Dave Ogilvie
It took a lot of hard work and many hours of organizing by the members of the Emo and District Lions Club.
In the end, however, their inaugural “Farmers Night” dinner on Friday was deemed a huge success by both their members and most people on hand.
“We’re really pleased with the support we received,” enthused club president Jason Lilley.
Tickets sold so quickly that the limit of 200 was reached well before March 25, forcing the club to print an additional 40 tickets.
Even then, calls still were coming in on the morning of the dinner in hopes of getting a couple of last-minute tickets.
The first “Farmers Night,” according to available information, was initiated by a Rotary Club in Chicago in 1930 as a way of bringing members of the agricultural and business communities together for an evening of good food and entertainment.
Since then, it has become an annual event across North America, where people from all walks of life can show their appreciation to those in farming who are responsible for getting the food from the farm to the tables of their various communities.
Those on hand at the Emo and District Lions Club’s inaugural “Farmers Night” left with the feeling that the evening was the beginning of something that will be celebrated here in Rainy River District for many years to come.
Not only did everyone enjoy a roast beef dinner supplied by the Emo Legion, they also left with a grab bag of gifts donated by agricultural businesses, organizations, merchants, and individuals from across the district and beyond.
Each person in attendance also received a gift ranging from a hat or a travelling mug to overnight stays in hotels and gift certificates from a wide variety of businesses.
“We would like to thank all of the organizations and businesses that so generously supported our first ‘Farmers Night,’” said Lilley.
Each sponsor’s name and donation was read from the stage as tickets were drawn for all 282 donated items.
The gift that received the greatest reaction from everyone was the 25 chickens from Berg’s Hatchery in Russell, Man. that were won by Louise Bliss.
There were so many prizes to call out that between the draws, members of the “Country Jam” entertained the crowd with some well-known tunes.
From the positive comments and reactions received at the close of the evening and in the days that followed, it looks like the Emo and District Lions Club will be busy next winter planning another “Farmers Night,” which no doubt will take place sometime in late March.
