Monsanto Fund Announces Winners of 2014 Canada's Farmers Grow Communities Program

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwired - Oct. 30, 2014) - Communities aren't made. They're grown. And who better to help grow a community than a farmer? That's the idea behind the Canada's Farmers Grow Communities (CFGC) program, which is providing grants to 66 deserving charities in small towns across the country. Each non-profit was nominated by a local farmer who chose their favourite cause, and each will receive $2,500 from the Monsanto Fund.

Canada's Farmers Grow Communities received 433 entries in the 2014 program, up from 378 last year. Winners were drawn by board members of the independent administrator, Agriculture in the Classroom - Manitoba, on October 17, 2014 in Winnipeg.

"The Canada's Farmers Grow Communities program is one way for Monsanto to help people in rural communities accomplish common goals," said Trish Jordan, public and industry affairs director at Monsanto Canada. "Farmers have a history of coming together to help their neighbours, and we hope this program highlights that tradition of generosity while also growing stronger rural communities."

Now in its third full year, the Canada's Farmers Grow Communities program generated a wide variety of ideas from farmers on how local groups in their communities could benefit from the grants. In many cases, the rural-based charitable groups also contributed ideas online at www.CanadasFarmers.ca, which allowed them to suggest a cause and find local farmers to support it by submitting an entry.

Farmers living and working in the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Northeastern B.C. had from mid-January to the end of September to submit their entries by visiting the Canada's Farmers website and completing an online application form.

The 2014 recipients service a wide variety of community needs from schools, libraries and local theatres to community halls, sport facilities, health/service clubs and daycares.

For the first time, a dog rescue organization, Valley Mastiff Rescue of La Pêche, QC, is being awarded a grant by Canada's Farmers, thanks to a nomination by Martin Renaud of Green Valley, ON.

"We are very happy that a company like Monsanto has implemented such a beneficial program for charities," said France Turcotte, owner of Valley Mastiff Rescue. "I visit farms often as some of our dogs have been adopted by farmers. We are very grateful that this will help us carry on with our mission."

The Monsanto Fund plans to continue the Canada's Farmers Grow Communities program in 2015. Farmers and rural residents can watch for details at winter trade shows and also visit www.CanadasFarmers.ca in January 2015 for more information.

About The Monsanto Fund

The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. Learn more at www.monsantofund.org.

About Monsanto Canada

Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monsanto Canada Inc. is part of the larger global Monsanto Company. Monsanto is an agricultural company committed to bringing a broad range of solutions to help nourish our growing world. We produce a variety of seeds ranging from fruits and vegetables to key crops - such as corn, soybeans, canola and cotton - that help farmers produce abundant and nutritious food. We work to find sustainable agriculture solutions that help farmers conserve natural resources, use data to improve farming practices, use water and other important resources more efficiently, and protect their crops from pests and disease. Through programs and partnerships, we collaborate with farmers, researchers, nonprofit organizations, universities and others to help tackle some of the world's biggest challenges.

To learn more about Monsanto, please visit: www.monsanto.ca or follow us on Twitter @MonsantoCda.

Note: A complete listing of all 66 winning entrants, their farmer nominator and their community, is detailed below.

Canada's Farmers Grow Communities - 2014 Winners

ALBERTA/BRITISH COLUMBIA WINNERS

Hanna Girls Pond Hockey

Kevin Bossert, Hanna, AB

Rosalind Volunteer Fire Department Association

Charlie Gould, Rosalind, AB

Carmangay Curling Club

Daniel Greene, Carmangay, AB

Dewberry Hall Society

Gordon Hegedus, Dewberry, AB

Bawlf Educational Support Team

Julie Huseby, Ryley, AB

Children's Wish Foundation

Mike Jackson, Didsbury, AB

Legal Titans 4-H Club

Fred Kieser, Clyde, AB

Acadia Valley & District Rec. Club

Jarrod Kuhn, Acadia Valley, AB

Carseland Public Benefit Club

Teri MacKinnon, Carseland, AB

Stony Plain & Parkland Pioneer Museum

Leona Mychajlunow, Carvel, AB

Elk Point Regional Allied Arts Society

Lynn Osinchuk, Elk Point, AB

Goodridge Agricultural Society

Joanne Richter, Glendon, AB

Donnelly Recreation Society

Rita Therriault, Donnelly, AB

Falher & Area Beautification & Leisure ActivitiesSociety (FABuLAS)

Pauline Therriault, Donnelly, AB

Provost and District Health Service Foundation

Colette Thurston, Irma, AB

Rainbow Literacy Society

Kelly Wickstrom, Vulcan, AB

Fourth Creek Fitness / Spirit River Active Aging

Carrie Yanishewski, Spirit River, AB

North Peace 4-H District Council

Rick Kantz, Fort St. John, BC

SASKATCHEWAN WINNERS

Whitewood Action For Families

Donna Beutler, Whitewood, SK

Osler Volunteer Fire Department

Garry Boldt, Osler, SK

Glaslyn Community Enhancement Project

Jerry Booy, Glaslyn, AB

Fiske Recreational Co-operative Association Ltd.

