The program will award 65 scholarships to eligible students. Most will go to young people from farm families, but up to 25 scholarships could go to students who come from non-farm families.

“Modern agriculture is innovative, science based, high tech, and full of rewarding job opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds with diverse skill sets,” said Trish Jordan, public and industry affairs director with Monsanto Canada. “We need well-educated young people in our industry and with many Canadians passionate about improving their health and nutrition, there are job opportunities in food science and the culinary arts, too. So we’re happy to support these additional areas of study.”

The application deadline is May 31. Applicants must have confirmed plans to enrol in their first year of post-secondary education in agriculture, an agriculture-related program, or a food-related field of study at a Canadian educational institution. Successful candidates will have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership capabilities, and community involvement. Applications must include an essay that outlines the future role they hope to play in agriculture or food, and how they see themselves making an impact in the industry. They also need a reference letter from a farmer or food-related professional.

Application forms and program details are available at the Monsanto website or by calling 1-800-667-4944.

The Monsanto Fund has awarded more than $1.8 million to thousands of students since 1991.

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The program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, gives farmers the opportunity to win a $2,500 grant for their favourite charitable or not-for-profit group in their community.

A total of two grants will be awarded in each of the country’s 33 grain-growing regions. Nine of those regions are in Alberta. Winners will be drawn randomly from all applications received between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30.

Farmers may make one entry each, but multiple farmers can apply for the same charity or project. As well, charities and community groups can also participate by offering suggestions for farmers to consider.

The list of charities can include almost any non-profit organization based in rural Canada. Past winners have included 4-H clubs, rural daycares, libraries, volunteer fire departments, hospitals, schools, ag societies, senior centres, and other community facilities.

Complete contest rules, eligibility requirements, and an online application form are available at the Canada’s Farmers Grow Communities website.

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The six-year-old program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, gives grants to schools, libraries, historical societies, health and recreational facilities, rural daycares, senior clubs, 4-H groups, food banks, and other community organizations. To be eligible, the organization must be supported by a local farmer.

One of the Alberta recipients is the Bay Tree Community Park Association, which will put its grant toward upgrading the local park and playground facility.

“I am a young senior and I can tell you that as a child I played on the equipment that is currently in the park,” said local resident Lurind Jeaneaux. “That’s a long time to go without any upgrades, so we are thrilled to receive this boost to our fundraising efforts.”

That project was supported by Bay Tree-area farmer Garth Thompson.

“A gift of $2,500 doesn’t seem like a lot, but from talking to some of the farmers and the charities themselves it can make a huge difference in their communities,” said Trish Jordan, public and industry affairs director at Monsanto Canada.

Other Alberta recipients (and the farmer(s) who supported them) were WINGS of Providence Society (William Heidecker, Calgary), Nose Creek Valley Museum Society (Terrie and Scott Copley, Crossfield), Ponoka & District Health Foundation (Dorothy Ungstad, Ponoka), Stettler Regional Child Care Society (Heather Rowland, Big Valley), Beaverhill Bird Observatory Society (Nathan Strilchuk), Leduc & District Emergency Shelter (Gordon Schneider, Beaver County), La Glace People Deterrent Citizens on Patrol (Nancy Schlauwitz, La Glace), Medicine Hat Youth Action Society (Nichole Neubauer, Medicine Hat), Wrentham Fire & Rescue Foundation (Kim Owen, Wrentham), Smoky River Palliative Care Society (Jules Aubin, Guy), Société Centre Communautaire De St. Isidore (Alain Lavoie, St. Isidore), Alix Agricultural Society (Carolyn Barritt, Alix), Trochu Playschool (Ernest Gelinas, Trochu), Community Association for Lasting Success (Wesley Antonchuk, Vegreville), Holden Agricultural Society (Maury Micklich, Holden), Friends of the Innisfree Library Society (Randy and Susan Cannon, Innisfree), and the Mannville Historical Society (Jim and Eileen Kitt, Mannville).

The 2018 edition of the program will be open for submissions in February. Farmers can submit an application for a charity in their area until the end of September.

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The scholarships are for students entering their first year of agriculture or food-related studies at a Canadian university and college.

Traditionally the Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship Program required applicants to be from a farm and entering agriculture or an agricultural-related field of study. In honour of the program’s 25th anniversary last year, and the recognition of the close connection between farming and food, eligibility was extended to students pursuing studies in food-related fields of study, regardless of whether they grew up on a farm or not.

“Our program has always been about supporting young people in their pursuit of a diploma or degree in agriculture because we need the very best to consider agriculture as a career path so our industry can continue to grow and prosper,” said Trish Jordan, director of public and industry affairs with Monsanto Canada.

“Our decision to open up the program to students interested in a food-related career was driven by a desire to close the gap between farming and food.”

The program has awarded more than $1.9 million since 1991. Details on the launch of the 2018 program will be available at www.monsanto.ca in February (click on the Our Commitments pull-down menu and then on Opportunity Scholarship).

This year’s Alberta winners are Gwyn Beatty (Chauvin), Joelle Benoit (Girouxville), Cole Chesterman (Edgerton), Jessica Dugan (Sherwood Park), Emmalyn Elgersma (Brooks), Alyssa Henderson (Bashaw), Cassandra Klaas (Claresholm), Erika MacDonald (St. Albert), Miranda Miranda (Red Deer), Afke Muller (Hays), Grace Nimco (Colinton), Kaitlin Rose (Champion), and Jourdyn Sammons (Gleichen).

