The company is awarding four grants worth $10,000 each
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
A Western Canadian farm equipment dealer is giving back to the communities it serves through a series of grants.
Rocky Mountain Equipment recently launched its Right by You Ag Society Grant program.
Ag societies from across the Prairies are encouraged to apply for one of four grant prizes worth $10,000 each.
The equipment dealer will provide one grant to an ag society in northern Alberta, one in southern Alberta and one each to an ag society in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
To be eligible for a grant, a project must be completed within two years of receiving funding and must enhance the lives of community residents.
Projects can include a new roof or adding more bleachers to an existing facility.
Ag societies are part of multiple communities.
Alberta has 293 ag societies and Manitoba and Saskatchewan each have 57.
These societies contribute to their local communities, and many are going through a challenging time.
This program is a way of supporting the communities who support Rocky Mountain Equipment, said Jim Wood, the company’s chief sales and operations officer.
“The ag societies generally have facilities they generate revenue from, whether it’s an arena, a curling rink or a hall,” he told Farms.com. “They can’t rent these places out because of COVID so what a perfect time to set this up and help these ag societies out.”
Wood hopes supporting ag societies now will help ensure future generations do the same.
Farmers are getting bigger and farmers are busier. But being an active member in one’s community is important, he said.
“It would be nice if the next generation had a focus on keeping ag societies running,” he said. “The rink that rents out the ice in the winter could be where a dance is held in the summer. These places provide so much for our communities.”
The deadline to apply for a Right by You Ag Society Grant is July 30.
Once all the submissions are in, a committee of internal and external representatives will decide the winners.
The winning entries will be announced on Sept. 30.