Hussar Ag Society finalist for BASF Growing Home grant 

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Hussar Agricultural Society is among the three finalist organizations in Alberta for Growing Home with BASF which will be awarded portions of a $160,000 prize fund.

BASF Agricultural Solutions developed their Growing Home initiative to support organizations acting as a backbone for rural communities. It serves to help spread awareness about these organizations serving to positively impact their communities.

The program was launched in 2023 as BASF’s marquee community giving program. In its first year, as well as in 2024, the program offered $25,000 as the sole award for one organization in each province.

Among the prizes available this year, the first-place winner will receive $25,000. The second and third place prizes, respectively, are $10,000 and $5,000 each.

“We have a really strong agricultural group and community in Hussar, so when we knew that this grant money was available, we definitely wanted to apply to help show the support to our area and help keep our facilities open and keep our activities happening,” said Ashley Kirkpatrick, secretary treasurer for the Hussar Agricultural Society. “The application was like, what roles do you play in agriculture, or the way your community supports agriculture was one of the main (criteria), and then it was either a project or why you thought you would deserve and fit into the values of BASF as a whole.”

Kirkpatrick explained a brand-new ice plant was established in Hussar in 2020, and the Agricultural Society is in the final payments of that project.

The goal for the winnings is to go towards the ice plant, as well as other upgrades such as roofing repairs.

Placement for the prize winners now that the finalists have been established will be based on votes submitted to the contest prior to the April 15 deadline.

Any person who is over the age of 18, regardless of their home community, is eligible to cast a vote for the organization they would like to see most funded.

“You get one vote per province so you can vote for the other provinces as well if their finalists were something you resonated with as well,” said Kirkpatrick.

Kasia Kistelski, external communications manager with BASF, explained finalist organizations were evaluated largely based on their submitted nomination story.

This application needed to include information about why a respective community was deserving of the grand prize, what they intend to do with the money, their community story, their purpose, and what services they provide, among other criteria.

“Back in 2023 we were trying to find a way to give back bigger and better and this was my passion project. We had a program that was very similar that we just needed to elevate and revamp to try and get more engagement from our customers,” said Kistelski. “It is really heartwarming to see the amount of nominations that we get. In the first year, we were seeing over 400 nominations … and in 2023 we only expanded the program for Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.”

In 2024, as well as this year, BASF saw over 600 nominations for the Growing Home initiative.

For those who are interested in voting and having input on the victors, they will have until 11:59 p.m. April 15, mountain standard time, and are able to do so online (www.agsolutions.ca/growinghome).