Monsanto Canada's "Build a Better House" Community Curling Club Improvement Program Now Accepting Applications

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwire - Nov. 24, 2011) - If your rural curling club could use a makeover, Monsanto Canada wants to help.

Monsanto Canada kicked off the 2011-12 edition of its popular "Build a Better House" community curling club improvement program this week (previously called "Imagine a Better House"), allocating $45,000 in prize money to this year's program.

The "Build a Better House" community curling club program gives rural-based curling clubs in Western Canada the opportunity to secure funding to undertake development or improvement projects at their local curling club.

"We have had nothing but positive feedback from rural communities and rural curling clubs about this program since we first launched it back in 2007," said Trish Jordan, public and industry affairs director with Monsanto Canada. "The need is still clearly there among many small town curling clubs and we feel this is a unique way for us to support those communities where our farm customers and employees live and work. The program also complements the other corporate giving work we undertake with rural communities and ag-focused organizations across the country and our larger sponsorship of Canadian Curling Association events such as The Brier."

A total of 14 cash prizes will be awarded - a Grand Prize of $10,000 will go to the winning entry, along with three (3) Second Place prizes of $5,000 and ten (10) Third Place prizes of $2,000. All winners will be notified and announced publicly in March 2012.

To apply, clubs are encouraged to start thinking of a fun and unique way to tell their story. Examples could include but are not limited to: a video submitted via YouTube, DVD or email, songs, poems, stories or any creative way to capture the judges' attention.

"Creativity is really the key to getting noticed by the judges," suggests Jordan. "Think about what makes your club unique, its importance in the community or how your club membership expresses its commitment and passion to the sport of curling. We used to say that awards would be handed out based on need but every application has a legitimate need so clubs need to be creative in how they tell their story."

Interested clubs can gather more information, review contest details and apply on-line at www.monsanto.ca. Posters and additional information profiling the "Build a Better House" community curling club program have also been mailed to curling clubs and local retail outlets across Western Canada. Applications received by Jan. 31, 2012 will be eligible, with final winners announced in March 2012.

Cash prizes can be utilized by the winning entrants for anything from building improvements, to new equipment or scoreboards or maybe even a special event to support and promote the sport of curling at the local rink. The most common challenges faced by local clubs typically relate to building repairs or upgrades of equipment to improve the quality of ice within the facility.

Since introducing the program in 2007, Monsanto Canada has provided $235,000 in cash awards to 84 different rural community clubs across the Prairies. Last year's grand prize winner was the 170-member, 4-sheet Manitou Curling Club located in southwestern Manitoba.

Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monsanto Canada Inc. is part of the larger global Monsanto family. Monsanto Company is an agricultural company and a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. Learn more about our business and our commitments at www.monsanto.ca.