College credited programs are eligible for up to a fifteen hundred ($1,500) dollar award for
the coming year.

University credited programs are eligible for up to a twenty-five hundred ($2,500) dollar
award for the coming year.

2011 Scholarship & Bursary Recipients

The program is designed to provide financial assistance for students residing in Wellington and Perth Counties, and the Region of Waterloo, who are entering, or currently enrolled in, college or university agricultural programs. Since its inception in 2006, the program has awarded $75,000 to 60 students

For complete information and applications please click here.

All applications must be received no later than July 15, 2012.

Recipients will be recognized during a special ceremony at Grand River Raceway on a race night in September.

The Grand River Agricultural Society is the owner/operator of Grand River Raceway in Elora. The GRAS is a not-for-profit society, incorporated under the Agricultural Societies Act of Ontario and operated by a volunteer board of directors. It is part of the GRAS mandate to encourage an awareness of agriculture and to promote improvements in the quality of life of persons living in an agricultural community.

Jim Lehman (seated) with Part Shark during Grand River Raceway's annual Industry Day Celebration (August 1, 2011).

Lehman passed away the previous evening at St. May’s Hospital in Kitchener following a long illness. He was 64.

A Standardbred owner since 2005, Lehman served on the Board of Directors for the Grand River Agricultural Society (owner/operator of Grand River Raceway). He was also a former director of Standardbred Canada, served on the Executive Committee, was the Chair of the By-Laws and Licensing Committee, a member of the Taxation and Audit Committees, and represented Standardbred Canada on a number of ORC Committees.

He was an owner and President of Reitzel Rentals Ltd. and was also very active with service groups and charitable organizations in his local community of Kitchener-Waterloo.

Secret Weapon Stables includes Lehman’s wife Barb, and Lorna and Robert Patterson. The group’s ownership highlight was a track-record win with Part Shark in the 2010 Gold Cup & Saucer at Red Shores Charlottetown in PEI. Lehman was so enthralled with the experience that he took out an ad in the local newspaper the following week to thank the track and the community for its outstanding hospitality.

Part Shark was third in this year’s edition of the race, and recently surpassed $300,000 in earnings. He secured his 20th career win on August 29 at Grand River Raceway.

Secret Weapon has won 8 of 19 this season, including the Gold Cup & Saucer Consolation, and has banked nearly $520,000 in lifetime earnings. Both pacers are trained by Wayne Preszcator.

Grand River Raceway and the Grand River Agricultural Society extends its condolences to Barb and the rest of the Lehman family.

Now in its sixth year, the GRAS Scholarship/Bursary program is designed to provide financial assistance for students residing in Wellington and Perth Counties, and the Region of Waterloo, who are entering, or currently enrolled in, college or university agricultural programs.

Ten awards of $1,500 were awarded to the following:

RECIPIENT/SCHOOL/PROGRAM
• Charlotte Buffett – Ridgetown – Agricultural Diploma
• Steven Jackson – Ridgetown – Agricultural Diploma
• Paula Krasko – University Of Guelph – Bachelor of Science – Agriculture
• Amanda Rosborough – Ontario Veterinary College – Dr. Of Veterinarian Medicine
• Courtney Rogerson -  University Of Guelph – Bachelor of Science – Agriculture
• Courtney Schott – University Of Guelph – Dr. Of Veterinarian Medicine
• Trevor Koeslag – Ridgetown (2nd yr) – Agricultural Diploma
• Becky Koeslag – Ridgetown (2nd yr)  – Assoc. Diploma in Horticulture
• Donald Skinner – University Of Guelph – Master Of Science – Swine Nutrition
• Anjelka Bosnjak – Ontario Veterinary College – Dr. Of Veterinarian Medicine

(l to r) GRAS Director Don Jewitt, GRAS President Paul Walker, Donald Skinner, Amanda Rosborough, Anjelka Bosnjak, Charlotte Buffett, Steven Jackson, Becky Koeslag, Paula Krasko, Trevor Koeslag, Courtney Schott, Courtney Rogerson, GRAS Directors Tom Wilson, Garth Green, Bill McDonnell.

The Grand River Agricultural Society is the owner/operator of Grand River Raceway in Elora. The GRAS is a not-for-profit corporation, incorporated under the Agricultural Societies Act of Ontario and operated by a volunteer board of directors. It is part of the GRAS mandate to encourage an awareness of agriculture and to promote improvements in the quality of life of persons living in an agricultural community.

For the past two years, the Grand River Agricultural Society has hosted a Christmas dinner for CWFB clients, complete with transportation to and from the event, a real horse drawn sleigh ride, dinner and a visit from Santa, complete with gifts for each of the children.

The Grand River Agricultural Society is offering COMMUNITY GARDEN PLOTS!
Grow and harvest your own vegetables this summer!

Available: May 15, 2011
Size: 10×10 staked plots
Cost: $30 for the 2011 growing season

Limited number of garden plots available; to reserve yours, please
Contact Dorothy Key, Grand River Agricultural Society
519-846-8879

• Scholarship & Bursary Recipients (September 9/08):
The Grand River Agricultural Society is proud to announce the recipients of its 2008 Scholarship & Bursary Program  . . . read more

• GRAS donates $125K to local park development (June 11/08)
The Grand River Agricultural Society (owner/operator of Grand River Raceway) has committed $125,000 to the redevelopment of Bissell Park in Elora, ON   . . . read more

• GRAS named Corporate Citizen Of The Year (April 24/08):
The Grand River Agricultural Society (GRAS) was named Corporate Citizen Of The Year by the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce. The award was presented during the annual Awards Of Excellence gala on April 24 in Fergus   . . . read more