Gearing up to break world record

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The Neepawa Banner 

Manitoba is set to become home to another world record in an effort to help end global hunger. 

 

On July 31, 2016, Harvesting Hope: a World Record to the Help the Hungry will host over 500 volunteers from 100 communities across Canada as they operate vintage threshing machines from the early 20th century to harvest a crop of wheat.  When in operation, the equipment will require over four football fields of space.

Proceeds from the event will support the efforts of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to help end global hunger and the Manitoba Agricultural Museum’s work to preserve Manitoba’s rural heritage.  One example of a Canadian Foodgrains Bank-supported project is in Zimbabwe, where 17,000 children from traditionally hunter-gatherer communities between the ages of five and 12 are receiving a nutritious school meal five days a week.

“The outpouring of support for this event is overwhelming,” says Ayn Wilcox, spokesperson for Harvesting Hope. “Even though it’s almost a year before our record attempt, volunteers, contributors and threshing equipment owners are already registering from as far away as Edmonton and Southern Ontario to be part of this special event.”  

“We’re excited to partner with the Museum on this event,” adds John Longhurst, who directs communications and marketing for the Foodgrains Bank. “As an organization with deep roots in rural Canada, we are pleased to be part of an event that celebrates farming history and generosity.”

To set the record, all threshing machines must operate simultaneously and continuously for at least 15 minutes. Each machine will be driven by a steam engine, tractor or stationary engine built between 1890 and 1950.

The current record is held by the St. Albert Curd Festival in Ontario, which set a new record last Saturday with 111 machines operating at the same time. Previously, the Olde Tyme Harvest in Langenburg, Saskatchewan set the record in 2013 with 41 threshing machines. The Saskatchewan event also raised funds for the Foodgrains Bank.

 Harvesting Hope will be held in conjunction with the 62nd Manitoba Threshermen’s Reunion & Stampede, one of Manitoba’s premier summer festivals and Canada’s largest pioneer heritage festival.  

 The festival is scheduled for July 28-31, 2016 with lead-up activities for Harvesting Hope schedule for July 28-30. Over 15,000 people are expected over the course of the event. 

 For more details or to make a donation, please visit www.harvestinghope.ca or follow us on twitter at @harvesthope2016.