Harvest Celebration held in Webster County for F.O.O.D. Project

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
October 26, 2006

WEBSTER COUNTY - Farmers in Webster County will donate 72 acres of their harvest to the F.O.O.D. (Fields of Opportunity and Dreams) Project this year. USAid will match the amount donated by the farmers in Webster County.

The farmers and others from the Webster County Team Parishes gathered on Oct. 22 for a Harvest Celebration at the farm of Rich and Kathy Allen.

"I believe we need to thank God for the abundance of the harvest to begin with, but more importantly at this time, it is good to gather those who have been involved with raising the crop and harvesting it with those who have supported the farmers by giving donations for the items the farmer needed to put the crop in the field. We have done some great working together," said Sister Margaret Kruse, SSSF, pastoral minister for the Webster County Team Parishes.

She noted that they also need to thank God "for the great abundance of crop that was given so we can share that abundance with others who are less fortunate and want to become self-sufficient. So we need to come together to give thanks for all of this."

The celebration was held from 12 to 4 p.m. and attendees were invited to tour the farm and go on combine and hayrack rides among other activities. There were a little over 100 people who attended the celebration.

At 1:30 p.m. a prayer service was held in the basement of the Allen home rather than outside, due to cold weather.

The service began with an introduction by Sister Margaret and Wynn Touney, a member of the Webster County F.O.O.D. Project committee.

The patron saints of farmers, Sts. Isidore and Maria, portrayed by two parishioners, were introduced to tell "their story."

Wayne McMannus, one of the 20 farmers, spoke about his experience as part of the F.O.O.D. Project.

"We as farmers start out with a kernel of corn in the spring and hopefully we end up with one of these (an ear of corn) in the fall. This is approximately 600 or 700 kernels off of one kernel in the spring," said McMannus.

At an agriculture seminar a few years ago, McMannus listened to a speaker that "set us in our place."

"He said, 'We as farmers control about 25 percent of what goes on in our field. The other 75 percent we have absolutely no control over whatsoever,'" said McMannus. "He was right. We control what we plant, seed fertilizer, chemicals, when we harvest it, but the rest, the most important part, of course, the weather is controlled by God. It is all in God's hands."

He pointed out that helping the Food Resource Bank is helping people raise their own food.

"We are giving them the ability, the seeds and the technology to raise their own food. That is the part that really excited me about this program," said the farmer. "Considering all the violence going on in the world today, it really makes me feel good to do a small part to make the world a little better place to live."

A former president in Tanzania, Julius Nyerere, whom the people of Tanzania are seeking to be canonized, was also portrayed by a Webster County parishioner during the service.

Ron DeWeerd, the Food Resource Bank representative, gave examples of some of his experiences while in Africa.

"It is good to be here today," said DeWeerd, who attended with his wife. "I thank you all for your project and the fun things you have been doing to make this happen."

He told a story about a village in Kenya where he helped with a program for women farmers.

"When we went to visit the village, one of the farmers was around us, but never said too much," said DeWeerd. "We wanted to have one of those people come to the U.S. to visit last year. The villagers picked this farmer that really didn't want to talk to us. She was scared to come."

The first afternoon the woman was in the United States, she visited John Deere where she gave a presentation. DeWeerd noted that the woman was in the U.S. for about three weeks traveling to different places.

"She was a farmer so she could connect," said DeWeerd. "The best part of the story is that when she went back to her village, she got all of her villagers together and said, 'You know, in the U.S., a whole bunch of churches work together for the greater good.' It so inspired them in their village that they got together and formed their own group - Exodus. Now they are ministering to those who have even greater needs than they do. I think that is a powerful story."

Following the speakers, those gathered prayed and sang a few songs. Father Lynn Bruch, a Webster County team pastor, said a blessing over two baskets of seeds.

"Bountiful creator, giver of grains and seeds, of fruits and berries and of all that grows in the earth, thank you. We ask you to bless this year's harvest of corn and beans," said Father Bruch with an outstretched hand. "We lift up our hearts in gratitude for the sun which together with the rain, wind and earth work in harmony to produce this bountiful harvest. We are grateful to all the farmers who labored together with all the parishioners who contributed through prayer, interest and money, so that this harvest time might come to fullness. May this harvest of grain become the seeds of peace for ourselves and for those in Tanzania."

The prayer service concluded with the song Canticle of the Sun. Each of the participating farmers was recognized with a certificate at the end of the service.

"We really see this as an opportunity for them to remember the good that they have done this year," said Touney.

A potluck lunch was served and activities continued after the service.

"I really appreciate all the cooperation that has been done to get this project off the ground and going well," said Sister Margaret. "We will be anticipating this for next year, again."