Killarney Guide

Killarney Growing Project volunteers combine 165 tonnes of wheat for the CFGB

BY KIM LANGEN

In unexpectedly cool weather, a small group of supporters and drivers met up on Wednesday morning to witness what is always a stunning and heart-warming event.

It was the scheduled hour for the combining of 100 acres of Brandon red spring wheat, in a field just a few miles north of town, and a crop which the Killarney Growing Project volunteers had once again organized and grown to help support the world’s people in need.

Ten massive combines rolled up slowly into the field to master the task, along with six honking grain trucks, and a big grain cart. Two of the volunteers had just arrived, after a very long stretch of work at home, still managing to make their appearance for the harvest day, said Growing Project secretary Betty Turner.

“Dan and Scott Kroeker have been combining their own crop, all day, and all through the night, for 18 hours straight,” said Turner. “They had toast and coffee, and then they both came here, along with a combine, a grain cart, and a semi-trailer; incredible. All the farmers are anxious to get onto their own fields, because we have a big weather system moving in. We have been blessed with a few rains, and I think it will be a decent crop.”

Gordon Janzen, regional rep for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) in Manitoba and NW Ontario, told the assembled group just how important their contribution was to the national program.

“Thank you for helping to feed the hungry,” he said. “It makes a huge difference. We have 38 growing projects in Manitoba this year, and it’s going to be busy this week. The proceeds from the sale of this harvest will help in some 33 countries where there is a need. The money will also help with emergency responses, in places like Afghanistan and Haiti, and it will also help support smallholder farmers, so more people can stay out of hunger.”

Lloyd Jersak, a long-time growing committee member who recently stepped down for health reasons, played a moving gospel medley on his golden baritone horn, a cane at his side. 

And when the combines, with drivers tuned to Channel One on their radios for communication with field manager Myron Peters, were lined up perfectly and ready to roll, Jersak belted out a ‘short cadenza,’ saluting the start of their slow roaring charge across the sea of waving wheat.

The 100-acre field, rented from Blair English, was combined in just under an hour, and yielded an impressive 165.51 tonnes of wheat; 60.81 bushels to the acre. It was trucked directly down to the HyLife Feed Mill in Killarney, who purchased the whole lot, said Turner.

“Blair English and his mom, Carole, have so many memories from this field,” she said. “They came here to watch the harvest. And what an awesome yield. I am glad some people were able to come. We really wanted everyone to join with us to share the harvest in the field, but with the short notice, and rain in the forecast, we were still a little uneasy about COVID. We felt as a committee that it was best to go ahead and complete the harvest safely, and let the volunteers go back to work on their own harvest.”

Turner added that although the wonderful lunch in the field event for the public was not possible this year, Greenvalley Equipment had kindly donated a boxed chicken dinner for all those ‘behind a wheel,’ and to the growing committee members. 

“We are sure hoping that next year we can go back to more normal,’ said Turner. “And we could not do this project without the community. We want them to know we appreciate their donations and help of all kinds. We have 122 acres ‘sold’ to date for this crop, with some pledges still to come in. Our goal is to raise $250 per acre for 160 acres, which is what we try to do each year, to help cover input costs, and we hope we can still sell those last 38 spots. The names all go on our map, which will be on display soon.”

The Killarney Growing Project is also seeking to rent a field, preferably 160 acres, in advance for next year’s CFGB project. And they hope to line one up soon, if they can find a taker for the worthy cause.

“We need a field for next year,” said Turner. “It’s too late in the spring to ask farmers, because they already have their contracts arranged. So we are trying to secure a location in advance.”

To contact Betty Turner about renting out a quarter for the 2022 CFGB Killarney Growing Project, and to find out how to help support this year’s project, or for more information, call her at 204-523-0217. 

For those who would like to snap up one of the remaining ‘acres for sale’ at $250 each, cheques can be made out to ‘Killarney Growing Project’, and mailed to Box 1660, Killarney, Manitoba, R0K 1G0.

A hundred acres for the hungry…

WAVING WHEAT AWAITS – Ten massive combines and their operators joined volunteer forces on Wednesday morning to simultaneously harvest 100 acres of AC Brandon red spring wheat, in just under an hour, for the Killarney Growing Project. The yield was 165 tonnes of grain, and the sale proceeds of the crop will be donated to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) to support countries in need.

MAKING YOUR MARK ON THE MAP – There is still time to make your mark on the Killarney Growing Project’s growing map of donors (held by Betty Turner and Lloyd Jersak) for this year’s CFGB project. For $250 you can sponsor input costs for an acre, and help support the world’s people in need. Contact Betty Turner (left) to donate – and also if you are interested in renting around 160 acres for next year’s project.

LLOYD TOOTS HIS HORN – Lloyd Jersak blew sweetly on his baritone horn, to help open Wednesday’s harvest of the Killarney Growing Project’s 100-acre field of wheat. Still got the magic, Lloyd.

MYRON CALLING, CHANNEL ONE – Field manager Myron Peters (right), on the phone, organizing the line-up of 10 combines assembled on Blair English’s field a few miles north of Killarney during Wednesday’s Canadian Foodgrains harvest. Each volunteer operator had their own radiophone, set to Channel One, for coms with the captain.

JAY STRUTH/KILLARNEY GUIDE PHOTOS