The South Cariboo's Agri-Culture Enterprise Centre Society (AECS) is growing stronger and developing roots.
The society formalized its first official board of directors recently, after operating on a consensual basis since its inaugural general meeting in July.
The board positions include chair John Hooper, vice-chair Chris Pettman, secretary-treasurer Barbara Hooper, and directors Rita Giesbrecht, Christine Nauen, Bruce Anderson, Rod Hennecker, Linda Savjord and David Zirnhelt.
Giesbrecht says the AECS' recent harvest dinner and dance went well and raised approximately $1,000 through donations and a dessert auction.
"It was all local food, cooked by our members. It was great all around, a great party."
About 70 members turned out for the dinner/dance, including 15 new members who signed up at the event, she adds.
"We're building the organization right now. We're trying to get all people interested in food and agriculture [to join]."
The next big focus will be setting up an education committee comprised of society members to organize seminars and workshops, she explains.
The committee will also identify other ways to create opportunities for offering the community useful information on aspects within their general scope of "all things food and agriculture," Giesbrecht adds.
Details about the development of an online agricultural tool under development were also provided at a public meeting hosted by the AECS on Oct. 20.
Hooper says Bystedt Wylie, a Quesnel-based agriculture web-based enterprise tool project co-ordinator, talked about the project's potential for connecting consumers and producers.
Some 15 or 20 people turned out to find out more about the upcoming enterprise tool, including members and other interested producers in the community, he notes.
For more information on the AECS, call Hooper at 250-397-2980 or e-mail to agriculture.exterprise.centre@gmail.com.