Fuelling the spirit of rural Canada

Regina, Saskatchewan, June 10, 2005 – Recreation centres, museums, childcare facilities and fire and rescue services are a few of the Canadian projects that are benefiting from the Farm Credit Canada (FCC) AgriSpirit Fund.

“We’re proud to give even more back to rural Canada and add to the quality of life in communities where our customers and employees live and work,” says FCC President and CEO John Ryan. “We received so many worthy project ideas for the AgriSpirit Fund. The enthusiasm of Canadians is evident in the projects that are being created. It’s that spirit and passion that makes rural Canada a great place to live.”

Each project will be announced and celebrated over the summer and fall. AgriSpirit Fund recipients include the Moncton Food Bank in New Brunswick and the Eston and District Volunteer Fire Department in Saskatchewan. Each of these two organizations will receive $20,000 to assist in purchasing much needed equipment. The Moncton Food Bank is the distribution centre for southeastern New Brunswick and will be purchasing a forklift for their new facility. A new fire truck is the goal for the Eston and District Volunteer Fire Department. This fire and rescue service provides protection for farm operators and rural residents for their property, equipment and crops for an area in excess of 700 square miles.

“We were overwhelmed by the 489 applications submitted for the AgriSpirit Fund,” said Brenda Stasuik, FCC Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility. “We are proud to help turn 38 projects from across Canada into reality and we look forward to offering the AgriSpirit Fund again in 2005/06.”

In November 2004, FCC announced the AgriSpirit Fund. This Fund awarded $400,000 towards capital projects for rural communities with populations under 100,000. These projects will receive between $5,000 and $25,000 to create or enhance facilities in their community. The maximum contribution for each project was $25,000. A significant amount of time and consideration went into each evaluation including how the project would make a difference in the community.

The FCC AgriSpirit Fund will continue for a second year. Details regarding the eligibility criteria and application process will be posted this fall through the FCC website at www.fcc-fac.ca.

Operating out of 100 offices located primarily in rural Canada, FCC employees are passionate about the business of agriculture. FCC's healthy portfolio of more than $11 billion and 12 consecutive years of portfolio growth are a reflection of our customers' success.

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For more information, please contact:

Melanie E.K. Lightfoot
Farm Credit Canada (English)
Corporate Communication
306-780-6987

Tim Kydd
Farm Credit Canada (English)
Corporate Communication
306-780-3486

Nadine Hakim
Financement agricole Canada (Bilingual)
Communications d’entreprise
306-780-8572