by BOB GRYLLS
Reporter
MICKSBURG — M & R Feeds and Farm Supply was recently the $15,000 Eastern Region winner in the Thank-A-Retailer Community Contest hosted by Adama Agricultural Solutions Canada Ltd.
The company donated it to two non-profit organizations.
Sharing the prize-money are the Muskrat Watershed Council and the Robbie Dean Family Counselling Foundation.
The cheque presentations were held at M & R’s head office in Micksburg. There are also stores in Pembroke and Renfrew.
Liam Clifford, one of the four co-owners, has no regrets in donating the money. The other owners, Brent Clifford (original owner for 38 years), Brian Coughlin and son Brett, all agreed.
“The community got it for us so I feel it belongs back in the community,” he added. “The Muskrat Watershed project is important to not only the farming community but the community as a whole. The Robbie Dean Centre is helping mental health issues to be more talked about, even in the farming community.”
Monique Yashinskie, Executive Director of the Robbie Dean Centre, accepting the cheque, explained that depression was prevalent in the farming community too, but in a unique sort of way.
“They have issues to be concerned about such as weather, changing government regulations and working alone,” she said, adding, their image of being resilient against all odds is hard to sometimes maintain.
The Renfrew County National Farmers Union and the Renfrew County Junior Farmers have realized the importance of mental health and have each held workshops on the topic of mental health in the farming community, she noted.
“The farmer’s union and junior farmers are taking more notice of these distresses,” Ms. Yashinskie said.
Karen Coulas, chair of the Muskrat Watershed Council, who nominated M & R Feeds for the contest, when asked what the money would go towards responded with, “We have so many needs, it will be hard to decide. However, this donation will be a tremendous benefit to our group.”
