The Grand River Agricultural Society (GRAS) has announced the recipients of its new Community Mini-Grant program supporting projects related to agriculture and the environment.
Eleven grants totaling $9,750 were awarded in amounts ranging from $250 to $1,000.
The grants were awarded on June 13 at Grand River Raceway.
Among the recipients was the Drayton Mapleton Agricultural Society, which received $1,000 to fund new gates required for the relocation of 2017 cattle shows to a more visible area for spectators and a safer environment for cattle show participants.
Other recipients included:
- – Beverley Cairns of Elora, $1,000 to fund the updating of cartographic maps for the reissue of the 1995 book Elora Gorge: A Visitor’s Guide created by Dr. Kenneth Hewitt;
- – $1,000 to the Fergus Agricultural Society to offset costs of the Fergus Fall Fair’s new venture, Breakfast On The Farm;
- – $1,000 to the EcoSchool Club at JD Hogarth Public School in Fergus;
- – $1,000 to John Black Public School in Fergus for planter boxes and materials;
- – $1,000 to Ontario Streams of Fergus for Environmental Explorations Workshops for Centre Wellington Grade 7 students;
- – $1,000 to the Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora to fund the planting of new Vimy Oak trees at Victoria Park in Elora and accompanying cast bronze plaques;
- – $250 to Grand River Raceway employee Sarah Anthony of Fergus to fund a portion of her community contribution while volunteering with Operation Groundswell in small, rural communities in Peru;
- – $1,000 to the St. Joseph Catholic School of Fergus for the completion of the Allison Brunt Memorial Butterfly Garden;
- – $500 to Waterloo Rural Women to offset costs associated with the 22nd annual Children’s Farm Safety Day on June 17 at Heritage Hill Farm in New Dundee.
- – $1,000 to the Western Ontario 4-H Beef Invitational to offset costs of the 12th annual show on July 22 and 23 in Stratford.
The GRAS owns and operates Grand River Raceway in Elora.
The Grand River Agricultural Society is a not-for-profit corporation under the Agricultural and Horticultural Societies Act of Ontario and governed by a volunteer board of directors reporting to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
The group’s mandate is to encourage awareness of agriculture and promote improvements in the quality of life of those living in an agricultural community.
