Back in 1996, Howard Sullivan, the minister at our church asked me if I would be interested in helping with a Canadian Foodgrains Bank project in our area. "Canadian what?" was my puzzled response. As I learned more about the organization, I could see a couple of things that really attracted me. First, as a farmer, this would be a wonderful opportunity to use my gifts and knowledge to return some of the tremendous blessings God had given me in my life. Second, it would also be a great opportunity for agricultural education within our community. And you know what...
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Back in 1996, Howard Sullivan, the minister at our church asked me if I would be interested in helping with a Canadian Foodgrains Bank project in our area. "Canadian what?" was my puzzled response.
As I learned more about the organization, I could see a couple of things that really attracted me. First, as a farmer, this would be a wonderful opportunity to use my gifts and knowledge to return some of the tremendous blessings God had given me in my life. Second, it would also be a great opportunity for agricultural education within our community. And you know what they say, "When opportunity knocks..."
In 1997, the Bighead River Foodgrains growing project was formed through the cooperation of several churches in Meaford and land was donated on the outskirts of town. I was the farmer contact. Through donations and our first crop of barley, we raised $3500 that first year.
Our project grew and eventually I took on the coordinator and treasurer role which I still do today. Today, we are raising over $50,000 annually. One of my greatest satisfactions was running the Mervin Lush Memorial Antique Tractor Show on our farm. This one-day event drew hundreds of visitors to the farm and raised thousands of dollars for the Foodgrains bank while also allowing people to learn about agriculture. Another highlight was the people to people visit of Sangster from Malawi. It was a thrill to meet up with him again years later in Malawi. Partnering with Christ Church United, now Christ First United, from Mississauga was, and still is, a great experience. Watching their enthusiasm for picking stones in those early years was amazing and it was another opportunity for ag education when they visited our dairy farm.
After retiring from dairy farming, I had the opportunity to go on a learning tour to Malawi. It was an experience that would change the direction of my retirement and one that has left me with a lifetime of memories and gratitude. You cannot possibly go on one of these trips and not be moved to recognize the blessings we have in Canada and attain a desire to help in some way.
After that trip, I began speaking about my experiences throughout Grey and Bruce counties. Then I was asked to become an Ontario ambassador and I began speaking more widely in the province. In 2019, Ontario regional rep Dave Epp took a leave of absence to contest the conservative nomination in his riding. I was asked to fill in as a volunteer rep which I did. Finally, with Dave's success at being elected the conservative candidate in his riding and then in the Oct. 2019 federal election, he resigned as Ontario regional rep and the position became open. Having several months of volunteer experience under my belt, I decided I liked what I was doing and applied for the job. The rest, as they say, is history.
I started officially as the Ontario regional rep in January 2020 and it has been an amazing experience. It started with another learning tour to India which only reinforced in my mind the wonderful things our members and their partners are doing in the developing world. The pandemic (not so amazing) gave me time to meet with most of the over 100 growing projects across the province and to make phone contact with many donors. As restrictions eased in 2022, I became busier with speaking engagements, farm shows, and many, many donor and growing project visits. I am so grateful for the ambassadors we now have who are able to ease the workload.
Of all the things I cherish, of all the memories I've created, none will be stronger than the friendships that have been established around kitchen tables, or in people's living rooms discussing our faith in God and our love of helping others around the world through Canadian Foodgrains Bank. That is what this is all about.
It has been, and continues to be, an awesome ride!...
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