11 Ontario producers helped local organizations receive funding from Monsanto

The grants are part of the Canada’s Farmers Grow Communities Program

By Diego Flammini
News Reporter
Farms.com

A total of 66 rural charities across Canada, including 11 in Ontario, will each receive a grant of $2,500 from Monsanto’s Canada’s Farmers Grow Communities Program.

Farmers submitted applications to Monsanto, describing their favourite charities or non-profit organizations and how the funding would help the organizations.

Some of the winners will use their grants to educate their communities’ growing populations about agriculture.

“We try to have quite a large agricultural education areas for kids during the Kincardine Fall Fair,” Lindsay Dykeman, president of the Kincardine Agricultural Society and lamb and cash cropper, told Farms.com today. “Kincardine is a fairly small community but, with Bruce Power nearby, a lot of newcomers and urban people who may not be familiar with agriculture are moving into town.

“So we’ve made it a strong mandate to teach them about food and where it comes from.”

And some of the winners weren’t even aware their organizations won, or were even part of the contest, until today.

“I had no idea we were even nominated,” said Sara Melia, chairperson of the Hamilton-Wentworth 4-H Association. “I’m totally surprised by this, but it’s definitely great news.”

Aleta Klassen, who produces eggs and vegetables with her husband Nathan Klassen at Nith Valley Organics in Plattsville, Ont., nominated the Hamilton-Wentworth 4-H Association.

Aleta spent many hours in 4-H and it’s thoughtful that a former member wanted to give back, Melia said.

“Aleta was a member of our local 4-H association for a long time,” she said. “It was really nice of her to put our name forward.”

The other Ontario winners include:

Farms.com extends its congratulations to all of the winners!