From British Columbia all the way across the country to Newfoundland and Labrador, it’s because of people who choose to share the proceeds from their harvest with the world that we’re able to help people living with hunger. And as younger generations step up to lead, the generosity of the people who went before them lives on.
In Saskatchewan, Justin and Kathy Kerr are helping lead the Strasbourg Growing Project, which Justin’s father was involved in starting about 22 years ago.
“When dad was starting to ease back from running the family farm, he said it’s up to you to decide if you want to do the Foodgrains Bank project with it,” says Justin. “Once I learned what it was about, I bought in completely.”
Showing their two young children (ages five and seven) what they’re involved in has been a rewarding experience, he says.
“They call it ‘the field where we grow food for people who don’t have enough to eat,’ and it’s really refreshing to see it through their eyes. ‘We’re going to help lead it one day’ is what they’re saying!”
In B.C., Rob Brandsma is another example of the next generation stepping up to follow in his father’s footsteps by taking on the leadership of the Make a Difference auction. It was eight years ago that Rob’s father, who had been involved in the auction for many years prior, asked Rob if he would be interested in getting involved.
Since then, Rob has been a pivotal voice in the auction’s development – from adjusting the structure of processing cattle sales, to launching the auction online during the pandemic, which allowed the event to reach people far beyond the Fraser Valley.
“There’s definitely a shift happening in farming, and holes that will need to be filled as the older generation passes on the torch to the younger generation,” he says. “Some of our volunteers are of that younger generation. It’s been very family-oriented, and that’s been great to see.”
Hear from one of our young Ontario growing project volunteers at foodgrainsbank.ca/get-growing where you can also sign up to join a growing project in your area, or to start your own!
This story was originally published in the 2024 Spring edition of Breaking Bread.
