General News » Headline News » News

Province investing in agricultural and horticultural societies

February 10, 2022   ·   0 Comments

The province is providing $1 million to support agricultural and horticultural societies that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding should help the societies to continue to operate and support efforts to educated people about the value and significance of agriculture in Ontario.

“Ontario’s agricultural and horticultural societies have long-enriched communities throughout the province and we look forward to them continuing to make significant contributions, from main street beautification projects to hosting the long-standing tradition of agricultural fairs, throughout the province in 2022,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “These investments reflect the value of the societies’ contributions and our government’s recognition of the pandemic-caused pressures these organizations have been weathering.”

The funding will be provided in two parts.

Base support funding will be issued to all eligible agricultural and horticultural societies through funding payments of $1,000 to support continued incorporation and activities.

A hardship funding program for agricultural societies will provide additional support based on reported gate revenues from 2019.

Eligible societies can expect to receive funding before March 31, 2022.

“The Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) appreciates OMAFRA’s continued financial support for our over 200 agricultural societies, said Vince Brennan, Manager of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies. “This new funding shows Minister Thompson’s and OMAFRA’s confidence in our agricultural societies and the impact the societies and their members have on their local communities. During the pandemic, our agricultural societies have continued to creatively promote agriculture and food awareness and engage their communities through in-person and virtual fairs, events and activities.”

Agricultural and horticultural societies across Ontario are represented by two independent associations: the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies, representing 213 rural Agricultural Societies, and the Ontario Horticultural Association representing over 270 Horticultural Societies in the province.

Locally, the Beeton Agricultural Society and the Alliston and District Horticultural Society could benefit from the funding to help keep their activities viable during the current pandemic.

The Beeton Agricultural Society hosts the annual Beeton Fair held every fall at the Beeton Fairgrounds.

By Brian Lockhart
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Readers Comments (0)