GUELPH, ON. May 1, 2023 – Students looking for a boost in funding for their post-secondary education can apply for the Grain Farmers of Ontario Legacy Scholarship. The scholarship encourages the pursuit of higher education in any area of study that will benefit the Ontario grain sector or agri-food industry and supports the development of future leaders in these areas.
First launched in 2022, the Legacy Scholarship was awarded to 10 Ontario students in its inaugural year. Recipients included college and university undergraduate and graduate students studying in diverse programs including agriculture, computer science, and engineering.
The Legacy Scholarship is open to Ontario students accepted or enrolled in any accredited post-secondary college or university program. Up to 10 scholarships of $5,000 per recipient will be awarded; up to five of those may be awarded to students pursuing non-agriculture specific studies.
“The Legacy Scholarship is a way to invest in the future of the Ontario agriculture industry,” says Brendan Byrne, chair, Grain Farmers of Ontario Board of Directors. “Grain Farmers of Ontario recognizes that we need a diverse workforce with a broad range of skills, knowledge, and expertise, and we want to play a role in helping future leaders – both those in agriculture and those choosing careers that impact agriculture – reach their goals.”
Funding for the scholarship program comes from the Grain Farmers of Ontario Legacy Fund. The Legacy Fund provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the organization to reimagine and reinvest in the sector. When the Grain Farmers of Ontario Wheat Marketing was eliminated in 2021, changes in regulations allowed for the transition of the wheat marketing fund into the Grain Farmers of Ontario Legacy Fund. The original wheat marketing fund was formed using contributions from existing assets from the three founding organizations (Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board, Ontario Corn Producers’ Association, and Ontario Soybean Growers).
“Last year we had over 100 applicants for the Grain Farmers of Ontario Legacy Scholarship. It’s amazing to see so many people studying and interested in agriculture, agri-food, and the supporting industries in the post-secondary education space, and we want to encourage and help them in their efforts,” says Crosby Devitt, CEO of Grain Farmers of Ontario.
Interested applicants are invited to visit www.gfo.ca/legacyscholarship for more information. Applications close July 31. •
Contact:
Victoria Berry, Manager, Communications – 226 820-6641; vberry@gfo.ca
Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers. The crops they grow cover over 6 million acres of farm land across the province, generate over $4.1 billion in production value, result in over $27 billion in economic output and are responsible for over 90,000 jobs in the province.
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