Brenda Cross, Fiske, SK

Assiniboia Auxiliary for Long Term CareHomes

Shirley Derbyshire, Assiniboia, SK

Nokomis Child Care Centre

Donna Edwards, Nokomis, SK

Invermay School Community Council

Kimberly Enge, Invermay, SK

Melfort Minor Football

Lionel Fagnou, Melfort, SK

St. Louis Curling Club

Gordon Finnestad, St. Louis, SK

Lashburn Slo Pitch

Kimberley Gareau, Lashburn, SK

Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society Inc.

Blair Harris, Yorkton, SK

Paradise Hill Care Home Inc.

Tom Hougham, Frenchman Butte, SK

Margo Playground Committee

Lee Johnson, Margo, SK

Macklin Curling Club

Kelly Kidd, Macklin, SK

Edenwold Memorial Rink

Kurtis Kramer, Avonhurst, SK

Broadview Historical and Museum Association

Les Kuculym, Broadview, SK

Dallas Valley Ranch Camp

Jim Latrace, Lumsden, SK

Dinsmore & District Economic Development Inc.

Edith Lytle, Dinsmore, SK

Kelvington Swimming Pool Fundraising Committee

Kelsey Robinson, Kelvington, SK

Beechy Rec Board

Jodi Schury, Beechy, SK

Porcupine Plain Minor Hockey Association

Kirk Smith, Porcupine Plain, SK

Imperial & District Ambulance Inc.

Neil Stevenson, Imperial, SK

MANITOBA WINNERS

Thunderhill Ski Club

Harvey Baldwin, Swan River, MB

Souris Glenwood Foundation Inc.

Allison Barclay, Souris, MB

Charlie Brown Day Care Centre Inc.

Shelly Brunel, Ste. Rose du Lac, MB

Portage Plains United Way Inc.

Kevin Coubrough, Portage la Prairie, MB

Somerset & Area Fitness Centre

Elaine Gaudet, Somerset, MB

Miami School Playground Project

Westin Hill, Miami, MB

Plumas Elementary School Parent Advisory Council

Keith Koncz, Plumas, MB

Lakeside Christian School

Art Peters, Killarney, MB

Melita Pool Committee Inc.

Kyle Serruys, Melita, MB

Lac Du Bonnet Regional Library

Tom Zarecki, Lac du Bonnet, MB

ONTARIO WINNERS

Westmeath Recreation Center

Anne Bromley, Westmeath, ON

Burford Agricultural Society

Larry Davis, Burford, ON

Comber Agricultural Society

William Pearson, Comber, ON

Haldimand 4-H Association

Johan Peter, Wellandport, ON

Stuff the Bus

Melody Quenneville, Stoney Point, ON

Valley Mastiff Rescue

Martin Renaud, Green Valley, ON

Royal Canadian Legion Ripley Branch

Bruce Scott, Lucknow, ON

Watford Optimist

Chris Van Loon, Watford, ON

Teeswater Agricultural Society

Peter VanZeeland, Teeswater, ON

Listowel Agricultural Society

Marilyn Whaley, Listowel, ON

QUEBEC WINNERS

Operation enfant soleil

Jean Daviault, St-Liboire, QC

Corporation l'Espoir

Claude Gervais, Sainte-Martine, QC

La Fabrique de l'le Dupas

Linda Lafontaine, La-Visitation-de-l'Île-Dupas, QC

The Friends of Laurentian Elementary School

John McOuat, Saint-André-d'Argenteuil, QC

MARITIMES WINNERS

Medical Fundraising Project for Meghann Palmer

Brent Anderson, Richmond Settlement, NB

Boys & Girls Club of Summerside

Lynden Ellis, Tyne Valley, PEI

Monsanto Canada
Trish Jordan
Public and Industry Affairs Director
[phone]
www.monsanto.ca