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.
Recipients and projects include:
– $1,000 to Beverley Cairns of Elora 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, professor emeritus in Geography and Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo;
– $1,000 to the Drayton Mapleton Agricultural Society 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;
– $1,000 to the Fergus Agricultural Society to offset costs of the Fergus Fall Fair’s new venture, Breakfast On The Farm at Dirksen’s Holsteins near Alma on June 24. The initiative is designed to provide an educational opportunity and social event for the general public;
– $1,000 to the EcoSchool Club at JD Hogarth Public School in Fergus to assist in the cost of a new outdoor class space;
– $1,000 to John Black Public School in Fergus for planter boxes and materials for a project to improve to the school’s play yard space;
– $1,000 to Ontario Streams of Fergus to be applied to the funding of Environmental Explorations Workshops for Centre Wellington Grade 7 students on June 26 and the Artistic Responses To The Environment project for the general public;
– $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. She will be working on an organic traditional farm, making Andean medicines, tending to livestock and building a stove to make and sell food to the community;
– $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; and
– $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, showcasing 80 to 120 4-H members between the ages of 9 and 21.
