"So far things are looking really, really good in that field!" says Field Manager of the Killarney Foodgrains Grow Project, Myron Peters. "Particularly, there's been a couple of timely rains that have come through and we've gotten a little more out in that field than what we've gotten in town. And so just as a reference, it's roughly about 6 or 8 inches higher than stuff around town. And so, the crop is actually looking very, very good!"
As always, before the seed even hits the ground fundraising efforts are high of mind. With harvest day being closer than one thinks, input costs are always in demand and that includes more than the seed and fertilizer.
"We just finished with the fungicide spray and so there's still additional costs that are going into the crop and therefore we need the help and support of the people in the area to help fund this project.
The Killarney committee is celebrating 15 years of advocating for the hungry around the world this year. In 2010, they officially formed the Killarney Growing Project committee. "So, this year is marking 15, and we are very fortunate and blessed to be able to continue with this with the community," says Peters.
"Support has again been great, but like I said, we still have some input costs to take care of and there's lots of acres to be sponsored yet, so we encourage people to do that before harvest date," he adds.
The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a faith-based organization but for the Killarney project it is a true-community supported endeavor drawing business-owners, farmers, residents, retired and everyone in between.
"Absolutely. I mean, we've got sponsorship in the backing from the dealerships in town here. Numerous small businesses contribute and sponsor an acre every year. And because we move around a little bit, we get different farmers that come out for the harvest day. And so, it is very exciting because we get absolutely everybody involved! And so that is nice being able to move it around a little bit. You can get different groups participating that maybe wouldn't because it's not in their area," explains Peters.
Generally, when the crop heads out, grain farmers can gauge wheat harvest to be in that 6–7-week timeline, weather pending.
"That's a bit of a guideline, and we're definitely at the full head stage right now," he says. "Once we get closer to harvest date, then we will be contacting people who have helped us in the past and also some of the local people in that area where the field is. And we welcome as many combines as we can get out there. Our record has been 26, and I got no problem at all blowing that record out of the sky!" laughs Peters.
"It's just fun," he adds. "I mean, you get a group of people out there like that with one purpose, one goal in mind and everybody is smiling. If you've never been out to one of our harvest days, I highly encourage you to come out and check it out. It is something to behold."
Along with the camaraderie between farmers and friends who may or may not have seen each for a while, there's the working together shoulder to shoulder, or in this case 'header to header' as about a dozen combines make their way down the field to bring in the harvest. But before that, the community breaks bread together enjoying a wonderful meal provided by the Hutterite colonies in the area.
"You talked about community!" says Peters. "The two Hutterite Colonies; the Homefield Colony near Ninette and the Willow Creek Hutterite Colony near Cartwright, they help us with the catering every year and they have given us their word that as long as this project continues, they will help us out. You couldn't ask for better caterers. The food is absolutely fantastic and yeah, it's just one of those things that we're very blessed to have."
The Killarney Grow Project has seen as many as 300-350 people attend their harvest day.
Peters says it's a true community harvest celebration and extends his personal invite to everyone to join them, to watch for when that day is to be slugged for harvest day, and then to come on out to the 145-acre field northwest of Killarney. The wheat will be ripe for harvest, the fresh bread and pulled pork will be on the table, and the fellowship of community is waiting to be enjoyed.
"We encourage folks 100% to come in and enjoy some food out there with us. Enjoy the harvest! It usually doesn't take more than an hour to get the field off. But it again is a sight to see and even the response we get on YouTube and stuff that we have aired after the harvest every year. It's just an awesome response each year!"
"People can sponsor an acre for the input costs at $250 an acre. A lot of people do it in remembrance of a loved one. Or they get together as a family and sponsor an acre," adds Peters. "Contact anyone of our committee members if you'd like to hear more about donating to this project."
Donations can be mailed to: Killarney Grow Project, Box 1660 Killarney, ROK 1GO. Please write cheques out to Killarney Grow Project.
If you'd like to see the progress of the Killarney Grow Project field throughout the summer months, drive 2 miles north on Hwy 18 from the Killarney Vet Clinic, and then drive 5 miles east. Watch for the John Deere drill with the Foodgrains sign and the Canadian flag.