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There are 65 scholarships, worth $1,500 each, available (with up to 25 per cent available to students from non-farm backgrounds). Students can now choose to pursue a post-secondary education in agriculture or food-related programs, including fields of study such as nutrition or the culinary arts. Up to 25 of a total of 65 scholarships will be offered to students from non-farm backgrounds.

Applicants must submit an essay outlining their role in the future of sustainable agriculture and food production. They must also have a farmer or food professional provide a reference letter. For more info and an application form, go to www.monsanto.ca.

All applications must be postmarked not later than June 15, and winners will be announced in September. More than $1.8 million in scholarships have been awarded since the program was launched in 1991.

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Over the last five years, the Monsanto Fund has given out nearly $1 million to more than 300 rural charities. Almost any non-profit organization based in rural Canada is eligible. Past winners have included 4-H clubs, rural daycares, libraries, volunteer fire departments, hospitals, schools, ag societies, senior centres, and other community facilities.

Two $2,500 grants — chosen by a random draw — will be awarded in each of 33 different territories across the grain-growing regions of the country. Applications, which can be found at www.canadasfarmers.ca, must be submitted by Sept. 30.

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Each non-profit was nominated by a local farmer who applied on behalf of their favourite cause.

The program received more than 500 entries this year and 66 groups were chosen by a draw to receive a share of the $165,000 in grant money.

“You hear $2,500 and you might think that’s just a drop in the ocean,” said Kelly Funke, public affairs manager at Monsanto Canada. “What I’ve learned from speaking with farmers and charities across Canada is that this can be a huge amount for some, or even just enough to push a fundraising project to meet its goal. And all because a farmer believed in the cause enough to take action.”

Farmers living and working in the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and northeastern B.C. have from mid-January to the end of September to submit their entries at CanadasFarmers.ca.

The Alberta organizations receiving $2,500 grants this year (and the farmers who nominated them) are: Hussar & District Agricultural Society (Pam Collett, Hussar); Standard Community Facility Enhancement Society — Memory Lane (Michael Rasmussen, Standard); Wetaskiwin Curling Association (Deanne Bye, Wetaskiwin); Daysland Public Library (Brian Spiller, Daysland); Moos on the Moove Dairy 4H Club (Bart Bikker, Barrhead); Eleanor Hall School Enhancement Society (Carrie Ruch, Tawatinaw); Sexsmith and District Museum Society (Jason Anderson, Sexsmith); Eaglesham Volunteer Fire Department (Fiona Love, Eaglesham); Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation (Boston Farms, Coaldale); Vulcan County Health & Wellness Foundation (Ron Markert, Vulcan); Girouxville Enhancement Committee (Alexandra Brochu, Girouxville); Fabulas — Falher & Area Beautification & Leisure Activities Society (Selena Sliger, Falher); Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre (Jennifer Griffin, Red Deer); Penhold Fire Department (Steven Harris, Penhold); Lamont Figure Skating Club (Mark Fedyniak, Star); Beaver District 4-H (Rob Roulston, Bruce); 3 Cities 4-H Equine Club (Chris Adams, Paradise Valley); and Paradise Valley & Districts Agricultural Society (Dean Davidson, Kitscoty).

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The program has traditionally offered 65 entrance scholarships valued at $1,500 each to graduating Grade 12 students from farm families pursuing post-secondary studies in agriculture or agriculture-related fields. This year, eligible students can choose to pursue a post-secondary education in agriculture or food-related programs, including fields of study such as nutrition or the culinary arts. Up to 25 of a total of 65 scholarships will be offered to students from non-farm backgrounds.

“Our focus remains on encouraging quality young people to pursue careers in agriculture, and the majority of the scholarships will go to students from farms,” said Kelly Funke, public affairs manager with Monsanto Canada. “But more and more we are seeing that careers in food production, food preparation and nutrition are all part of the larger food system. That system needs great minds from many different walks of life.”

In addition to being enrolled in agriculture or food-related studies at a Canadian post-secondary educational institution, applicants must have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership capabilities, and a keen interest and involvement in their community. They must also write an essay on what role Canadian agriculture can play in the future of food and how they will contribute. Application forms and complete program details are available at monsanto.ca. The deadline for applications is June 15 and winning entries will be announced in September.

More than $1.7 million has been given out since the program launched in 1991. In 2012, the program was taken over by the Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company.

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In their application, each of these young people wrote about experience gained on their family farms, in community involvement, and in high school.

“Agriculture has evolved from feeding your own family members to feeding your international family members,” Taylor Lassiter, whose family has a Red Angus operation near Bassano, wrote in her application. “Ways of production need to continue to grow and change to support all global citizens. And since the need for agriculture will never cease, occupations in the industry will remain plentiful.”

Lassiter is pursuing a bachelor of science at the University of Lethbridge and plans to become a veterinarian.

Other Albertans receiving the scholarship were Marigje Bikker (Barrhead), Katherine Crawford (Didsbury), Tianna Groeneveld (Mannville), Renee Huvenaars (Hays), Mikaela Klemp (Mayerthorpe), Katelyn Krupa (Vimy), Brennan Munro (Airdrie), Lowell Nelson (Morrin), Christine Suominen (Lacombe), Megan Wanchuk (Boyne Lake), and Kyle Wheeler (Strathmore).

The Monsanto fund awarded 66 scholarships (chosen from 135 applications) across the country this year. Grade 12 graduates from farm families who are enrolled in a first-year degree or diploma program in agriculture or an agricultural-related field are eligible.

Details on the 2016 scholarship program will be released in February and will be available at monsanto.ca.

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