Grant and Colleen Dyck work at Artel Farms. They're pictured here with their children, Georgia, Oskar, Leo and Moses.
A couple of Manitoba farmers are especially excited about their harvest this year.
Grant and Colleen Dyck farm at Artel Farms in Niverville, Manitoba. This year they donated close to 400 acres of their land to MCC Manitoba’s Grow Hope campaign, helping raise up to $1.3 million earmarked for MCC’s food projects around the world.
This was a record-breaking year for Grow Hope in Manitoba, a campaign which invites donors, or “farmers,” to sponsor land on a participating local farm. Throughout the growing season, the real farmers work the land and then donate the proceeds after harvest to MCC’s account at Canadian Foodgrains Bank. From there, the proceeds are matched by the Canadian government at a rate of up to 4:1.
“We’re very thankful Grow Hope had so much traction this year,” Grant Dyck says. “The amount of farmers and non-farmers coming together to get involved, it’s amazing.
An initial investment of $300 per acre allowed Dyck and his family to farm canola and yield an estimate of 55 bushels/acre at a price of $11.25/bushel, in the end earning $618.75 per acre. After government matching, that one acre of canola will be worth as much as $3093 for MCC and Canadian Foodgrains Bank to respond to hunger around the world.
Dyck wasn’t the only farmer. This year, Crystal Spring Hutterite Colony near Ste. Agathe, Manitoba contributed 50 acres of wheat to the campaign.
According to Jerry Waldner, the farm manager at the colony, this year the colony harvested the best wheat crop they’ve ever produced and fetched high prices at market. These acres will be worth close to $600 before matching, as well.
Waldner says the colony of 180 members felt called to donate the acres.
“It’s what we believe and that’s one of the commandments of God to help the poor,” he says.
Dyck says it was important for him and his wife to model charitable giving to their family.
“We’re very blessed to live in the developed world and a lot of our challenges are first world problems. We want to be able to contribute to the fight against global hunger in any way we can. It’s humbling to be a part of Grow Hope, knowing where the proceeds will go,” he says.
Hundreds of people from all over Manitoba made this a record-breaking year for Grow Hope, including the children at Steinbach’s Grace Mennonite Church. On Sundays leading up to Easter, the children collected coins for Grow Hope.
By the end of their fundraising campaign, they raised $1,916, surpassing their goal. They sponsored nearly six and a half acres of land. With government matching, it’s a total contribution of up to $16,000.
Harvest may be over, but MCC Manitoba is still looking ahead to Spring and planting season. To become a “farmer” next year—and Grow Hope together with Grant and Colleen Dyck, Crystal Spring Hutterite Colony and hundreds of Manitobans—visit https://mcccanada.ca/learn/more/grow-hope.