2018 Mini Grants Awarded

Press Release
For immediate release
June 12, 2018

Grand River Agricultural Society awards Community Mini Grants

ELORA, ON — The Grand River Agricultural Society (GRAS) has announced the recipients of this year’s Community Mini Grant program supporting projects related to agriculture and the environment.

Eleven grants totaling $10,000 were awarded in amounts ranging from $500 to $1,000. The grants were awarded on June 12 at Grand River Raceway.

The recipients and projects are summarized below:

1. Fergus Medieval Faire: $500 towards the costs of birds of prey/falconer show at the free community Medieval Faire.

2. Habitat for Humanity Wellington Dufferin Guelph: $1,000 towards development of a community garden for the CityView Village build.

3. Youth Outdoors Day: $1,000 towards the purchase of new event tents.

4. Western Ontario 4-H Beef Invitational: $500 to supply the exhibitor breakfast and division prizes.

5. The Elora Swan Program: $1,000 for repairs and upgrades to the swan compound, and to stain the main building and hut.

6. Brisbane Public School, Erin: $1,000 to assist with labour and equipment expenses for the installation of natural elements in the primary play area.

7. The Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games: $1,000 towards program costs of the Highland Cattle & Sheep and Sheep Shearing educational heritage programs at the Scottish Festival.

8. Township of Centre Wellington (in collaboration with Fergus Scottish Festival, Elora Festival, Riverfest Elora, and Fergus Fall Fair): $1,000 to purchase a graphically designed tent to house the water cart for increased visibility and protection from the elements.

9. G2G Rail Trail Inc.: $1,000 for the purchase and installation of agricultural interpretive signage along the trail.

10. Waterloo 4-H Beef Club: $1,000 to purchase show equipment.

11. St. Joseph Catholic School, Fergus: $1,000 to purchase a rain barrel, mature plants, seeds, and child sized gardening tools for their Allison Brunt Memorial Butterfly Garden.

The GRAS operates Grand River Raceway in Elora, ON. 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.

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Photo (l to r): Kelly Williams (Waterloo 4-H Beef Club), Susan Poland (Elora Swan Program), Sarah Taylor (Western Ontario 4-H Beef Invitational), Brian Gibbon (Elora Swan Program), Elizabeth Bender (Township Of Centre Wellington), Jamie Martin (Grand River Raceway), Cara Knibbs (Brisbane Public School), Paul Walker (Grand River Agricultural Society), Debb Greer (Fergus Medieval Faire), Amber Wood (Habitat For Humanity Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph), Sharon Grose (Youth Outdoor Day), Minda Cerson (G2G Trail Inc.), Rob Thoms (Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games). Absent: St. Joseph Catholic School, Fergus.

Kelly Spencer
Mgr. Marketing & Communications
Grand River Raceway
Office: (519) 846-5455 ext. 238
Cell: (519) 465-7908
kspencer@grandriverraceway.com