Hussar (Rural Roots Canada ) – “The arena is pretty much the hub for the winter. If you want to see someone in the winter, you go to the rink.”

Brad Dundas, President of the Hussar Agricultural Society, beams with pride as he speaks of his hometown of Hussar and its arena, situated in Wheatland County in southern Alberta.

The tight-knit agricultural community has been selected as the Alberta winner of BASF’s Growing Home program. The award recognizes rural organizations that strengthen the fabric of their communities, something Hussar residents take seriously. As a result, the Hussar Agricultural Society has secured $25,000 to support repairs for the community’s arena, including the Zamboni room.

For this small village of around 180 people, agriculture is more than a livelihood; it’s the foundation of the community. With young families returning to the farm and raising their children, Dundas says the arena has become a focal point for activities like hockey, skating, 4-H, and curling.

The Growing Home program, now in its third year, has seen substantial growth across Canada. Leta LaRush, Vice President of BASF Agricultural Solutions Canada, says it’s designed to support the very organizations that make rural life vibrant.

“We recognize that these organizations are really making rural communities a great place for people to work and live,” said LaRush. “It’s just that. It’s giving back to some of these local communities, which are making all the difference for our customers and our employees to really have a good quality of life in communities like Hussar.”

For Hussar, the support comes at the right time, as the next generation of farm families moves home and the village rallies around keeping its gathering spaces alive and thriving.

“This community rallies together and they stay together, and it’s sure nice to see it,” says Dundas.

Dundas credits the win to all the people in the community and beyond who came out and voted for them.

“It only happens with people, those behind-the-scenes people, that help vote and help us out with the rink with all the cleaning, maintenance and all that,” he said.

Community spirit was on full display the day of the announcement, which coincided with its annual ‘Summer Daze,’ a community celebration that included a parade, pancake breakfast, ball hockey tournament, car show, and activities for kids and families.

LaRush says for BASF, it’s truly rewarding to watch the community gather as a group, filling the arena with energy, sharing stories, and making full use of the arena and other facilities in the village.

“It makes us very happy because we recognize that these organizations are really the heart of the community,” LaRush said.

As the program continues to grow, BASF hopes to encourage even more rural communities to nominate deserving organizations and projects.

“When we started out, BASF invited our customers to nominate worthy causes. It’s important to us that we’re finding a way to give back to these local associations that are at the heart of the rural communities where we work and operate,” said LaRush.

While Hussar took home the top prize in Alberta, BASF also awarded $10,000 and $5,000 runner-up prizes to Buffalo Coulee Community Association and The Eaglesham & District Ag Society, respectively. Rural Roots Canada will have more on these two organizations in the coming weeks.