A large crowd gathered at a local field on Oct. 4 to celebrate the harvest, socialize and support a good cause. The Canadian Foodgrains Ponoka Growing Project brought businesses, churches, individuals, farmers, truck drivers and many others together to witness the harvest of the 170 acres of wheat.
There were approximately 200 people that came out and about 15 combines to help harvest the grain.
Larry Henderson, committee member, was impressed with the turnout and grateful to everyone for supporting the project.
“It’s tremendous,” said Henderson. “We are so thankful to all the people that brought equipment, trucks, etc. It was wonderful, we were very blessed.”
The project raised approximately $60,000 from the field and $8,886 from donations. It took about two hours for the farmers to take the crops off and the yield was about 72 bushels per acre.
A lunch was also served and MP for Wetaskiwin, Blaine Calkins, said a few words and presented the committee with a Canadian flag.
There are about 33 projects in Alberta and all the money generated from the harvest goes to World Hunger. The government recognizes the organization and the need and gives four dollars for every dollar donated.