A popular event around the Lakeland may be coming to an end in the future, unless some changes are made. That was the consensus at last night’s Glendon Ag Society meeting, as the future of the Glendon Derby was up for discussion with the public at the RCMP hall in the village.
Topics of discussion included previous year’s profits, ability to attract drivers and fans, and volunteers needed to put on the event.
“We opened the meeting to the public, to ask if there was interest in having a derby this summer,” says Stacey Sandmeyer, president of the Glendon Ag Society. “We’ve noticed the last three years, our volunteer numbers going down, as well as our derby driver numbers going down.”
The Ag Society says the derby attracts about 3,000 people a year, and sponsorship dollars help it bring in around $18,170 in profit for the society. However, Sandmeyer says volunteer numbers dropping are making it hard to continue being viable.
“We have a planning committee that we need people to come and step up to the plate and help us.”
As for the driver numbers dropping, Sandmeyer says a little bit of that has to due with the economy.
“It’s kind of happening all across the province. It’s expensive to build a car and go to derbys.”
Another meeting on the future Glendon Derby is expected, and will be announced on the group’s Facebook page.