The Ashern Pioneer Museum’s annual general meeting (AGM) brought forth new board members and plans for the year ahead.
The museum held its AGM on April 23 with the aim of making plans for 2025 and securing a larger board. Two new board members joined, and three past board members returned. With those numbers, secretary Priscilla Ebbers said they can continue with this year’s plans.
The museum received a grant to hire a summer student again this year. Because they were unable to fill the position last year, they’re hoping to make use of the grant for 2025. Summer students make it possible to keep the museum open throughout the summer. They work in July and August curating the museum, welcoming visitors, cataloguing and placing artifacts, cleaning the buildings, cutting the lawn, watering flowers and keeping the place active. Without them, the museum can’t open as often or to the capacity it would like.
Anyone interested in the summer student position can contact the museum at ashernmuseum@gmail.com.
“It’s to keep our history alive in our local area,” said Ebbers.
The AGM also confirmed plans for the year ahead, including the mini thresherman’s reunion held in the fall. The 2025 reunion is set for Sunday, Aug. 10. Ebbers said they will be seeding oats in the museum field, which will be used in the threshing demo at the event. If the grain is ready in time, they’ll also do a demo of binding and cutting it. The event typically draws around 100 people, depending on other events happening at the time.
This year, the museum is exploring additional entertainment options for the reunion weekend, including a Johnny Cash impersonator, a live band or a stand-up comedian. Final entertainment plans have not yet been confirmed.
The Ashern Pioneer Museum features eight buildings for visitors to explore, and Ebbers said the artifacts are constantly changing.
“If you’ve been through the museum once, there’s always new ones that get added every year and you don’t always catch everything the first time either,” she said. “If you come back within the same year, something else might pop out and get your attention.”
