The Reigning Riders have been quite busy planning events, working bingos, partying and spreading good cheer. We have a good mix of girls and boys in the club. Projects include light horse, archery, youth leadership, fitness, veterinary, rodeo, beef heifer, beef feedlot management and range management.
We have been meeting regularly and planning clinics, trips and community service. Our biggest time commitment and fundraiser still continues to be bingos.
This past November club members and leaders went to Agribition for two days and one night. We of course had a blast and were able to see the rodeo, trick riders, jousting tournament, cowboy mounted shooting, did some shopping and even got to ride the mechanical bull.
This Christmas we did something different. We put together and handed out blessing bags in Saskatoon. Usually the club helps ring bells for the Empty Stocking Fund but this year it was difficult to co-ordinate the volunteering dates. So instead we decided to try something new that members saw on the Internet.
Before our Christmas party – which we enjoyed at Apex Trampoline Park – we bought personal items such as warm socks, toques, gloves, toothbrushes and paste, hand lotion, shampoo and conditioner, hot paws and foot warmers, sanitizing lotion, facecloths, deodorant, perfume, cologne, elastics, barrettes, lighters, dehydrated food and Christmas oranges. We stuffed big Ziploc bags full of these items and put them into Christmas gift bags to hand out to the homeless. Some were for women and some for men. Our group then walked around the streets of downtown Saskatoon and realized that there would be no problem in handing them out. People were extremely excited and grateful to receive the bags. At one point one of the families in the club went to buy more supplies to make more bags as we just didn't have enough to go around.
Some opened their blessing bags right in front of us and proceeded to put on the new warm socks, while others were so happy to see food in the bags.
We have already decided next year we will budget more money for this and make a day of it, handing them out in Saskatoon as well as North Battleford.
In the recent months the club has been very busy working bingos and planning events for when the weather permits. We are excited for spring to finally be near.
The club had our club public speaking at the Fort in Battleford March 1. Those who placed moved on to speak at the district level. District 34 speeches were hosted by our own club March 6 at the Fort in Battleford.
The club appreciated again having the use of the beautiful facility at the Fort and also the time and dedication of all the judges who volunteered their time. It’s always a lot of fun listening to the stories and speeches of each member.
We are very excited for the months ahead as the snow melts and we get busy with clinics and activities. We really enjoy our club as we feel like a tightly knit family.
Learn to do by doing is definitely what we do.
We look forward to sharing more of our excitement with you in the future.
