Christmas time is often the time of year that people look forward as a time of visiting with their families and friends and for giving and receiving gifts. Sometimes those gifts are just caring for others that need it more than we do !
This year on Dec 23 rd we got our final numbers in for Kernels of Hope. We banded together across the country and even some of our neighbours south of the 49th parallel to join in raising crops to help people in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa. You likely know that we have been helping these people in this war torn country resettle onto their farmland through helping them attain seed and tools and even fishing equipment so they can once again feed their families and get some extra income to better their lives. The Hudyes of Norquay have been a huge supporter of this project through their unique project called " "Helping Feed The World " This project adds to our virtual farming theme by having actual producers in their area designate the whole production of 10 acres of crop to Kernels of Hope. The crops in many areas were average at best this year but in the Norquay area things were great ! Big bushels multiplied by big prices and backed up by big hearts equal an amazing addition once again to Kernels !
The Hudyes are very committed to making a difference this way and they challenged their good friends in Burlington, Colorado to have some producers help out too ! They came through big time !
When we add all the components of Kernels together this year, Benefit Projects like the "Wide Open Spaces" Musical by Neelin High School in Brandon, The Ugly Sweater, the Real farmers growing real crops for the donors or the virtual farmers, real farmers donating actual grain to World Relief Canada through the CFGB on behalf of Kernels and the wonderful enthusiasm and funds from "Helping Feed the World " we have raised $100,000 this year ! That is a record in our 7 year history ! The Canadian International Development Agency ( CIDA ) is matching those funds $4 for every $1 we raise. That makes a total of $500,000 for our project in the Congo this year. What a benefit it will be to the people of the Congo. What a Christmas present for me to find this out at this time of year. For my part the giving of time and resources to this project has come back to me as blessings many times over just by having the privelege to farm with all of you and to make a difference that can last for generations. We are truly blessed in North America. Thanks so much for farming in what ever fashion you did this year if you were able ... We are going to farm again in 2012
Stay tuned for how we can once again turn something little like a seed into a life changing program for them and for us ! Grow with us again !
Blessings in 2012 from Ray the Grain Guy !
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Covenant News
Here is a story just done in Chicago by Stan Friedman. Go to the ECC site to see the picture...
Record Kernels of Hope Crop to Benefit Congo Farmers
MELFORT, SK (October 19, 2011) – Kendell Arndt doesn’t know how to farm the 80 acres he purchased, so he turned growing canola grain into a community project that will benefit farmers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The member of Melfort Covenant Church is participating in the Kernels of Hope program, which is operated on behalf of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada. Farmers in several provinces donate their time to grow wheat and canola crops on a portion of their land set aside to be “purchased” by virtual farmer donors. Those donations pay the costs of rent, seed, chemicals, insurance, and custom work.
Kendell Arndt and Ray Baloun
When the crops are sold, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) matches the grain sales revenue on a four-to-one ratio to reach the final donation amount. That money is distributed to the intended recipients through the Canadian Food Grains Bank and World Relief Canada.
Since its inception in 2005, Kernels has raised more than $1.7 million. Arndt has helped with the program from the beginning, but he has done so as a virtual farmer and someone who encourages others to donate land.
Arndt bought the property two years ago and had considered renting it to farmers. “Then it clicked in my brain that I could donate it just like I have asked farmers to do for the past six years,” he told a local newspaper.
Local businesses were eager to help him farm the property as soon as they heard what Arndt wanted to do. A local equipment retailer seeded, sprayed, and harvested the crop. Another friend agreed to haul the grain to the local elevator, and that friend enlisted someone he knew to donate the seed.
Arndt did help harvest the canola field. He got a quick lesson in running a large John Deere combine and helped drive it through the fields.
Business owners said that helping with Kernels was such a rewarding experience, they look forward to doing it again next year. That has been the experience across the country as the number of people involved continues to grow.
“We get more virtual farmers all the time,” says Covenanter Ray Baloun, who initiated and now oversees the project. “It’s easier for me to find real farmers each year, too!”
Baloun reports that yields have been good and prices “quite good.” Although he won’t have final numbers for another three weeks, Baloun says, “I am guessing it may be our best year ever.”
