GRAS donations and sponsorships

GRAS donations benefit the Erin Fair, Fergus Food Cycle Ride, and sponsor this year’s Wellington County International Plowing Match

ELORA, ON — The Grand River Agricultural Society (GRAS) recently presented three cheques to bolster local community initiatives. The presentations took place at Grand River Raceway, which is owned and operated by GRAS.

ChqPresentationApr2716_ErinFair

On April 27, a donation of $2,000 was awarded to the Erin Agricultural Society (EAS) to build upon and improve their Equine Tent at this year’s Erin Fair held in Erin, ON. According to the EAS, the donation has made improvements possible in many different ways, offering a variety of interesting and educational, horse-related demonstrations and activities all weekend long.

The large tent will be focusing on horse-related education & awareness, welcoming visitors for three days of interaction and experimental learning. The tent has been part of the festivities of the Erin Fair for the past five years, and last year over 12,000 people toured the exhibits and demos in the Equine Tent. This year’s fair takes place October 7 – 10 at the Erin Fairgrounds.

 

 

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On May 3, the Food Cycle Ride based in Fergus, ON, was presented with a donation of $1,000. The funding supports the 2016 Food Cycle Ride, a fundraising event for the Centre Wellington Food Bank.

The Food Cycle Ride is a bicycle touring event with a choice of country road or trail routes, attended by both local residents and visitors to the region. It offers participants beautiful vistas across farmlands that surround the Grand River.

Now in its sixth year, the Food Cycle Ride has raised a net of over $51,000 for the Centre Wellington Food Bank, including $14,600 last year. This money has been used to support the use of the Food Bank’s Community Kitchen.

 

 

On May 3, the Wellington County International Plowing Match & Rural Expo (IPM) was presented ChqPresentationMay316_IPMwith a sponsorship for $10,000. The sponsorship proudly supports the 2016 IPM held and hosted in Minto, ON September 20 – 24.

Hosted by the Ontario Plowmen’s Association, the prestigious event brings a ‘fresh taste of farming’ and each year, over the five days, more than 75,000 people attend and participate in the International Plowing
Match & Rural Expo.

The Grand River Agricultural Society (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 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.

 

Photos:

  • Cheque Presentation – Erin Agricultural Society: (l to r) Paul Walker, President Of the Grand River Agricultural Society; Eileen Brown, Secretary with the Erin Agricultural Society; Dr. Ted Clarke, General Manager, Grand River Raceway.
  • Cheque Presentation – Food Cycle Ride: (l to r) Paul Walker, President Of the Grand River Agricultural Society; Harvey Thomson, Chair with the Food Cycle Ride Organizing Committee; Dr. Ted Clarke, General Manager, Grand River Raceway.
  • Cheque Presentation – Wellington Country International Plowing Match & Rural Expo: (l to r) Paul Walker, President Of the Grand River Agricultural Society; Ron Faulkner, Chair with the 2016 International Plowing Match; Dr. Ted Clarke, General Manager, Grand River Raceway.