CAMROSE, Alta. – The survival of Alberta’s newest farm lobby organization hinges on attracting new members, said the president of Wild Rose Agricultural Producers.
“If we survive depends on the voluntary support from producers,” said Ron Leonhardt.
The organization’s budget is $19,000, a far cry from its more than half million dollar budget four years ago when it was funded by commodity groups, as well as producers.
“It would be better if we had more members,” said Leonhardt, of Drumheller.
“We have to adjust our operation to live within that figure,” he said.
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Only a few hundred members have joined the organization since it was officially changed from Unifarm in January. At that time the group reorganized to a solely producer-funded organization depending on its 1,900 members and their $100 memberships to run the organization.
More expected
“We’ve picked up a few members but it’s not as good as we were hoping for.”
Leonhardt said the group now has to make people aware one of Alberta’s oldest farm organizations is producer-funded and relies on memberships for survival.
They are still trying to sell their three-storey, 900 sq. metre Edmonton office building and rent back the space to help reduce costs.
Staff has been reduced from four to two and the lobbying efforts have also been reduced to save money. The group will also look at other ways to earn money to stay afloat, he said.
