Vauxhall & District Growing Project

The origins of the Vauxhall Growing Project

In April 2003, Vauxhall farmer Jake “J.B.” Janz called together a small group of friends to start their first Canadian Foodgrains Bank growing project. According to Jake, his motivation for donating his land to the cause of ending hunger was that he knew what it was like to be hungry. Canada had been good to him, so Jake wanted to give back.

The harvest became a community event, with the women baking pies, fixing sandwiches, and serving drinks to the many people who came out to see neighbours showing up with trucks and combines to take the crop off. That first donation led to almost $2 million in donations over the next 20 years!

The second year of the growing project started with a fundraiser to help pay rent and other expenses. Randy and Virginia Howg suggested a community pig roast. Their son-in-law Darren Klemen was experienced in roasting pigs for social events and was asked to take care of the task. The event was held at Bennen’s potato storage building and has become an annual highlight in the community.

Since its inception, the Vauxhall & District Growing Project has enjoyed amazing community support, including many area farm supply and service companies, grain elevators, and numerous farmers who provided the use of their land. The Vauxhall & District Growing Project represents a similar mix of multiple faith communities, “Working together to End Hunger” for which the Foodgrains Bank is known.

“We are proud of the fact we come from a wide spectrum of church backgrounds, representing nine area communities of Christian Faiths, working towards the same goal,” says Arlene Parkinson, who was the project’s first treasurer and remains a committee member to this day.

On Wednesday, June 22, the Vauxhall group will, once again, invite the community to another pig roast. The event will start at 6 p.m. at the Vauxhall Community Hall (entry by donation).

Judging by the success of these community celebrations in the past, this is an event not to be missed! For more information, please see the Vauxhall & District Growing Project Facebook page.

– Ary Vreeken, Canadian Foodgrains Bank regional representative

Community support strong for Vauxhall Growing Project

When does a barbecue become a community dinner? When the bulk of the community shows up to support it.

Growing project director Jan Bennen puts it well, “The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is about building community – here in Canada and overseas.”

The Vauxhall & District Growing Project proved that once again, by hosting their annual, hugely successful Community Barbecue and Pig Roast.

A barbecue becomes a community dinner when:

• Community volunteers come early to set up in the community hall, and clean up after everyone else has left
• The Viterra bean plant supplies locally grown beans that are cooked in Vauxhall’s own Greta’s Kitchen
• Vauxhall Meats provides hundreds of hamburger patties
• South Country Co-op supplies salad, buns, condiments, and staff to help out
• A local farmer supplies pigs, which are cooked and carved by the Copperfield Hutterite Colony
• The Little Potato Company provides locally-grown potatoes for free
• The Alberta Cavendish frozen potato processing plant donates the French fries
• Twenty-year veteran committee members Arlene Parkinson, Ben Janz, and Peter and Richard Pepneck are still on hand to volunteer
• Long-time supporter, Intact Insurance Company, raffles off a major prise
• Local Mennonite Gospel Church volunteers serve up the food
• Various local businesses provide door prizes and silent auction items
• Avail Accountants serve anniversary cake
• Four hundred people show up for the dinner and raise more than $29,000 to end hunger.

This is one example of how Canadian Foodgrains Bank growing projects pull together and celebrate community in Canada, while helping communities overseas end hunger.

– Ary Vreeken, Canadian Foodgrains Bank regional representative