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The community of Mossbank is in the running to win $25,000 through BASF's Growing Home Contest to help upgrade their Centennial Rink. The funding would go toward replacing the rink’s aging artificial ice compressor system.
Mossbank entered the contest through Farm It Forward, a charitable non-profit organization founded in 2017. The group is run by local farmers with a mission to enhance community well-being through collective efforts. They farm together, rent land from local producers, and reinvest profits into the town. Through an application process, individuals and organizations can apply for funding for projects, renovations, or community initiatives.
Sarah Jolly, a member of Farm It Forward, said the need at the rink is urgent.
“We applied on behalf of our rink — the Mossbank Centennial Arena. We like to call it the Polar Dome. We are definitely one of the coldest rinks in southern Saskatchewan and we love it that way and we carry that brand with pride. So we put in the application on behalf of our rink because we have to replace our artificial ice plant compressor system. We have rebuilt it numerous times — it's the original plant that was put in the rink when it was built. And it's been rebuilt, and now we need to replace it, and it's a massive bill. The total bill is well over $400,000.”
Jolly said the final cost could be closer to $600,000, depending on how much of the existing system can be salvaged. So far, the community has raised about $160,000, and winning the $25,000 prize would be a big help.
“I think anybody from a small town or even from Moose Jaw — even though it's a city — there's a lot of people from small towns and a lot of people who have spent time in small-town rinks. You know how important a rink is to a community. It keeps us alive and going through the winter,” Jolly said.
Voting is open until April 15 at 11:59:59 p.m. To support Mossbank’s effort, you can vote for them by visiting agro.basf.ca/growinghome. Make sure to select the Saskatchewan option, scroll down to “Farm It Forward,” and click Vote to show your support.