Barrhead, Alberta, August 12, 2005 – The Barrhead & District Family & Community Support Services Youth Centre is benefiting from the Farm Credit Canada (FCC) AgriSpirit Fund with a donation of $8,000.

The development and implementation of a youth leadership centre will provide the youth of Barrhead and surrounding area with education, employment, health information, arts and culture and recreational activities. The centre will also be used as a resource for youth. This facility will address the issues faced by the youth in the community and provide leadership opportunities.

“We’re proud to give even more back to rural Canada and to the community of Barrhead with a donation of $8,000 to go towards the construction of the new youth centre,” says Kristine Whitney, FCC Account Manager. “The enthusiasm of Canadians is evident in the projects that are being created in our rural communities. It’s that spirit and passion that makes Barrhead a great place to live.”

“The support that we receive from organizations and individuals is evidence of how much our citizens are committed to the enhancement of this community.  On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff we would like to thank FCC for their generous donation as it will allow us to meet the needs of our youth,” says Connie Pollard, Executive Director for Family & Community Support Services.

From the 489 applications received this past winter, FCC selected 38 projects from across Canada.

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 to $25,000 to create or enhance facilities in their community. 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:

Kristine Whitney
Farm Credit Canada
Account Manager
(780) 674-4744

Nadine Hakim
Farm Credit Canada (Bilingual)
Corporate Communications
(306) 780-8572