ROCHESTER – Community halls are a staple of rural communities; from bingo nights to harvest dinners and dances, they act as a gathering place for people of all ages.
That’s part of the reason the Rochester Agricultural Society is excited to have the Rochester Community Hall up and running again, after the building was out of operation for a year-and-a-half following damage to the roof that required a replacement.
“We’re really excited to get events going again,” said Jessie Borris, the society’s president. “We want to be able to continue providing cheap, fun, family entertainment and kind of keep Rochester alive.”
To celebrate the renewal of the hall, the society brought out a variety of community groups for a quick tradeshow-style event — churches, the school, FCSS, and more all set up tables to let the community know what was happening in and around the hamlet.
“At the end of the day, it’s about getting the people to come out and check out the different members of the community,” said Borris. “The community can come out to see what’s available to them.”
The society chose Sept. 21 for their event to coincide with the provincial Agricultural Societies Day, which recognizes and appreciates the work groups like Rochester Ag do for their communities.
“Ag societies are the backbone of many rural communities, and have been for decades,” said Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation RJ SIgurdson. “Take a moment to appreciate agricultural societies and the folks who dedicate so much time and energy to ensuring their communities are excellent places to live.”
Like many groups however, the Rochester Ag Society has struggled to find new volunteers as the older generation slowly ages out. Borris said the group is always looking for new faces, regardless of their age.
“It brings a freshness to the board and to our events and activities,” she said.
