Students benefit from fairground sale

Five post-secondary school students received a total of $3,000 in bursaries from the Cookstown Agricultural Society last week. Post-secondary bound students will be getting some financial aid from the Cookstown Agricultural Society.

Five local students will split $3,000, as part of a bursary program offered by the society. Adam Ross and Adam Hewson received honorary awards, while Janessa Wardlaw, Alexandria Thomas and Emily Den Haan were given first year grants, during a presentation at the Princely Pear Tea Room in Cookstown last week.

For the students, every little bit of financial aid will make a difference.

"This is going towards tuition," said Den Haan. "When you're done, you're going to need money for other stuff. It's good for that."

This is the second year the society has presented students with a bursary. Last year, two students received awards. However, the program has become quite popular, said society secretary and treasurer Wref Nix.

The program is available to students with links to the local agricultural community, he said.

"This is part of our ongoing commitment to 4-H graduates. The two types of recipients are either agricultural society offspring or 4-H members," said Nix. "It's a way to give our appreciation for support back to the community."

The society also contributes to local education in other ways, like making a donation to Barrie's Bear Creek Secondary School library last year. Funding for the bursaries has been raised through the sale of the old Cookstown Agricultural Fairgrounds, said Nix.

"We have an educational commitment in the community," he said.

"Last year, we gave some money to Bear Creek and we have another plan that recognizes any educational achievement. We have a major plan, and part of that is the bursary."

The Cookstown Fair will take place Sept. 12, beginning at 9:30 a.m.