National Volunteer Week | April 21 - Meet Doug McAllister

National Volunteer Week is upon us! The Strathmore & District Agricultural Society would like to take this time to highlight some of our outstanding volunteer that help us out!

Today we would like to introduce to you Doug McAllister! Doug has been a long time volunteer with the AG Society, helping out a several events such as the Strathmore Stampede, Stampede Fright Night & Celebration of Lights. We asked Doug about his volunteer experience & why he thinks it’s important.

1. Why do you volunteer?

“I believe the volunteering is important as we should support our community and the activities they do”

2. When did you get involved with the organization?

“I got involved about give years ago, initially with the Strathmore Stampede as a Tractor Driver for the People Movers. I was upset when Covid happened as nothing was going on. Once things settled down, I came back to volunteering with the Stampede and have also helped out at Stampede Fright Night & Celebration of Lights to assist with set up and take down.

3. What attracted you to this organization in particular?

“I am a firm believer in helping out the community you live in. Without volunteers, nothing could go on or happen. There are so many things you can do to help out your community and it’s a great way to get involved”

4. Do you have a message to share?

“There are so many different thing you can do to gill your time and volunteering is a great thing. All types of people can come and volunteer and you get to meet so many different groups of people. I encourage youth of the community to come and volunteer for a shift or two as well to give you something to do and learn from others”

Doug McAllister is not pictured in this photo - thank you to this amazing volunteer as well!

National Volunteer Week | April 20 - Meet Alex & Terry Toth

National Volunteer Week is upon us! The Strathmore & District Agricultural Society would like to take this time to highlight some of our outstanding volunteer that help us out!

Today we would like to introduce you to Alex & Terry Toth! The couple are relatively new to our organization as they begun their volunteer journey in 2022 with the Celebration of Lights! Since their start, they have both been great help in setting up and organizing everything to do with the Celebration of Lights park including Santa’s Cottage! We asked Alex & Terry about their volunteer experience & why they think it’s important.

1. Why do you volunteer?

Alex: “I volunteer to try to share my experiences, knowledge and create a wide social circle!”

Terry: “To give back - whether it is your community or to others. I think it’s important to help others where you can and share your talents and gifts when you can.

2. What motivates you to stay involved?

Alex: “Motivation for being and staying involved is to keep occupied and expand the knowledge of Strathmore, its people and its history by being a part of its future. Expanding my (our) friends and acquaintances”

Terry: “I like how this organization welcomes all and makes you feel like apart of their family”

3. In your opinion, what is the most important work this organization does?

Alex: “The AG in Strathmore is an essential organization brining people together. It creates an atmosphere of past and present activities while preparing a greater future for Strathmore”

Terry: “Bringing the community together. There is no better example of this then the Celebration of Lights. The community comes together working a multitude of jobs and hours to make this event happen every year, and making the thousands of visitors feel welcome and apart of it. It is such a wonderful experience to be a part of”

4. What do you hope the organization will achieve in the near future/long term?

Alex: “The AG will be successful and reach its long term goals through the excellent people involved in the every day running, the people planning as well as initiating future plans and the excellent board of directors it supports. Lets not forget the group of volunteers and their leaders it takes to pull off any of the AG Societies events”

Terry: “I would love to see this event continue to in the direction it has taken this year. With all of the great support it has I am positive that this will happen. Long term I think this event, as all things, must continue to change and evolve to stay relevant thus ensuring it’s survival”

5. Does anyone in your life play a role in supporting your involvement or providing inspiration?

Alex: “The people (volunteers) I have been involved with are the greatest people for supporting involvement, creating a want to the involved atmosphere thus giving support and inspiration to ideas and relating experiences to help expand and grow as well as improve the experience created for the public. Seeing the joy on the faces of the visitors at the COL is a fulfilling reward!”

Terry: “My husband is my greatest supporter. But along with that the amount of support from all of the volunteers with the Celebration of Lights and staff from the AG Society was overwhelming. Their welcoming support inspires me to become a better person”

National Volunteer Week | April 19 - Meet Troylene Hofer

National Volunteer Week is upon us! The Strathmore & District Agricultural Society would like to take this time to highlight some of our outstanding volunteer that help us out!

Today we would like to introduce you to Troylene Hofer! Troy has been a long time volunteer with the Strathmore Stampede, practically volunteering in every area there is over the last 20+ years. She has worked in all of our beer gardens, parking and is now helping in our Private Suites! We asked Troy a few questions about her experience volunteering & why she thinks it’s important.

1. When did you get involved in this organization?

“20+ years ago I was buying tickets for the fill rodeo so I decided that I would volunteer! I started out working in the main beer gardens. The year after that they had me in Main, North & South [beer gardens]. On the third year, the girls I volunteered for asked if I would like to take over for them as Committee Head. Yes. ALL the Beer Gardens. I was very happy and had very many friends & family who got recruited and as I put it ‘voluntold’. We had a blast! On Saturday nights I would spend an extremely long one also working the cabaret. I took two years off and when I cam back I volunteered in parking and people movers. The next year I once again became the Committee Head for Handicap & Seniors parking, General Parking, People Movers and Free Camping. Let me tell you - busy was an understatement! I loved every second of it. I ran that part for 10-12 years. I left for another year & then came back to volunteer in just general parking. As lucky as usual, I was again in my comfort zone with my rodeo family & was asked again to be a Committee Head for Private Suites. I absolutely love it! For the very first time, I get to see a large portion of the ever loved Rodeo!”

