The Village of Hussar found a creative way to show the UFA how they would use five million pennies and for their effort, they won the top prize in the inaugural UFA Rural from the Roots Up - Get 'n' Give contest.
The Village has won $50,000 from UFA for renovations to their hall.
Hussar won the first prize of $50,000.00 in the UFA Get N Give Contest. UFA employees Yvonne Comstock (left) and Ken Scott accept a token of appreciation from Hussar Hall and District Maintenance Society president Peter Sanden.
“Our community hall is the cornerstone of our community. It is necessary to maintain this gathering place as a way to knit the past, present and future of our community together, to keep us connected and remind us where we come from. This money will help us achieve our goals and be a lasting legacy for UFA in keeping rural Alberta strong!” said Wendy Kaiser, Hussar & District Hall Maintenance Society.
The community’s entry consisted of a write up on how they would use the funds, and it was accompanied by a video. The video consisted of a guitar-playing troubadour heading out into the village to find out how it would spend $50,000. The jingle was played to the tune of the Bare Naked Ladies song If I Had a Million Dollars.
The community has been working hard on its fundraising to renovate its hall. Saturday night they held a Steak Fry party at the hall and recognized some of its supporters, including Husky who gave $50,000, Richardson Pioneer has donated $50,000 and CNRL has given $20,000 so far to the project.
“We are going to have a donor wall in our hall and we’ll have different increments to recognize each sponsor,” said committee member Pam Collett.
A unique aspect of the contest is that Hussar now plays a role in who else will benefit.
"It is called The Get 'n' Give Contest and we have gotten. We received $50,000 for winning first place, and now we give. UFA has picked five semi finalists, and from them, we pick who the next prize winner will be,” said Collett.
“We know the five that have been selected and we will choose the second place winner. At a later date the second place winner will pick the third prize winner. So, UFA ends up giving away three prizes of $50,000."
Still in the running are Byemoor, Alberta – Sullivan Lake West Agriculture Society, Clive, Alberta – Neighbourhood Revitalization Group, Foremost, Alberta – Foremost Minor Hockey, Seniors and Legacy Bridge Committee, Hand Hills, Alberta – Hand Hills Lake Community Club and Springdale, Alberta – Liberty Hall Society.
“We are overwhelmed by all of the entries,” said Bob Nelson, President and CEO of UFA Co-operative Limited. “There are many deserving and heartfelt stories of what rural communities would do with $50,000 dollars, but Hussar just went that extra mile. I think every person in that whole village was singing in the video!”
To see the video, visit www.getngiveufa.com/getngive_contest/hussar-district-hall-maintenance-society/#.UnAGOCTJLRY.
