The Grand River Agricultural Society (GRAS) recently awarded philanthropic funding and community mini grants.

Philanthropic presentations totalling just under $99,000:

1. Groves Memorial Community Hospital Foundation: $84,000 for the Healing Gardens

2. Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Assoc.: $1,000 towards their Summer meeting

3. Equine Erin/Horse Day Erin Event: $2,500 for Horse Day Erin

4. Huron Soil & Crop Improvement Assoc.: $2,500 for the Drainage Innovation- Live Demo on Bayfield River

5. Erin Agricultural Society: $2,000 for the Equine Tent activities at the fall fair

6. Iris Meck Communication Inc.: $6,780 sponsorship of four female agriculture students at the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference

(L to R): Jamie Martin (Grand River Raceway), Carol Pollock (Erin Agricultural Society), Paul Walker (Grand River Agricultural Society).

The Grand River Agricultural Society has announced the recipients of this year’s community mini grant program, which supports projects related to agriculture and the environment.

Fourteen grants totalling just over $13,000 were awarded in amounts ranging from $500 to $1,000. The grants were awarded on June 10 at Grand River Raceway.

Community Mini Grant recipients and projects are summarized below:

1. Food Cycle Ride: Assisting with event costs to raise money for the CW Food Bank

2. Wellington County Soil & Crop Improvement Assoc.: Viewing of ‘Before the Plate’ at Conestoga Lake

3. Youth Outdoors Day: To help with costs associated with Youth Outdoors Day

4. Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre: Sunrise Therapy Forest and Pollinator Project

5. Habitat for Humanity Wellington Dufferin Guelph: Fergus Re-Store volunteer appreciation initiatives

6. Fergus Medieval Faire: Entertainment at the Fergus Medieval Faire

7. Elora Cataract Trailway Assoc.: 2019 Trailhead Improvements Project

8. St. Mary’s Catholic School: Wooden Bridge in the school yard project

9. Elora Rocks Lawn Bowling Club: Rubber mulch and weed block fabric for the Clubhouse area

10. Breakfast on the Farm, Fergus Agricultural Society: Breakfast on the Farm and the barnyard playground area

11. Fergus & District Horticultural Society: Purchase of perennial plants, shrubs, and rain barrel at Craighead

12. Elora Farmers’ Market: Purchase of canopy, banner, and signs for the Market

13. Aberfoyle Agricultural Society: Agriculture awareness tent at fall fair

14. Stratford Northwestern Secondary School: Equipment for “Field of Greens” school garden.

The GRAS operates Grand River Raceway in Elora, Ont. The GRAS is a not-for-profit corporation, incorporated 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 GRAS mandate is to encourage awareness of agriculture and to promote improvements in the quality of life of persons living in an agricultural community.

(Grand River Agricultural Society)