Area farmer Al Rand wanted to make a difference for less fortunate families overseas – and now he’s done just that to the tune of more than $23,000.
Over the past year, Rand has conducted a fundraising effort called Cows for Grain at his farm west of Bowden.
The project, which saw him raise four calves for sale, is part of the larger Winnipeg-based Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFB) program that provides support to rural residents and refugees in Third World countries.
“It’s a new program for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank,” said Rand. “The Canadian Foodgrains Bank has land where they raise crops and donate the grain, but cattle farmers don’t have that. So we through it was a good idea to raise calves and sell them and then the money goes in its entirety to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.”
Local farmers and supporters outside the region stepped up to help with the project, he said.
“When the community found out that we were doing this, some donated hay, pasture, trucking, and the auction mart also donated their services," he said. “It’s nice how the community has pulled together on this.”
The four calves raised by Rand since last spring were sold at the Olds Auction Mart on Jan. 8.
In all, $4,755 was brought in through the sale. The federal government will match the money raised on a four-to-one basis, meaning a total of $23,775 was raised through the effort.
“That (matching) program has gone on for four decades, regardless of what party is in power,” he said.
Rand notes that as well as providing food, the CFB also helps farm families in other ways.
“They feed the people, but then they also teach them regenerative agriculture so they can feed themselves,” he said. “Some people have increased their production by 400 per cent. Not only are they able to feed themselves, but now they can also send their kids to school. It is a real positive effect.”
The CFB is a partnership of more than a dozen Canadian churches and church-based agencies.
