NORQUAY - Philanthropy is defined as the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes
The Association of Fundraising Professions, South Saskatchewan Chapter, has named Prairie Soil Services Ltd. as one of their Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist Award winners at the National Philanthropy Day Awards celebration held in Regina on Nov. 15.
This award honours a corporation or its corporate foundation for demonstrating outstanding commitment through support, encouragement, and motivation of others to take leadership roles toward philanthropy and community involvement. Nominees in this category must be registered businesses or corporations.
Nominated by STARS Foundation, Prairie Soil Services hosts the annual ‘Thank a Farmer’ event, uniting the farming community and raising funds for local charities. Event recently raised $17,165 for STARS contributing to critical care across Sask.
“We’re hours away from major hospitals and knowing STARS can be here in an emergency rings immense comfort and peace of mind to us and the communities we serve.” Prairie Soil is a vital contributor in bridging access to tertiary care in remote areas
In an exclusive interview with SaskToday.ca, Vice President and COO, Mat Dennison, says that what started in the late 90s as a trials program and field tour day, named ‘Field of Dreams’, has now evolved in an evening called ‘Thank a Farmer’. Prairie Soils, alongside some of their sponsors, put the evening together where local farming community can get together, talk about the year to date, the upcoming harvest while raising some money for the local 4-H Club, STARS air ambulance and the Do More Ag Foundation.
Dennison said they learned a couple of weeks ago that they had been nominated for the award, but had never heard of it before.
Company President and CEO, Parker Summers attended with Dennison for the banquet and awards gala. They enjoyed the company of STARS personnel including a flight nurse. They will proudly display the glass keepsake ornament they were presented from this event.
While Dennison says they were nominated for their fundraising efforts they feel it is a group project as their silent and live auction portion of the evening is helped by sponsors and supported by customers and businesses they deal with.
“It is a true honour on behalf of our community to accept this award,” added Dennison.
These give-back efforts aren’t just limited to this single event. “Wherever we can give back to our locations and in Norquay we do. We focus on kids' sports and around Christmas when people are in need,” affirmed Dennison.
Both Summers and Dennison acknowledge that there is always some connection to STARS directly or indirectly because of not just the agriculture sector and challenges that can present, but rural communities not close to larger emergency hospitals needed when accidents occur. Dennison notes that this is a very easy cause to get behind.
The Prairie Soils VP says he joked with the STARS personnel at his table that while he hopes to never see one of their helicopters up close, their business is certainly proud to support their work.
“Giving back to the people and places we serve is who we’ve always been. In small towns, customers are friends and community. We socialize together, work where we live and if we can be in a position to help those in the community, then it helps everyone,” said Dennison.
Norquay’s Prairie Soil Services, has been a Parkland institution as a family-owned business since 1983. After more than three decades of service to the region, in 2015, the family joined with Regina-based PFM Capital to become Prairie Soil Services Ltd, marking 40 years of service to the area in 2023.
Prairie Soil Services is located an hour northeast of Yorkton and serves a 100-mile radius around its Norquay site. The company also operates seasonal locations at Kamsack, Sturgis, Canora and Yorkton, ensuring their customers get the products and services they need when they need them.
