Written by Leah Bauer
On Sunday, July 5, community members, farm workers, and members of the local OPP gathered at Wind-Del Community Park for the Farm to Farm Tug of War and OPP versus Farm Worker Soccer Match. The highly anticipated annual event brought hundreds together in support of The Chill Spot and On the Farm magazine.
The event has been held for the past three years to support temporary farm workers, encourage community integration, and raise awareness for On the Farm magazine. This year’s gathering was especially significant, as it marked the first year of The Chill Spot while also introducing several new activities.
The work of The Chill Spot goes hand in hand with the mission of the annual event. While both offer temporary farm workers an opportunity to relax and enjoy themselves, organizer Leanne Arnal, founder of The Chill Spot, said the goal reaches far beyond a day of entertainment.
Inclusion and support for temporary farm workers are at the heart of everything Arnal does. Her mission is to eliminate the idea that temporary farm workers are “apart from the community rather than a part of the community.”
Arnal hopes the OPP versus Farm Worker Soccer Match and The Chill Spot will help temporary farm workers become “integrated into the community,” where everyone feels “invited and welcomed, rather than just being people out in a field.”
Although that mission is an ambitious one, the event proves that community building can also be a lot of fun. The third annual OPP versus Farm Worker Soccer Match showcased how inclusion and community engagement can bring people together through friendly competition.
This year featured several new attractions, including a dunk tank, where participants could make a donation for the chance to dunk community leaders, farm owners, and OPP members. Other additions included a cricket match and a jerk chicken eating contest.
While the primary goal of the event is to bring together people from all walks of life for an afternoon of fun, a little healthy competition is always welcome.
Competition results included:
- Farm to Farm Soccer: Hedges Apples – 1st; Proplant – 2nd
- Tug of War: Sweet Grown – 1st; Hedges Apples – 2nd
- Jerk Chicken Eating Contest: Tempo from T&S Gignac
- OPP versus Farm Worker Soccer Match: Farm Workers
Proceeds from the annual event support the work of Arnal and the volunteers at The Chill Spot. Those who were unable to attend but would still like to support the initiative can inquire about sponsorship opportunities by contacting Leanne at norfolkcommunityinaction123@gmail.com.
Support for The Chill Spot helps ensure temporary farm workers feel welcomed and included in the local community. For years, these workers have served as the backbone of Canada’s agricultural industry, and initiatives such as The Chill Spot recognize and celebrate their contributions.