Just over $19,000 worth of canola was harvested from Arndt’s property recently. Because of the 4:1 matching funds, that harvest yielded a total of $76,000.
In previous years, money from the Kernels project was used to provide implements and other needed supplies to farmers in South Sudan and Liberia
Record Kernels of Hope Crop to Benefit Congo Farmers
MELFORT, SK (October 19, 2011) – Kendell Arndt doesn’t know how to farm the 80 acres he purchased, so he turned growing canola grain into a community project that will benefit farmers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The member of Melfort Covenant Church is participating in the Kernels of Hope program, which is operated on behalf of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada. Farmers in several provinces donate their time to grow wheat and canola crops on a portion of their land set aside to be “purchased” by virtual farmer donors. Those donations pay the costs of rent, seed, chemicals, insurance, and custom work.
Kendell Arndt and Ray Baloun
When the crops are sold, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) matches the grain sales revenue on a four-to-one ratio to reach the final donation amount. That money is distributed to the intended recipients through the Canadian Food Grains Bank and World Relief Canada.
Since its inception in 2005, Kernels has raised more than $1.7 million. Arndt has helped with the program from the beginning, but he has done so as a virtual farmer and someone who encourages others to donate land.
Arndt bought the property two years ago and had considered renting it to farmers. “Then it clicked in my brain that I could donate it just like I have asked farmers to do for the past six years,” he told a local newspaper.
Local businesses were eager to help him farm the property as soon as they heard what Arndt wanted to do. A local equipment retailer seeded, sprayed, and harvested the crop. Another friend agreed to haul the grain to the local elevator, and that friend enlisted someone he knew to donate the seed.
Arndt did help harvest the canola field. He got a quick lesson in running a large John Deere combine and helped drive it through the fields.
Business owners said that helping with Kernels was such a rewarding experience, they look forward to doing it again next year. That has been the experience across the country as the number of people involved continues to grow.
“We get more virtual farmers all the time,” says Covenanter Ray Baloun, who initiated and now oversees the project. “It’s easier for me to find real farmers each year, too!”
Baloun reports that yields have been good and prices “quite good.” Although he won’t have final numbers for another three weeks, Baloun says, “I am guessing it may be our best year ever.”
Just over $19,000 worth of canola was harvested from Arndt’s property recently. Because of the 4:1 matching funds, that harvest yielded a total of $76,000.
In previous years, money from the Kernels project was used to provide implements and other needed supplies to farmers in South Sudan and Liberia
The Newbergs !
Our Kernels family in Hyas, Saskatchewan near the now famous town of Norquay, is Warren and Pam Newberg ! They aren't into the internet and we have been missing each other by phone so far but this week we connected !
They had seeded 20 acres of canola for us. The weather was more favorable there than it was in Manitoba this year and I am so pleased to report that they had a verrry good yield. It yielded 45 bushels per acre after the dockage is removed. Niiice ! We haven't priced it or taken it to the elevator yet. We will do that soon. The price is over $11.00 a bushel which is very high compared to most other years in the history of canola.
This is one more piece in the Kernels puzzle for this year. I will soon be able to put all the pieces together and tell you what we have done for World Relief Canada and the Canadian Food Grains Bank and specifically the people in the Congo. I do know the numbers are looking good again. We have already advanced some money previously to catch some of the earlier Government match offer.
Good things are still happening through Kernels ! Stay Tuned for updates !
Ray the Grain Guy
They had seeded 20 acres of canola for us. The weather was more favorable there than it was in Manitoba this year and I am so pleased to report that they had a verrry good yield. It yielded 45 bushels per acre after the dockage is removed. Niiice ! We haven't priced it or taken it to the elevator yet. We will do that soon. The price is over $11.00 a bushel which is very high compared to most other years in the history of canola.
This is one more piece in the Kernels puzzle for this year. I will soon be able to put all the pieces together and tell you what we have done for World Relief Canada and the Canadian Food Grains Bank and specifically the people in the Congo. I do know the numbers are looking good again. We have already advanced some money previously to catch some of the earlier Government match offer.
Good things are still happening through Kernels ! Stay Tuned for updates !
