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Agriculture Expo

SUPPORTING ONE OF CANADA’S LARGEST ANNUAL AGRICULTURAL EVENTS

Waterloo – The Waterloo Region International Plowing Match 1995 Fund held at The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation provides grants annually to registered charitable organizations whose services benefit the citizens of Waterloo Region and focus on agriculture, health, and/or education.

Kate Cressman, Chair of the IPM ‘95 Fund, presents a cheque to IPM 2012 Executive Committee Chair David Pyper.

This spring, the IPM ’95 Fund Committee awarded an $11,000 grant to the Waterloo Region International Plowing Match Committee 2012 (IPM 2012) to support the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo 2012 Waterloo Region. This is the second year in a row the IPM 2012 Committee has received support. Last year the IPM ’95 Fund Committee provided a grant of $10,000 to assist with marketing and promotion of the plowing match and expo.

Reg Cressman, past Chair of IPM ’95 shares, “I’m absolutely thrilled that the lasting legacy of the International Plowing Match ’95 Fund lives on to support IPM 2012. For the leaders of IPM ’95, The KWCF was like planting shade trees under which you will never sit. Now it’s giving birth to the legacy of the upcoming IPM 2012.”

The IPM’95 Fund was established at The KWCF in 1995 with the proceeds from the Waterloo Region International Plowing Match held in Ayr in September 1995. Its purpose was to respond to the evolving needs of our Region in the areas of agriculture, education, and health. “The fund serves as a permanent tribute to the many plowing match volunteers who so willingly gave of their time and expertise,” shares KWCF CEO Rosemary Smith. “Since 1996, the IPM ’95 Fund has supported 61 local charities with 86 grants totaling more than $168,000!”

On September 18 – 22, 2012, the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo will again be coming to the Waterloo Region. This five-day event expects to draw 20,000 people per day to a celebration of traditional rural skills and talents including quilting, cooking, plowing, and farming.

Mark your calendars now to join in the celebration. Adds Cressman, “For those interested, IPM 2012 is still in need of financial assistance.” For more information about IPM 2012 check out www.ipm2012.ca and to donate please visit www.kwcf.ca and click on DONATE.