A Manitoba organization is discovering that breaking records can be habit forming.
In August 2006, farmers put 100 combines to work in a field near Winkler, Man., and harvested a quarter section in a world record time of 11 minutes.
Children’s Camps International, a charitable organization in Winkler, co-ordinated the record setting event and now plans a bigger gathering of combines.
“The Guinness record that we’re (trying) to break is the most combines harvesting on one field at the same time,” said Derek Unrau, regional director of Children’s Camps International, which helps children in developing countries attend a week of camp.
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The objective is to break a record held by farmers in Ireland, who harvested a field of wheat with 175 combines last year.
“We figured we’d run with the year 2010 and run 210 (combines),” Unrau said.
The plan is to put the combines on 240 acres of land south of Winkler Aug. 7.
It’s hoped the combines, which will harvest an early maturing variety of barley, will also attract a bigger crowd than 2006.
“Last time we had close to 10,000 people there,” Unrau said. “If we can get good weather, we can anticipate up to 20,000 people there (this year).”
The record setting attempt is designed to raise awareness of Children’s Camps International, which was founded in 2003.
“We worked to get 500 kids to go to camp, working with five churches (in India),” said organization president Ray Wieler. “In 2010 we’re planning to work with 3,000 churches and send close to 200,000 kids to camp. It’s absolutely exploded.”
Children’s Camps International operates in Kenya, India, Cambodia, Nepal, Belize and Fiji, co-operating with local churches to set up week-long day camps featuring sport, music and arts and crafts for children aged six to 12. The combine event will help pay for those camps, Unrau said.
“We’re going to have tons of exhibitors, so they can pay by donation to come and show their stuff,” he said.
The event will also feature live entertainment and food.
Unrau has recruited more than 100 farmers to donate their time and combines, but more are needed.
For more information, visit www.childrenscampsinternational.com/ or phone Unrau at 204-331-4003.
