Whether in Alberta or Ontario, farmer Dave Schraa is committed to having a Foodgrains Bank growing project wherever he goes.
He’s known about the Foodgrains Bank for many years through his agricultural background, but his first direct involvement came with the Carstairs/Didsbury growing project in Alberta.
For over 10 years, Dave worked with Nutrien Ag Solutions in the Carstairs area of Alberta in agronomist and product sales, meeting with farmers from Calgary to Red Deer, and working with the Foodgrains Bank project.
While the Didsbury Nutrien retail site supported the project with discounted fertilizer and crop protection products, Dave donated his agronomic skills – “designing the fertility plans, in-field crop scouting, and recommendations on crop protection products to use and timing of application,” he says. “It was a great way to interact with the community and the farmers that supported the project, many I worked with on their own farm operations.”
A few years later, in 2021, the family made a big transition, relocating to Emo, Ontario, where they purchased the farm and retail seed business they now operate. Dave became involved with the Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association, serving locally and on the provincial board.
His farm had just hosted the Rainy River district’s first ever Ag Expo – a 2.5 day event featuring demonstrations and expert presentations that drew remarkable community support, and that was when Dave decided to launch a new Foodgrains Bank growing project.
“Building on that momentum, I introduced the idea of a local Foodgrains project, which is now supported by our board and community partners… we are very fortunate to have a dedicated 50-acre site for the project, with good visibility to the general public, on highway 11/71 between Fort Frances and Emo.”
In September 2025, the Rainy River growing project team completed the first harvest, harvesting a 40-acre field of wheat. And in the years to come, Dave hopes the growing project will become an annual initiative that strengthens local agriculture while supporting the Foodgrains Bank.
This story was originally published in the 2026 spring edition of Breaking Bread.
