Several Saskatchewan farmers are joining to getter to ‘Grow Hope’.  

Rick Block, the Saskatchewan Regional Representative with the Canadian Food Grains Bank, says through an initiative called Grow Hope Saskatchewan, eight families have donated a total of 500 acres of their land to be sponsored.  

“Individuals will sponsor, businesses, church groups, essentially sponsoring the input costs of those acres,” Block explains.

Once harvest wraps up this fall, the proceeds of these fields will be matched 4-to-1 by the federal government and used for international food aid and development. 

“This year…we have just over 500 acres available for sponsorship. There’s acres of canola. There is wheat, there is barley. There is also durum and oats.”

The fields can be found in all corners of the province, including Biggar, Bruno, Goodsoil, Langenburg, and Rosthern. Block says this is the 8th year the initiative has taken place, and $1.35 million has been raised so far.

“It’s a great way to sponsor the input costs of an agricultural project to get to know more about farming right here, locally, and you’re also leveraging federal government dollars to have a really important impact around the world.”

Grow Hope Saskatchewan started as a collaboration between the Canadian Food Grains Bank, Mennonite Central Committee, and Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatchewan. Those who want to sponsor an acre can head here.