Webster County farmers donate crops to F.O.O.D. Project

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
October 12, 2006

WEBSTER COUNTY - For the second year, farmers in Webster County are donating part of their crop to the F.O.O.D. (Fields of Opportunity and Dreams) Project.

Nineteen farmers have donated about 70 acres of their crops to the F.O.O.D. Project. According to Sister Margaret Kruse, SSSF, pastoral minister for the Webster County Team Parishes, the number of farmers as well as acreage has double this year. USAid will match the amount donated by the farmers in Webster County.

The farmers participating are mostly parishioners of the Webster County Team Parishes. One farmer is from the Lutheran church. Sister Margaret noted that they are trying to make this an ecumenical project.

"What we are finding is that this is probably the one project that we are not helping people just to help them. What we are doing is providing the finances so that they can become self-sufficient themselves," said Sister Margaret. "It goes back to the saying, 'If you give a person a fish, they will last a day. If you give a person a fishing pole and teach them how to fish, they will become self-sufficient.'"

Sister Margaret mentioned that many people benefit from this project.

"I think our farmers benefit in the fact that they are mainly giving out of what they are naturally able to give. They are giving their expertise in farming, their time and their talent," she said. "I think all of our parishioners are also gaining because what we are trying to do is to help them make the connection that we can be with another group of people who have so much less than us. I think it benefits the people in Tanzania, who are predominately women farmers. They are becoming more and more self-sufficient and able to raise their families on their own."

A harvest celebration will be held Oct. 22 on the farm of Rich and Kathy Allen, one mile south of Clare. The celebration will begin at noon. People are encouraged to bring their families to the farm for hayrides, farm tours, combine rides, face painting, pumpkin painting and contest and apple bobbing.

"It is a Sunday this year instead of a Saturday," said Sister Margaret. "We thought we could pool more people to come on Sunday."

A prayer celebration will begin at 1:30 p.m. The service will include Sts. Isadore and Maria as well as a former president in Tanzania whom the people of Tanzania are seeking to be canonized.

"The harvest celebration is going to be our faith event from our faith festival for October," said Sister Margaret. "The theme for October is all saints, so we want to make that connection with the harvest celebration. We chose Isadore and Maria because they are the patron of farmers. We've chosen Julius Nyerere because he was a president for about 24 years in Tanzania. He was a president for the poor. He was able to prevent his country from going to civil war."

There will be songs that are part of the service. Ron DeWeerd, the Food Resource Bank representative, may speak about one or two of the projects that he has experienced in Africa. Sister Margaret added that she would like to also have one or two of the farmers talk about their experience in taking part in the F.O.O.D. Project.

At 2:30 p.m. a potluck lunch will be served. People are asked to bring a dish to share and a lawn chair. Dishes, silverware and drinks will be provided.

The rest of the afternoon, until 4 p.m. those gathered are welcome to continue to tour the farm and participate in the activities.

"The Food Resource Bank encourages people to have a harvest celebration of some sort," said Sister Margaret. "Also it is a prime opportunity to gather not only the farmers involved but also any persons in the parishes who have been donating their money or people from our faith festivals who have been hearing about it for the last year. It is a great opportunity just to pool people together and give thanks for the bounty that God has given us and to let them know that they have been a part of that whole process."