2. What do you hope the organization will achieve in the near future and/or long term?

“I hope the organization in the future & long term can have a little Midway back, although they did a great job filling the gap of that being gone. Also, we are getting there, but I would like every performance to be sold out!”

3. Does anyone in your life play a role in supporting your involvement?

“My wonderful volunteers & my man keep me well inspired to carry on. I also love the prestige that the Ag Society give us for all our help!”

4. What attracted you to volunteering for the Strathmore Stampede?

“I was attracted to this rodeo as I sponsored Chuckwagons & the Wild Pony Racing. Strathmore was just the best! Well organized, free parking, free camping & amazing entertainment!”

5. Why do you volunteer?

“I volunteer because I love the feeling of helping & giving of myself! I also love my rodeo family!”

6. What contribution or achievement are you most proud of?

“I think my biggest achievement of all was mentoring my younger volunteers. I got a call one year from management that one of my volunteers mother’s had asking for my phone number. Her son has volunteered for me and was an absolute blessing, smart & worked very long hours when someone wouldn’t show up. He was graduating & his mom invited me to his high school graduation party! Talk about thrilled beyond! I went and enjoyed meeting his whole family and friends!”

National Volunteer Week | April 18 - Meet Karri Geiger

National Volunteer Week is upon us! The Strathmore & District Agricultural Society would like to take this time to highlight some of our outstanding volunteers that help us out!

Today, we would like to introduce you to Karri Geiger! Karri has been volunteering with us since 2003 when her and her family moved here from Medicine Hat. She is very heavily involved with the Strathmore Ag Society, attending multiple of our events as a volunteer to help out in any way she can! Those events include the Cowboy Town Concert, Strathmore Stampede, Celebration of Lights & the Rodeo School. We asked Karri a few questions about her experience volunteering & why she thinks it’s important.

1. What attracted you to volunteering?

“Being a new family to the community, with interested in all the awesome events that were hosted at the grounds which offered a great variety & being an animal lover with the amazing rodeo events”

2. What are your activities and what do they involve?

“I am the Volunteer Coordinator for the Celebration of Lights & Strathmore Stampede Volunteer Corral lead. My activities included organization, contacting & scheduling volunteers for events, [as well as] setting up for events and working with all volunteers throughout the event”

3. What motivates you to stay involved?

“The joy it gives me to help and provide amazing events & entertainment for visitors from all over the country that enjoy your dedication & commitment to our community. It is a great feeling of responsibility and trust for team building”

4. What contributions or achievements are you most proud of?

“I am very proud of the dedication I have been able to give over the years & look forward to many more. Another great accomplishment is having the complete honor to take of Santa’s Cottage & Celebration of Lights Volunteer with 2022 being my first season with an amazing team of volunteers, directors and staff.”

5. What do you hope the organization will achieve in the near future and/or long term?

“I have hope a midway for our Strathmore Stampede could be secured, or some kid of area that would satisfy visitors that really crave that entertainment”

6. Does anyone in your lift play a role in supporting your involvement?

“My husband that is semi-retired has been very understanding and like that I enjoy helping. He is considering trying some volunteering, which I think is an awesome way to meeting new people, help our community & always have some fun!”

7. Why do you volunteer?

“I love helping people, and enjoy every minute watching kids, seniors and adults with the biggest smiles”

National Volunteer Week | April 17 - Meet Lori Roes

National Volunteer week is upon us! The Strathmore & District Agricultural Society would like to take this time to highlight some of our outstanding volunteers that help us out!

Today we would like to introduce you to Lori Roes! Lori has been a long time volunteer with the Strathmore Stampede. Her volunteer experience first started in Admissions where she assisted in wristbanding the guests as they came through the grounds. From there Lori transitioned to selling 50/50 throughout the weekend. We asked Lori a few questions about her experience volunteering & why she thinks it’s important.

1. What attracted you to volunteering at the Strathmore Stampede?

“I have loved and attended the Heritage Days Stamped in Strathmore for nearly 40 year. The atmosphere and small town feel is so much fun, and being inches away from the action is second to none.”

2. What motivates you to stay involved?

“Seeing the rodeo and chuckwagons yearly is a huge bonus [to volunteering]. Getting to see friends and acquaintances throughout the weekend is probably my biggest motivation. Heritage Days brings in thousands of people from near and far that I look forward to seeing every year”

3. Why do you volunteer?

“I volunteer as a way to give back to my town. I love being a part of such a great weekend”

4. What other organizations or causes do you support?

“I have volunteered for the Senior Games that were held in Strathmore, the Christmas Hamper Society and volunteer weekly at the Wheatland County Foodbank”