There’s gonna be a party!
By Joan Janzen
Harvest is done, the crops are in, and the garden produce has been gathered. Now that most of the work is done, the Leipert family from Kindersley is ready to have some fun, and they are inviting people to join them!
Jason, Nancy, and their daughters Emily and Roxanne Leipert will be hosting a pork and beef roast supper on Saturday, November 5th at their farm. “Everyone in the neighbourhood is welcome to come, even if they don’t know us,” Jason said. He’s extending the invitation to this free event to his rural neighbours in Brock, Netherhill, Kindersley, Flaxcombe, Madison and Glidden.
Jason and Nancy want to get to know their neighbours, and they can’t think of a better way to do it than to invite them to come to their farm shop for supper, a bonfire and a dance. “There’s so many new people that moved into the area that we don’t really know some of our neighbours, even though they only live a short distance away,” Jason explained. “Back in the day, you knew all your neighbours and interacted with them. Nobody does that anymore.”
Jason and Nancy Leipert and their children Emily and Roxanne.
He realized that now that farms have become so big, there are fewer people available to attend gatherings in small communities. “There aren’t enough people in that little area to make it work,” Jason said, which is why the Leiperts have set a limit of 500 guests for their harvest wind-up. Those wishing to attend need to RSVP by October 19th. Supper begins at 5:00 p.m., and Nancy said she won’t start kicking people off the property until 2:00 a.m.
“We’re full-time farmers. Jason took over his dad’s farm about three years ago. He’s a third-generation farmer. We had an average year, so we might as well celebrate something,” Nancy said.
The family’s three farm employees will be on hand to help out with the celebrations. Family Foods will be supplying the salads; Kindersley Packers will be preparing the meat, the Kindersley Co-op will provide the buns; and Nancy is making a Costco run to pick up dessert.
There will be a cash bar, with at least three designated drivers available to give people rides home at the end of the evening. A fun time of karaoke is on the agenda for the talented and brave folks in the crowd. And kids are welcome to come along with their parents, as the family is planning some fun activities for the younger crowd.
“This is my way to give back to people at places where we do business and where we shop,” Nancy said. “We’re trying to give people the night off who usually do all the work. This isn’t a fundraiser. It’s just here’s some food; come out and have some fun. For some farmers, it’s been their second year of having no crop. The community can really use an evening out.”
Meanwhile, Jason is excited about the response he’s received so far. One farmer said he plans to attend, even though he’s receiving radiation treatments. “Another farmer asked if he could bring a family from Ukraine. I’m pretty stoked about that,” Jason said. “We’re pretty excited. We’re hoping for a good turnout because it’s a lot of work.”
Jason and Nancy’s girls have put up posters at school, the information is available on social media, and they have flyers and placed ads in the paper, all in an effort to get the word out. Nevertheless, Nancy said she’ll be shocked if they get 500 people out.
“It’s about getting together, visiting, chatting and being normal. That’s what I envision,” Jason said. It looks like there’s gonna be a party at the Leipert farm!