Manitoba Ag Days enters its second decade of investing in rural communities and agriculture education through the Ag Days Gives Back program. 100% of the funds raised through the Manitoba Ag Days 50/50 are used to support K-12 Ag education, post secondary Ag education and community organizations throughout Manitoba and Saskatchewan. This represents a commitment of over $362,500 since the program’s inception in 2013.
Our seventeen 2024 Community Grant Recipients represent each quadrant of the province and include a wide variety of types of non-profit organizations. Each recipient was awarded $2,000 toward the completion of their project.
North-East (1)
-Arborg Minor Hockey – Purchase of a scoreboard and sound system for the rink
North-West (5)
Ste Rose Recreation Commission – Development of an accessible, multi-use trail system (Phase 1)
Ste. Rose Hoof N Holler Days – Purchase of an outdoor event tent with walls
Glenella Curling Rink – Painting of the ice surface
New Beginnings Daycare Inc. – Purchase of educational materials related to agricultural such as agricultural story books and gardening supplies
Mossey River Municipality – Establishment of the Edible Tree Park, including benches, trees, flowers and planters
South-East (4)
Hanover Agricultural Society – Fund the Rough Stock School
St Jean Volunteer Fire Department – Purchase battery operated hand tools
Torquay Community Center – Ice plant repairs
Norfolk Treherne Fire Department – Purchase ropes, helmets and harnesses to implement grain rescue training
South-West (7)
Sara’s Pantry Food Service Program – Purchase top ten requested foods
Erickson District Recreation Association – Repaint and refinish interior arena baseboards
Cypress River Agricultural Society – Run the “King Farmer” competition at the agricultural fair
The Oakburn Community Hall Committee – Bathroom renovations to create an accessible bathroom
Westman Mental Wellness & Suicide Prevention Association – Host a celebrity ball hockey tournament and community day, including mental health speakers
Neepawa & Area Fire Department – Purchase equipment to combat electric vehicle fires, in which traditional car fire methods do not apply
Roseland South Brandon Community Center – Mold removal and repainting of the walls
This year the scholarship criteria expanded to include any post secondary education and training related to agriculture. The recipients of the 2024 Ag Days Gives Back Scholarships of $2,000 each were:
-Briana Rathwell – University of Saskatoon
-Rylee Olafson – Lakeland College
-Blake Artz – Assiniboine Community College
Manitoba Ag Days also awarded the Education and Leadership Grant in the amount of $10,000 to Agriculture in the Classroom – Manitoba.
Applications for the next round of Ag Days Gives Back grants and scholarships will open in the fall and be awarded at the 2025 show, which runs from Tuesday, January 21 – Thursday, January 23, 2025. A huge thank you goes out to everyone who supported the 50/50 at the 2024 show. We had a record-breaking jackpot, and we look forward to investing these funds in the communities where our exhibitors and patrons live and work through Ag Days Gives Back.
