Rural Roundup — Dec. 29, 2022

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This article was published 28/12/2022 (726 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MINNEDOSA

The Christian Service Brigade, a program developed for young boys that teaches generosity in the form of sharing, recently made a donation of $130 to Carol Brown, chairperson of the Minnedosa and Area Food Bank.

On hand for the donation were Raymond Dyck, Daxton Brock, Caleb Laliberte, Matthew Laliberte, Ethan Laliberte, Andrew Gugin, Mason Veltri, Sammy Pacheco, Soren Brock, Douglas Burgess, Hunter White and Jaxon Barnesky.

» The Minnedosa Tribune

The Minnedosa Under 15 boys hockey team showed up in a big way to help out the Minnedosa and Area Food Bank on Dec. 11.

Players not only donated non-perishable food items but also assisted in stocking shelves and filling food hampers for those in need this holiday season.

Player Ethan Turchinski said they all wanted to do something fun to help out the community during the holidays.

“With so many people in our community having supported our team during our games, we felt it beneficial to give back,” he said.

“We like donating our time to help out the community. Even though we haven’t done something like this before, it brought our hockey team together. It’s a good feeling to help out.”

The 18-player hockey team plays under head coach Robin Baron, assistant coaches Ryan Marnock, Josh Bruce and Craig Atkinson and team manager Shawn Turchinski.

“I am very proud of this team of young men. They work very hard on the ice together. It’s nice to see that they can take these skills and use them in other ways off ice,” Turchinski said. “By volunteering within the community, they will be able to take these life lessons and use them in their future.”

Carol Brown, chair of the Minnedosa and Area Food Bank, said it’s always wonderful to see young people in the community helping out.

“It’s so important for them to understand that communities rely on volunteers for many different events and committees and organizations. Without volunteers, our communities would not be as wonderful as they are,” Brown said.

Currently sitting in fourth place in their league, the team has a total of 13 points overall. With 15 games under their belt, they have won five, lost seven and tied three.

Moving forward, the team hopes to make their donation a regular tradition.

» The Minnedosa Tribune

The congregation at the Minnedosa United Church has bid farewell to Eleanor Taylor, a longtime member and accompanist. Taylor worked at the church as a paid accompanist since April 1989. Playing most Sunday mornings, at local funerals and weddings, concerts at the personal care home and many community events, Taylor’s talent was known to many.

“Eleanor is an extremely talented musician who loves to share music whenever she can,” said Michelle Gunnerson. “She plays the piano and also the organ, which is becoming a lost art. Eleanor also accompanied the church choir and when singing anthems for their canatas. Our choir and church congregation certainly miss her.”

When her husband Bob passed away, Taylor moved from their family farm to Brandon and retired from her position at the church. Minister Kathy Plett said Taylor graced the church with the ministry of her music for many years.

“She has made our toes tap and our hearts sing. She has indeed been a gift. Even though she is no longer with us here on a Sunday morning, we definitely hold her close and wish her all the best in her new home in Brandon.”

Currently, Taylor is treating the congregation at Knox United Church in Brandon to her musical skills.

» The Minnedosa Tribune

Six-year-old Henry Buchanan of Minnedosa has been busy raising money to take his family on vacation to the Dominican Republic.

The Grade 1 student is working hard with his granny, Kim Parish, to make, package and sell dog treats to as many people as he can.

At the end of 2020, during a family discussion regarding an upcoming holiday, Henry’s parents Bryce and Lisa joked that if he wanted to come along he needed to pay for himself. Determined to make that flight, Henry recruited his granny, and together the two have embarked on a great experience and rewarding life lesson.

“Henry and Granny made our family’s dog some treats and then tried to sell them to his uncles,” Lisa said. “His uncles bought them … they became a great opportunity to sell them to others.”

With his product line for Henry’s Dog Treats growing, Henry is now making peanut butter, pumpkin, beef, chicken, veggie and choose cookies. He also offers dehydrated chicken feet and freeze-dried chicken hearts and chicken liver. The Buchanan family’s two dogs, Kevin and Betty, are also enjoying the perks of Henry’s trial and errors.

Henry said the best parts of selling his treats are being with his granny and making money. His mother said she and her husband are very proud of their son.

“He does work really hard. His granny has him do as much as he can: measure, mix, cut, bag, label and deliver. He’s learning lots of lessons as he goes.”

