Bayer CropScience Donates $40,000 on Behalf of Canola Growers

This year's More for Everyone award funds – made possible by InVigor canola hybrids from Bayer CropScience – will go toward purchasing new volunteer firefighter rescue equipment, outfitting a retreat and camp center with new snowshoes and ice skates, repairing and updating two American Legion posts and helping numerous other organizations important to U.S. canola growers. 

Since 2010, farmers who plant InVigor canola seed have had the opportunity to nominate their choice of local non-profit organizations for the annual More for Everyone program. Through the community awards program, Bayer CropScience is donating a total of $40,000 to ten groups in 2015. 

“We realize how much hard work goes into farming, and how farmers carry over that hard work in so many other ways to make their community a better place for everyone,” says Brian Hrudka, U.S. canola seed manager for Bayer CropScience. “The More for Everyone program is a way of helping our customers, northern canola growers, carry over the success of InVigor canola seed into non-profit groups in their communities.” 

Each year, farmers nominate their favorite non-profit organizations, and a committee of three independent judges carefully chooses the award winners. During the decision process, the judges considered the organizations' needs and the benefits that the awards would provide to the served communities as expressed in the nominations. The judges chose the following organizations to receive this year's More for Everyone awards: 

$6,000 Awards:
•American Legion Post #98 in Langdon, N.D. to replace the ceiling tiles and install more modern and energy efficient lighting
•American Legion Fred C. Wagner Post #235 in Rolla, N.D. to help cover the costs of a new roof and building repairs 
•Hope Village Disaster Services in Minot, N.D. to fund disaster preparedness and essential equipment
•Metigoshe Ministries in Bottineau, N.D. to update and add to outdoor winter gear such as snowshoes, ice skates and cross-country skis
•Volunteer fire departments of Cando and Egeland, N.D. to purchase new rescue equipment 

$2,000 Awards:
•Grace Lutheran Brethren Church Awana in Bottineau, N.D.to help fund their Wednesday night suppers
•Kenmare (N.D.) Food Pantry to help support members of the community
•New England (N.D.) Rural Fire District to help purchase a new air compressor system to refill the air packs used in oxygen assist
•Richardton (N.D.) Rural Fire Protection to help purchase sets of turn out gear
•Future Farmers of America in Westhope, N.D. to support youth interested in a future in agriculture 

This year's judges were Jay Fisher, director and district extension director of the North Dakota State University Research Extension Center in Minot, N.D.; Jody Heemstra, broadcaster at the Red River Farm Network; and Pat Murphy, vice president of the Northern Canola Growers Association