FOCUS - DECEMBER 2017 55 FOCUS - JUNE 2015 3 This award celebrates the contri- butions of an organization that sup- ports and champions the agriculture industry in Durham Region. This year’s recipient is the Epsom Utica Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a group that has been instrumental in help- ing to feed the hungry of the world for close to 35 years. Starting in the early 1980’s, in- spired by the idea of two local men, the community would gather to bag grain to be shipped to Winnipeg, where it was further distributed to help with famine in the third world. By 1996, with continued strong com- munity support and donations of time, equipment and crop inputs pro- vided by farmers and agri-business- es, it was decided that they would grow their own crop for distribution. This project has grown to 73 acres with a rotation of wheat, corn and or soybeans. Now the harvested crop is sold and the proceeds are forwarded to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a national organization that is able to Will McArthur from Farm Credit Canada, far right, presented the 2017 Spirit of Agriculture award to Floyd Evans, one of the two original organizers and Rob Ashton, grandson of the late Donald Asling, on behalf of the Epsom Utica Canadian Foodgrains Bank project. FARM CONNECTIONS SPIRIT OF AGRICULTURE AWARD ...................... Please turn to page 57 The Taylor Forder Team wishes you and your family a Safe & Merry Christmas I N S U R A N C E Your protection is our policy 169 North Street, Port Perry • 905-985-8416 • www.taylorforder.com