PONOKA, Alta. — The Canadian Foodgrains Bank seems to bring out the best in farmers.
An auction held recently at Vold Jones and Vold in Ponoka earned $55,000 to help feed the world’s hungry.
“We’ve had consistent and solid support,” foodgrains bank executive director Jim Cornelius said about the sale.
Farmers donated 37 cattle, 46 tonnes of 53-pound barley and two baby goats. The barley sold for $14,000, well above market price, and the selection of mostly cull cows earned higher than average bids.
The buy of the day went to VJV auctioneer Dan Skeels, who was the final bidder on a pair of kids that earned $1,800. The goats were sold eight times and the bids were donated back to the charity.
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About $3,600 also came in through cash donations.
Similar auctions are also being held in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
Since its inception in 2001, the annual sale at Ponoka has raised $825,000 for the food grains bank.
Money is also earned annually through 200 growing projects across Canada, from which the proceeds of grain harvests are also donated.
The foodgrains bank is a partnership of 15 churches and church agencies to end global hunger. The Canadian International Development Agency matches the funds at a four to one ratio to a maximum of $25 million.
The foodgrains bank has provided more than one million tonnes of food assistance to hungry people since 1983.
