Harvest for Hunger - Combines Set to Roll for World Record Attempt

LISTOWEL/MONKTON AREA. One hundred combines will be gathering on a Perth County farm on September 30 to set a world record soybean harvest.

A group of farmers from the Listowel/Monkton area have prepared a 160-acre field of soybeans with a goal of harvesting it in less than 10 minutes. 

“Our goal is to gather as many combines as possible to harvest the field in a very short period of time,” says Randy Drenth, one of the organizers.

The project, dubbed Harvest for Hunger, is a unique growing project that will raise money for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. The use of the land, field work, seed, fertilizer, crop protection, fuel and crop scouting has been donated so that 100% of the proceeds from this harvest can be used to alleviate hunger around the world. The group’s goal is to raise $200,000 by auctioning the soybeans at the site right after the harvest on September 30. 

Anyone interested in participating with their combine should register by contacting Peter Rastorfer at 519 347 2669, or by email to harvest4hunger@hotmail.ca.

The public is invited to support the project by coming to watch the record breaking event on Highway 23, 1 kilometre north of Monkton (between Listowel & Mitchell). Come for lunch — beef and pork on a bun will be served.

The public can also be part of the fundraising by donating $20 per bushel to the Harvest for Hunger project to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Donate. 

Updates on the plans for the world record attempt can be found at Harvest for Hunger or Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

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For more information, contact Elbert van Donkersgoed, 519-763-2589 or harvest4hunger@terracoeur.ca.