Seventeen worthy causes across the Prairies will benefit this year from CANTERRA SEEDS’ Rooted in the Prairies Project, which invests in local non-profit organizations nominated by the agriculture community across Western Canada.

Now in its second year, the project has more than doubled its investment. In 2021, $25,000 was committed to 10 projects by CANTERRA SEEDS, but with opportunities for nominees to match or amplify the investment, the total raised was over $161,000. This year, CANTERRA SEEDS has committed to over $62,000, which is expected to grow exponentially with some winning farmers amplifying their donation by planting a CANTERRA SEEDS variety and donating the resulting profit after harvest.

“After seeing the effect of last year’s project – the communities it touched and the people it helped – we knew we had to do it again.” says David Hansen, President & CEO of CANTERRA SEEDS.

Last year, Broken Arrow Youth Ranch received over $68,000 after the initial investment was amplified by Petruic Seed Company through the Bushels for Broken Arrow project.

"We can't thank the farmers enough for their sacrifice and generosity. Without them, we couldn't exist," says Todd Moroz, CEO and Director of Ministry and Outreach at Broken Arrow Youth Ranch. “We are honoured to have been nominated and selected again this year.”

With 115 deserving nominations this year, the project selection committee had the challenging task of narrowing the list down to the final 17 projects:

2022 Recipients of the Rooted in the Prairies Project

• Acadia Irrigation Society, nominated by Darold Niwa (Medicine Hat, Alberta)
• Acme Alumni Association, nominated by Paul Wiebe (Acme, Alberta)
• Broken Arrow Youth Ranch, nominated by Todd Moroz (Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan)
• Climax Fire Department, nominated by Cody Glenn (Climax, Saskatchewan)
• Comite Culturel de St-isidore, nominated by Norm and Simon Lavoie (St-Isidore, Alberta)
• Do More Ag, nominated by Matt Hamill (Red Deer, AB)
• Farm2Kitchen, nominated by Roy Klym (Regina, Saskatchewan)
• Glaslyn Rec Board, nominated by Joan Booy (Glaslyn, Saskatchewan)
• Hafford and District Recreation Board, nominated by Dallas Simmonds (Hafford, Saskatchewan)
• Kamsack Eaglestone Stone Lodge Personal Care Home, nominated by Cathy Fedoruk (Kamsack, Saskatchewan)
• Manitoba Farmers Wellness Program, nominated by Roberta Galbraith (Minnedosa, Manitoba)
• Minnedosa Grain Growers, nominated by Barry McNabb (Minnedosa, Manitoba)
• Mundare Easter Basket Ukrainian Refugee Effort, nominated by Rudy Warawa (Mundare, Alberta)
• Naicam Minor Sports Organization, nominated by Lynnell Olson (Archerwill, Saskatchewan)
• Newdale Fire Depart, nominated by Andrew Dalgarno (Newdale, Manitoba)
• Rolla Community Hall, nominated by Schyler and Celina Raaen (Rolla, British Columbia)
• Ste. Agathe Red River Access Project, nominated by Laird Lampertz (Domain, Manitoba)
• Wetaskiwin Curling Club, nominated by Robyn Gerrard (Wetaskiwin, Alberta)

“The project is about teamwork and supporting the Western Canadian communities we live in,” says Hansen. “While the initial investment is the seed [or monetary donation], a handful of our nominees spend the summer turning that seed into something far more valuable.”

“I look forward to seeing what the total support will be when all the fields are harvested.”

CANTERRA SEEDS will announce the total investment made by the Rooted in the Prairies Project in December. Learn more about Rooted in the Prairies Project at canterra.com/rooted-project.