two in Lloydminster and one each in Lashburn and Neilburg). All donations will go toward the Lloyd Exh.

Lloyd Co-op CEO Leanne Hawes said they have a responsibility to ensure the sustainability of local communities as a member-owned organization.

“We take the meaning of community to heart,” Hawes said. “And we were answering the call to help support the Lloyd Exh in light of the economic implications of COVID-19.”

The donations are meant to sustain the Lloyd Exh until winter, to offset the fixed costs of more than $100,000 a month during a period of plummeting revenues. Hawes said they want to highlight the organizations needs, as well as their community value.

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“For the wellbeing of residents, but also the economic benefits that they bring to this area as well,” she said.

Lloyd Exh General Manager Jenelle Saskiw said they were thrilled to have this support during a critical time. Based on COVID-19 protocols, there’s been no pathway for hosting events the facilities rely on, resulting in a 90 per cent decline in revenues and the cancelling of marquee events like Colonial Days and the CPCA Finals.

“Event centres have basically been shut out of the reopen strategy,” Saskiw said. “We’re limited as to what type of activities we can have, so it’s really had a huge impact on our overall opportunity to generate revenue.”

Because of this, staff are looking for creative solutions to still allow events to take place once they have a go ahead from the province. Saskiw said they’ve had plenty of interest from various groups for scheduling events.

“We have lots of bookings for next year,” she said. “As soon as we get the greenlight from the government that we can start operating again, I’m confident we’ll be able to operate at full capacity again, whatever that looks like for numbers.”

Currently, the Lloyd Exh does have one event scheduled November 4 to 7, with the Stockade Roundup, the only cattle show that will take place in Canada in 2020. If organizers can get provincial permission for further events, they hope to keep their annual craft show intact. The Stockade building can normally seat 1,200 people, which has Saskiw confident they can hold events with 150 to 200 people safely, ensuring COVID-19 protocols. But for now, they are thankful for this support.

“We’re grateful for the partnership from Co-op, and we’re hoping others may follow suit,” Saskiw said.

The promotion for canola bag sales runs until October 30.

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports