WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwired - Nov. 12, 2015) - From a distance, small towns seem like nothing more than dots on the map, but to those who call them home, they are more significant than any major city. Very often it has been farmers whose ingenuity and hard work built these communities over generations. Today, farmers still form the backbone that keeps these rural communities alive. Thanks to Canadian farmers, 66 rural charities and non-profits, including school lunch programs, sports facilities, service clubs, parks and playgrounds will receive $2,500 grants from the Monsanto Fund as part of the 2015 Canada's Farmers Grow Communities program.
Each non-profit was nominated by a local farmer who applied on behalf of their favourite cause.
Canada's Farmers Grow Communities received 371 entries in the 2015 program. Winners were drawn by board members of the independent administrator, Agriculture in the Classroom - Manitoba, on October 9, 2015.
"The best part of the Canada's Farmers Grow Communities program is hearing about how each charity will use its $2,500," said Kelly Funke, public affairs manager at Monsanto Canada. "Each organization has unique needs, but each one will contribute to making their community stronger, thanks to a farmer."
Now in its fourth full year, the Canada's Farmers Grow Communities program generated a wide variety of ideas from farmers on how local groups in their communities could benefit from the grants. A record number of the rural-based charitable groups also contributed ideas online at www.CanadasFarmers.ca, which allowed them to suggest a cause and find local farmers to support it by submitting an entry.
Farmers living and working in the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Northeastern B.C. had from mid-January to the end of September to submit their entries by visiting the Canada's Farmers website and completing an online application form.
The 2015 recipients service a wide variety of community needs from schools, libraries and local theatres to agricultural societies, sport facilities, health/service clubs and daycares.
The Plympton-Wyoming Agricultural Society in Wyoming, ON will be putting its $2,500 grant to good use during the 170th anniversary Plympton-Wyoming Fall Fair in 2016.
"This donation brings so much possibility to our organization, and also provides motivation, support and opportunity for us in the coming year, as we commemorate the benchmark of 170 years of the Plympton-Wyoming Fall Fair," said Emma Whiting, the farmer and ag society board member who applied on behalf of the non-profit. "Through various multi-media platforms and community support we aim to really showcase all that comprises the PWAS and the fall fair, and to be able to justify all the hard work and dedication that we as the volunteer director committee put forth year-round to supply our community and surrounding communities the opportunity to experience a fall fair as well as celebrate harvest and agriculture in our area."
The Monsanto Fund plans to continue the Canada's Farmers Grow Communities program in 2016. Farmers and rural residents can watch for details at winter trade shows and also visit www.CanadasFarmers.ca in January 2016 for more information.
About The Monsanto Fund
The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. Learn more at www.monsantofund.org.
About Monsanto Canada
Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monsanto Canada Inc. is part of the larger global Monsanto Company. Monsanto is an agricultural company committed to bringing a broad range of solutions to help nourish our growing world. We produce a variety of seeds ranging from fruits and vegetables to key crops - such as corn, soybeans, canola and cotton - that help farmers produce abundant and nutritious food. We work to find sustainable agriculture solutions that help farmers conserve natural resources, use data to improve farming practices, use water and other important resources more efficiently, and protect their crops from pests and disease. Through programs and partnerships, we collaborate with farmers, researchers, nonprofit organizations, universities and others to help tackle some of the world's biggest challenges.
To learn more about Monsanto, please visit: www.monsanto.ca or follow us on Twitter @MonsantoCda.
Note: A complete listing of all 66 winning entrants, their farmer nominator and their community, is detailed in the attachment to this news release.
