Local farmers in Alberta donated their time and equipment earlier this month to assist with the annual harvest for the Central Alberta Foodgrains Growing Project. The event, held southeast of Lacombe, attracted around 150 people, including 25 volunteers. Ten combines harvested 120 acres of canola in just two hours. The proceeds from the crop’s sale will go to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to support efforts to fight world hunger.
The project raised $70,918 from harvesting 120 acres of canola near Lacombe and 20 acres near Gull Lake, along with $5,875 in cash donations collected on Saturday. The Gull Lake harvest occurred in early September, while the Lacombe harvest on October 5 involved 10 local farmers, their combines, and two grain trucks.
Established in 1996, the Central Alberta Foodgrains Growing Project is made up of farmers and farm supporters who plant, tend, and harvest a crop, then sell it on the Canadian market. The proceeds are donated to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to help fight world hunger.
Don Clayton, a Calgary-based Volunteer Ambassador for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, shared that most of Alberta’s 33 growing projects have been harvested, with crops generally of good quality, and some producing bumper yields. Clayton expressed excitement about the support from farmers across the province and the local community’s involvement. He added that Alberta’s primary crops are wheat, barley, and canola. Clayton pointed out that 783 million people worldwide experience hunger. Last year, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank assisted nearly one million people.
Doug Maas, a committee member of the Central Alberta Foodgrains Growing Project, emphasized that most of the inputs for the growing projects—such as land, seed, spray, and equipment—are donated by farmers and agribusinesses. Maas, who has been on the committee for 25 years, expressed gratitude for the ongoing support they receive, noting that whenever help is needed, the answer is always yes. He believes it’s their responsibility to help others with food, and the project, which started in 1996, continues to thrive thanks to the community’s generosity.
Maas also highlighted how these harvests bring people together, fostering community spirit and connections. This year, everything was donated except for fertilizer, which has become more expensive. A local trucking company provided trucks and drivers for the day, showcasing the community’s generosity.
Each year, the committee chooses a new field for the crop, and they are currently seeking land in Lacombe County for the 2025 season. The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of 15 church-based agencies working towards ending global hunger. Recently, the Canadian government pledged $25 million annually for the next four years to support the Foodgrains Bank in providing emergency food aid to regions facing humanitarian crises.
Source: Central Alberta Online
