A warm hello from your Region 6 Executive/Advisory Council.

We hope your crop is growing and you can take a day off to join us at Gardiner Dam at the north end of Lake Diefenbaker for a day of visiting, sharing a potluck lunch, and hearing two short presentations. It promises to be a really fun day! Mark your calendar for Sunday July 31^st for the NFU Picnic. Gardiner Dam is 108 km from Saskatoon, 211 km from Regina, 201 km from Swift Current.

Entry to the Park and picnic area is free for those 65 and up or with a Provincial Parks seasonal pass, otherwise it is $10/car. Our event will be near the Visitor Centre

For overnight stays, there are two nearby campsites. Danielson Provincial Park is full service ($33/night) and Caldwell Park with no water or electricity ($20/night). Camping permits are available at the Visitor Centre (open 9 to 5 p.m. phone 1-306-857-5500). There are motels in Outlook or Elbow as well.

Our gathering will be on the grassy treed area on the beach by the Visitor Centre. No pets are allowed on the beach. Sun shelters can be erected if anyone has such an item. Bring comfortable chairs and if you can transport a folding table, that could be useful, as others may be using the picnic tables. Bring your bathing suit if you’d like to go for a swim – the beach and lake are very inviting.

Potluck is at 12 noon. Last year the food at our potluck was fantastic so it will be worth the trip to share in the delicious offerings. If the weather is inclement, we will move inside to the theatre.

Our program will include a presentation highlighting the 60^th Anniversary of Medicare and a presentation critiquing the Lake Diefenbaker irrigation and water diversion mega project. We will be able to visit an irrigation canal and hear details of present-day water use for irrigation. Speakers will be announced closer to the day.

We also encourage everyone to take some time to visit the displays and watch a video to learn more of the history and geography of the area, the lake and the dams.

So good folks, if you have a hankering for an outing while summer is at its best, pack some food, your lawn chairs and what you need to enjoy the water. Invite your friends and NFU members and head out to Gardiner Dam early on Sunday July 31^st. The day promises to be interesting and a lot of fun! We’re looking forward to seeing you there!