Ag students taking to the road

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This article was published 23/09/2019 (2266 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Portage la Prairie and Starbuck residents will soon see a strange vehicle on local streets.

About 50 University of Manitoba agriculture students will be running through the two communities pushing a rickety metal bed in what has become an annual tradition and a worthwhile fundraiser for a selected charity.

Students Camella Boyachek and Willem Boersma, both from Portage la Prairie, are this year’s charity representatives for the U of M’s Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences’ Aggie Bedpush that is taking place in Portage on Fri., Sept. 27 and in Starbuck on Sat., Sept. 28.

“This year we chose STARS Air Ambulance as our charity,” Boyachek said.

While the annual event is a fun way for the agriculture students to get to know one another, it’s also a moneymaker as Boyachek reports that over $11,000 was raised for Ronald McDonald House in 2018-19 and about $10,000 for Manitoba Farmers with Disabilities three years ago.

Boyachek said students enrolled in both the U of M’s agriculture diploma and degree programs participate in the event. Typically two people run along pushing the bed while others run behind.

“We will have a STARS vehicle accompanying us,” she said.
Donations can be made directly to the students during their run or through https://uofmaggies.ca

Boyachek said the Portage run will begin at the Co-op Food Store (2275 Saskatchewan Ave. W) at noon and end at Stride Credit Union (19 Royal Road N) where a fundraising barbecue hosted by Portage Co-op and Stride CU will be held from noon to 2 p.m.

The run through Starbuck will begin at the Starbuck Sports Centre (60 Arena Blvd.) at 5:30 p.m. and end at the Dawn Til Dusk Convenience Store (10 Main St.).  

The students are also running through the U of M Campus, MacGregor, Carberry and Minnedosa on Sept. 27 and Boissevain, Baldur and Manitou on Sept. 28.