| Canada's Farmers Grow Communities - 2015 Winners | ||
| ALBERTA/BRITISH COLUMBIA WINNERS | ||
| Kneehill Historical Society | Bow Island Friends of the Library Society | |
| Neil Boles, Three Hills, AB | Paul Gruninger, Bow Island, AB | |
| Acme Golf Club | Standard Municipal Library | |
| Robert Bates, Calgary, AB | Lori Bach, Standard, AB | |
| Magrath Museum Agricultural Building | Bashaw Skating Club | |
| Gary Stanford, Magrath, AB | Prudence Harris, Camrose, AB | |
| Terrace Ridge Playground Society | Fairview Rotary Club | |
| Lisa Otto, Lacombe, AB | Michael Rolling, Bluesky, AB | |
| Nampa and District Agricultural Society | Eaglesham and District Agricultural Society | |
| Corinne Bobbie Toker, Nampa, AB | Martine Piebiak, Eaglesham, AB | |
| Daysland School | Holden District Agricultural Society | |
| Allison Blake, Daysland, AB | Brent Suchy, Vegreville, AB | |
| Tofield Seniors Centre | Friends of the Falher Library | |
| Harold Warkentin, Tofield, AB | Wendy Gagnon, Falher, AB | |
| Barrhead Animal Rescue Society | Neerlandia Sports Committee | |
| Kristen Evan, Barrhead, AB | Charlene Nanninga, Barrhead, AB | |
| Lamont and District Agricultural Society | Dewberry and District Agricultural Society | |
| Frank Cholak, Lamont, AB | Art Parr, Dewberry, AB | |
| SASKATCHEWAN WINNERS | ||
| Wakaw Fire Department | Lake Lenore Auditorium Co-operative Assoc. | |
| Wallace Kohle, Wakaw, SK | Alan Silzer, Lake Lenore, SK | |
| Elrose School Community Council | Macklin Daycare Inc. | |
| Jeff MacDonald, Elrose, SK | Don Gette, Macklin, SK | |
| Royal Canadian Legion - Eston Branch | Medstead and District Recreation Association | |
| Matt Owens, Eston, SK | Glenn Schmidt, Medstead, SK | |
| Deep South Riding Arena | Royal Canadian Legion Branch 57 | |
| Tanya Leonard, Ogema, SK | David Burke, Kindersley, SK | |
| Alameda Recreation Board | Great Sandhills Historical Society Inc. | |
| Craig Henderson, Alameda, SK | Ronald Trew, Sceptre, SK | |
| Humboldt Area Vintage and Antique Club | Edgeley Community Centre | |
| Gloria Weber, Quill Lake, SK | Larry McCullough, Qu'Appelle, SK | |
| Arborfield Minor Ball Association | Tonkin Curling Club | |
| Ken Bradshaw, Arborfield, SK | Ken Kyle, Yorkton, SK | |
| Wish Upon a Star Early Learning Centre Inc. | Simpson Centennial Centre | |
| Lyndsay Allary, Ituna, SK | Holly Crawford, Simpson, SK | |
| Golburn Gallopers Light Horse 4H Club | Biggar Barracuda Swim Club | |
| Carlie Bowditch, Sylvania SK | George Mair, Biggar, SK | |
| Odessa Community Arena | Imperial Community Rink | |
| Leonard Gaetz, Odessa, SK | Kyle MacLellan, Imperial, SK | |
| Maidstone Splash Park | Honeymoon Co-op Hall | |
| Darren Blyth, Waseca, SK | Lenord Young Wirth, Prince Albert, SK | |
| MANITOBA WINNERS | ||
| Randolph Sports Club Community Centre Inc. | Lac du Bonnet and District Arena | |
| Karen Peters, Randolph, MB | Tracy Neurenberg, Lac du Bonnet, MB | |
| Glenora Curling Club | Kelsey Community School | |
| Angela Van Damme, Glenora, MB | Lavonne Herman, The Pas, MB | |
| Waskada and Area Recreational Centre | Carman Elementary School Playground Project | |
| Nicole McGregor, Waskada, MB | Earl Froebe, Carman, MB | |
| Deloraine Golf Course | St. Francois Xavier Nursery School Inc. | |
| Jordan Vanrobaeys, Deloraine, MB | Jim Janzen, St. Francois Xavier, MB | |
| Helping Hands Soup Kitchen | Swan Valley Snowmobile Association | |
| Diane Rourke, Minto, MB | Derek Sagert, Swan River, MB | |
| ONTARIO WINNERS | ||
| Melbourne Agricultural Society | Kttps Home and School | |
| Earl Elliot, Welbourne, ON | Mike Roppel, Tiverton, ON | |
| Plympton-Wyoming Agricultural Society | Pathways Health Centre for Children | |
| Emma Whiting, Oil Springs, ON | Kevin Peters, Thedford, ON | |
| Tavistock Assistance Program (TAP) | Lifebridge Family Youth Drop-in Centre | |
| Larry Kropf, Tavistock, ON | Cynthia Zubler, Ridgetown, ON | |
| Arthur Minor Hockey Association | South Frontenac 4H Beef Club | |
| Shawn Livingston, Conn, ON | Catherine Walsh, Harrowsmith, ON | |
| West Lincoln Community Care | ||
| Jeff MacDougall, Smithville, ON | ||
| QUEBEC WINNERS | ||
| Club de Curling Lacolle Curling Club | Ecole Primaire Franklin Elementary School | |
| Gary Holzgang, Noyan, QC | Laura Johnson, Ormstown, QC | |
| Quebec 4H | Ecole Sainte Marie Vallees des Voyageurs | |
| Chelsea Daniel, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC | Edward Rusenstrom, Bristol, QC | |
| Fondation Sécuriferme | ||
| Yvan Bergeron, Saint-Samuel, QC | ||
| MARITIMES WINNERS | ||
| Horton Community Centre Association | Somerset and District Elementary School | |
| John David Curry, Wolfville, NS | Amanda Kinsman, Berwick, NS | |
Contact Information:
Public Affairs Manager
(204) 985-1035