Labour Day Monday was the long anticipated conclusion of the first Harvest For Kids fundraiser to be held in Southwest Saskatchewan.
The project organized by Brady Funk attracted 27 combines to make quick work of a swathed field of Canola on a quarter section of Hildebrand Farms land. Marv Hildebrand, Jordan Hildebrand, and Brady Funk seeded the field in the spring and sprayed the canola crop during the growing season, but the harvest was a full community effort as reflected by the turnout of people viewing and supporting Monday’s harvest.
Wendell Andres, Saskatchewan Representative for Harvest For Kids and the Regional Director for Children’s Camps International pointed out that this regional project was the first Harvest For Kids effort in the Southwest, and one of five across Saskatchewan this year.
“He expressed a desire to do a harvest down here. So we put the seed in the ground, and God did everything else,” Andres said as the final rows of swathing was completed.
“What you see here is 27 combines on the field, and that is actually the most combines that we’ve had at a regional harvest in Saskatchewan. So it’s just fantastic the community spirit here.”
Children’s Camps International is the beneficiary of all funds generated through Harvest for Kids growing projects. Children’s Camps International benefits children in India, Cambodia, Kenya, Fiji, Brazil and Mexico, and they have reached over 1.6 million children since beginning their children’s camping ministry back in 2003.
Harvest For Kids is well known for having set a trio of World Records for the largest harvest. After two records in Manitoba during 2006 and 2010, they organized a World Record harvest at Dalmeny in October 2012. That harvest attracted 249 combines running simultaneously for five minutes and is officially recognized by Guinness World Records at the largest harvest event in the world.
That large scale initiative has now switched to regional projects across the prairies. And the effort is bringing producers together wherever it is held, helping draw the farming community closer together.
“There are some neighbours here that pass each other in the harvest all the time and wave, but they never get to talk. So here they get to share a meal and get together for a good cause,” Andres noted.
Children’s Camps International is the beneficiary of all funds generated through Harvest for Kids growing projects. Funding has benefited children in India, Cambodia, Kenya, Fiji, Brazil and Mexico, and they have reached over 1.6 million children since beginning their children’s camping ministry back in 2003.
“Children’s Camps International runs camps in six different countries. It costs $5 to send a kid to camp. So we partner with churches in those countries and we use camp as a tool to share the gospel.”
“Everyone who was here today is part of bringing hope to the world. Some of those countries, they live in pretty desperate situations. So the kids get a chance to come to camp, we feed them, they play games, learn bible verses, and share the hope of Christ with them.”
Plans are already in motion to host another project in the Southwest next year.
“You just don’t get to do something like this everyday,” Andres said. “And it’s doing something that is impacting kids in less fortunate places.”
