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Growing wheat locally to support third-world countries

Mar 15, 2019 | 4:23 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Canadian Foodgrains Bank of Medicine Hat is hosting a banquet this evening at the Chinook Village.

“It allows people to have supper with us and find out what’s going on,” explained Charlie Redpath. “We’ve been doing this for 15-years and in regards to the money, we’ve probably raised roughly $50,000 every year.”

The project itself is part of a national initiative that raises money for the less fortunate.

Locally, the Medicine Hat chapter grows wheat and then sells it with all the profits going to support third-world countries.

“We have approximately 200 acres of land that we’re farming within city limits. We seed half of it and the machinery and everything is all donated. When the crop is harvested, it’s taken to the grain elevators and the money is then sent to Winnipeg’s head office.”

The money raised will help the less fortunate get a better food supply and basic farming equipment to make their lives a little bit easier.

“They usually try to buy supplies close to the country they’re working in. That is so they’re not paying a bunch of freight on it. They’ll also set people up to help them with their farming and buy stuff for them that they need.”

Redpath says the federal government also matches donations four to one, making every dollar donation worth five.

For Redpath, he’s seen firsthand the benefits of what this program could do.

“In about 1994, I went on a trip to Africa with the Foodgrains Bank and I saw the need. At that point, I made up my mind that if land ever came available, I was going to ask for it to be used for the use of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. In 2000, the First Assembly of God Church purchased a quarter-section of land on the south-side of Medicine Hat and I approached them.”

From April 2017 to March 2018, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank helped over 843,000 people.

Tonight’s banquet begins at 6:00 p.m.