Henry was disappointed when he had to pay his first bill, but soon realized he needed more supplies to make more cookies to in turn earn more money.

Five stores offer his homemade doggie treats, including Vint’s Store in Sandy Lake, Gold Leaf Boutique in Minnedosa, Grey Ridge Café and Gifts in the Brandon Shoppers Mall, Brandon Food Rescue and The Paw in Brandon.

» The Minnedosa Tribune

CARBERRY

After taking a break in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canada Pacific (CP) Holiday Train has decorated the province with Christmas spirit, making a stop in Carberry on Dec. 3 and Virden on Dec. 5.

For 23 years the CP Holiday Train has been the highlight of the season for many. At every stop, 30-minute Christmas concerts are performed and Santa Claus makes an appearance.

The CP Holiday Train has evolved over two decades, starting in 1999 as a grassroots program made up of a few cars pulled by a lit locomotive. Since then, the program has transformed to include two trains, 14 cars and measuring approximately 1,000 feet long, all decorated with lights, and a modified boxcar that converts into a stage.

The train reaches more than 160 communities in Canada and the United States over a three-week period. In total, the CP Holiday Train program has raised more than $21-million and collected nearly three million kilograms of food for local food banks across the country.

“The holiday train is all about families and communities coming together to celebrate the season and help those in need,” said Keith Creel, president and chief executive officer of CP. “We are excited to be back out on the rails and in our communities, taking these two beautiful trains across our network and sharing the joy that comes with gathering in the spirit of giving.”

» The Minnedosa Tribune

RIVERS

The Rivers and Area Game and Fish Association (RAGF) welcomed around 200 hunting enthusiasts, family and friends to their 25^th annual trophy buck night at the Riverdale Community Centre on Dec. 10, celebrating a successful 2022 deer hunting season.

About 80 heads were scored, including nine mule deer. Chili and drinks were served and a silent auction took place. Scoring was done by Richie Joynt, Kelvin Lamb, Eric Thiessen, Brent Castle and Lance Anderson.

Due to chronic wasting disease (CWD) sampling, many people brought in mounts or skull caps with horns still attached rather than a full deer head. Also new this year were four trophies available for mule deer.

Trophies were awarded to Adrienne Beaudin, Rachel McClay, Cole Lelond, Alex Airey, Adam Thompson, Ron Taylor, Blaine Lee, Richie Joynt, Andrew Mills, Roger Beaudin, Curtis Wiebe, Pierce Cords, Ryan Elliot, Kelvin Lamb, William Sikora, Marc-Etienne Giroux, Christopher Ryan and Patrick Scott Lewis.

» Rivers Banner

NEEPAWA

Beef producers gathered at the Beautiful Plains Ag Complex in Neepawa to attend the first ever Sister Sale recently, which featured Angus heifers from local breeders Camo Cattle Company, JAS Red Angus and Madsen Angus.

Acting as a spokeswoman for the breeder group, Cam Tibbett welcomed the buyers, who attended in-person and took place in online bidding.

Tibbett said the breeder group wanted to recognize its commercial customers by offering some of their heifers to open the sale. Commercial guest consigners were Bruce Rosling of Gladstone and Matthew and Jewel Kulbacki of Eden.

Many of the purchased heifers were sold as choice of two in the ring, and the buyer got his pick of the two. The remaining heifer went back home. The commercial heifers ranged in price from $2,500 to $3,600 each.

Tibbett said the event showed how much confidence the producers have in their stock. “We were very happy with the first Sister Sale. We are planning for another one next year.”

The group is also gearing up for its annual Buy the Beef sale in early April in Neepawa.

» Neepawa Banner and Press

Representatives of the parent advisory council (PAC), Neepawa Middle School (NMS) students, teachers and Neepawa Gladstone Co-op representatives all gathered at the new NMS playground on Dec. 8 for its grand opening.

The kids at the school have all looked forward to the opening of the playground, said Valerie Parayeski, NMS principal.

“They’re already out playing on it and using it on the weekends. It’s a great benefit not only to the school, but to the community.”

Brian Hedley, general manager for the Co-op, said it’s been fantastic to see the kids and the community enjoy it. Some additions to the structure are planned for the future, including a grand opening barbecue this spring.

» Neepawa Banner and Press