Ray the Grain Guy
Friday, September 9, 2011
CBC Radio For Friday Sept 9
CBC Radio Manitoba to Focus on Needs in East Africa
Will hold special day of programming Sept. 9; listeners encouraged to donate to Canadian Foodgrains Bank
Manitobans will be encouraged to “reach out to people” in east Africa on Friday, September 9 when CBC Radio holds a special day of programming for famine relief in that region.
The day of programming, called Make a Difference Friday, will feature interviews with aid agency representatives about how they are helping people in east Africa, and also feature people from that region who have experienced hunger first-hand.
CBC Radio will also broadcast live at noon from a special ration meal lunch hosted by the Foodgrains Bank, Mennonite Central Committee and Canadian Lutheran World Relief.
Later, on Up to Speed, singer and songwriter Steve Bell will talk about his experiences visiting Foodgrains Bank-supported work in Africa, and perform live.
Listeners will be encouraged to donate to Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a partnership of 15 churches and church agencies working together to end global hunger.
The special programming can be heard on Information Radio, Radio Noon, and Up to Speed at 89.3 FM and 990 AM.
Visit http://www.foodgrainsbank.ca/cbc_manitoba_canadian_foodgrains_bank_east_africa_drought_response.aspx to go to the CBC Radio Manitoba/Canadian Foodgrains Bank information and donation page.
Emily Cain
Communications Coordinator
Canadian Foodgrains Bank
400-393 Portage Ave. (Portage Place Mall)
Box 767
Winnipeg, MB R3C 2L4
204.926.4233
cell: 204-930-5509
e_cain@foodgrainsbank.ca
www.foodgrainsbank.ca
www.fastforchange.ca
Will hold special day of programming Sept. 9; listeners encouraged to donate to Canadian Foodgrains Bank
Manitobans will be encouraged to “reach out to people” in east Africa on Friday, September 9 when CBC Radio holds a special day of programming for famine relief in that region.
The day of programming, called Make a Difference Friday, will feature interviews with aid agency representatives about how they are helping people in east Africa, and also feature people from that region who have experienced hunger first-hand.
CBC Radio will also broadcast live at noon from a special ration meal lunch hosted by the Foodgrains Bank, Mennonite Central Committee and Canadian Lutheran World Relief.
Later, on Up to Speed, singer and songwriter Steve Bell will talk about his experiences visiting Foodgrains Bank-supported work in Africa, and perform live.
Listeners will be encouraged to donate to Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a partnership of 15 churches and church agencies working together to end global hunger.
The special programming can be heard on Information Radio, Radio Noon, and Up to Speed at 89.3 FM and 990 AM.
Visit http://www.foodgrainsbank.ca/cbc_manitoba_canadian_foodgrains_bank_east_africa_drought_response.aspx to go to the CBC Radio Manitoba/Canadian Foodgrains Bank information and donation page.
Emily Cain
Communications Coordinator
Canadian Foodgrains Bank
400-393 Portage Ave. (Portage Place Mall)
Box 767
Winnipeg, MB R3C 2L4
204.926.4233
cell: 204-930-5509
e_cain@foodgrainsbank.ca
www.foodgrainsbank.ca
www.fastforchange.ca
Sunday, September 4, 2011
The Marvin Wheat
Here is the wheat that Lonnie and Steve grew for Kernels of Hope this year
It was harvested soon after these pictures. The quality was #1 and we will soon know the protein. The protein in wheat like this ranges from about 12.5 % to 15.5%
the more protein the more money ! The variety is Glenn... I think they'll grow it again! It ran over 40 bu per acre on barely any rainfall for the last half of its life! Now it will sustain life in people in North Kivu, Congo...
Saturday, September 3, 2011
As you leave the Melfort Covenant Church
This is the sign you see as you leave the Melfort Church.
It sure suits Kernels of Hope supporters ! You are making a difference !
( If the picture is too dark to read on your computer... it says
Now ... go make a Difference ... )
The Melfort Kinistino Adventure
This week I had a chance to go to Melfort, and neighbouring community Kinistino, Saskatchewan ! Gerald and Darla have been growing Kernels crops and I finally got to meet them ! You'll also see Kendell and Jodines canola field. Gary Gilkinson and I toured both fields with the guys and we did a prayer walk at the wheat field. It is so important that everything we do on Kernels is done for God's Kingdom in helping those less fortunate than ourselves...
The pictures are worth a whole lot of words !
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