In 1998, a group of twenty-five farmers from the Chateauguay Valley, with supportive funding from the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture and the Government of Canada, joined together to form an agri-environmental club. The aim was to foster awareness of the environmental challenges facing their family farms, and through education and group activities, to enable them to farm far into the future in an environmentally sustainable way.
The original mandate of the Southwest Agri-Link Club was to look after our farms, our families and our agricultural community. Twenty-seven years later, with most of the original member families still on board, our vision has remained unchanged.
At the Annual General Meeting of Agri-Link, which took place in January, the group discussed donating funds that each member had contributed to the club over the years. It was thought that a local organization, La Bouffe Additionnelle, which provides food security to many families in need, would be a good fit with Agri-Link’s philosophy of providing for the community.
A motion was passed by all members present that $5,000 will be presented to La Bouffe Additionnelle directors with the best regards of all Southwest Agri-Link members.
A cheque presentation took place on July 7 at the La Bouffe Additionnelle food pantry in Huntingdon, where director Marine Mailloux thanked the organization for their generous donation.
(Submitted by Sheldon Grant on behalf of the Southwest Agri-Link Club)