The Central Alberta Foodgrains Growing Project held its annual harvest celebration over the weekend at a field southeast of Lacombe.
There were about 150 people on site, including 25 volunteers, who came out to watch ten combines harvest 120 acres of canola in about two hours.
The money raised from the sale of the crop is sent to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFB), which uses the funds to help fight world hunger.
Calgary-based CFB Volunteer Ambassador Don Clayton said most of the 33 growing projects in Alberta have been harvested.
"They have all been very good. Even some of the ones that looked a little lighter seem to have a better quality crop and we have had a couple that had bumper crops. We're very excited with the support of all of the farmers across the province and also with the enthusiasm of the people in the area."
He mentioned that the majority of crops grown in Alberta are either wheat, barley, or canola.
Clayton noted that there are 783 million people suffering from hunger around the world. Last year, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank helped just under one million people.
The majority of inputs for the growing projects are donated by farmers and agribusinesses including the land, seed, spray, and equipment.
"I think it's our responsibility to help others in the world with food." - Doug Maas, committee member with the Central Alberta Foodgrains Growing Project
Doug Maas is one of 12 committee members with the Central Alberta Foodgrains Growing Project, which was started in 1996 by local Lacombe County farmers. He's been on the committee for 25 years.
Maas says the support they receive every year is amazing.
"When we ever need anything, we always get yes for an answer, we'll be there for you. We're very grateful for that."
Maas was asked why they've felt the need to support the Foodgrains Bank for the past three decades.
"A lot of us don't have to worry if we're going to eat," he explained. "It's not only a good thing to do, I think it's our responsibility to help others in the world with food. The other reason is, by bringing all these people together for the harvest, we're building our own community. We're building connections and we're building a real community spirit through these projects."
He noted that everything was donated this year except for the fertilizer, which has seen a spike in cost in recent years. They even have a local trucking company supplying trucks and drivers for the day.
This year there were two fields that were harvested to help raise funds.
The 120-acre field of canola southeast of Lacombe averaged 41 bushels per acre and was sold for $13.42 per bushel. The 20-acre canola field located south of Gull Lake averaged 19 bushels per acre and was sold for $11.51 per bushel. The Gull Lake field was harvested by a single farmer in early September. All of the canola was graded Canada #1.
Maas says the heat and lack of moisture this year negatively impacted crops in the region.
In total, $70,917.61 was raised from the sale of the crop this year. Cash donations were also collected on Saturday totalling $5,875. Maas said they also receive donations throughout the year.
Every year the committee selects a new field to grow a crop on, and they are currently looking for a parcel of land in Lacombe County for 2025.
The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of 15 church and church-based agencies working together to end global hunger. Together, members represent nearly 30 Christian denominations made up of over 12,000 individual congregations across Canada.
The Government of Canada recently announced that it will provide $25 million a year to the Foodgrains Bank to provide emergency food assistance in places experiencing humanitarian crisis around the world over the next four years.
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