By the time you read this, we may be nearing the end of 2024 Canadian Foodgrains Bank harvests in Alberta. As of early October, still to come are Central Alberta/Lacombe, Leduc, Eckville, Bonnyville, Vegreville, Carstairs Threshing Day, Manning, and Tofield.

Since the last update, I’ve been able to attend Newell/Duchess, Linden’s Fall Supper (where they hosted 658 people), Fort Saskatchewan/Grow Hope (with MCC), Neerlandia, Huxley/Kneehill North, Picture Butte, Ponoka, and Edberg. I missed High River/Foothills, Granum, Viterra Trochu, Viterra Coaldale, Mallaig/St Paul.

My records show about 3,800 acres in total in Alberta this year were dedicated to the ministry of the Foodgrains Bank in places we all hear about—Sudan, Somalia, Gaza, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon—but also in many other countries, where the Foodgrains Bank and our members work not only in food distribution but in agricultural development and food security.

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A picture of a row of combines in a field near Edberg
Edberg – 90 acres of wheat in 57 minutes.

Ponoka Foodgrains harvest participants seated in a hall. They are gathered for a communal meal.
A lunch gathering during the Ponoka harvest.

A group of Foodgrains supporters gathered for a fall supper in the Linden/Acme area
Linden/Acme fall supper hosted 658 supporters.

A green grain cart fills a semi trailer.
Picture Butte harvest. It almost rained.
The Huxley/Kneehill North harvest participants pose for a picture with the combines used in the the harvest.
Huxley/Kneehill North harvest.

 
Harvest operations taking place at the Neerlandia Foodgrains project.
Harvest day – Neerlandia, north of Barrhead.

 
A sign thanking the sponsors of the Grow Hope and Fort Saskatchewan Foodgrains project.
Grow Hope (with MCC) and Fort Saskatchewan growing project.

 
Eight combines lined up ready to harvest the Newell Foodgrains crop.
Newell project near Duchess.

 

Thank you, Alberta supporters. If there is one thing I have noted in these past months, …  it’s that in every corner of this province, there are farmers and businesses and many others, people of all ages, representing many different faith and life backgrounds, who are committed to doing what they can, going out of their way to make good things happen on behalf of those millions who live in fear, without adequate food, nor shelter, nor security.

This is important work. Thank you for making it happen.

– Abe