Webster County continues to support F.O.O.D. Project

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
Nov. 1, 2007

WEBSTER COUNTY - The F.O.O.D. (Fields of Opportunity and Dreams) Growing Project will celebrate its third year with a harvest celebration on Nov. 11.

Wayne McMannus has participated in the project for three years. He said that as a farmer it was only logical for him to participate.

"In my earlier life, I used to be a teacher," he said. "I love the concept of helping other farmers and teaching them how to do things. I like the idea of giving them food instead of giving them money."

More than 23 farmers of Webster County and Holy Trinity Parish are participating in the program this year.

FOOD is a project of Holy Trinity Parish of Webster County, the Food Resource Bank and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to help farmers in underdeveloped nations. Every dollar of donated funds goes directly to growing projects in Third World countries.

As the farmers finish harvesting, they will take the corn and beans to the elevator where they will indicate how much they are donating to the program in the way of acres.

The harvest celebration will be held at Our Lady of Good Counsel Worship site in Moorland. Prior to the program, the annual pork chop dinner will be held from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the lower level of OLGC.

The program will begin at 2:30 p.m. with an opening prayer. Children are invited to join in the celebration as well.

"We really see this as an opportunity for them to remember the good that they have done this year," said Wynn Touney, a member of the Webster County F.O.O.D. Project committee.

McMannus and his wife, Sarah, traveled to Ethiopia and Kenya in August and will be sharing their story and photos with the attendees of the harvest celebration.

Wayne will be available to answer questions and will provide a PowerPoint presentation with captions. He is attempting to put the PowerPoint on a DVD, so that people will be able to take it home to watch it as well.

He attributes going on the trip to Sister Margaret Kruse who encouraged him and his wife to go.

"It turned out to be fantastic," said Wayne. "The people were the important part. They were some of the neatest, most genuine people I have ever met in my life."

The couple observed the seed program in Kenya, a game park with wild animals in Maasai Mara, the family life as well as cultural activities. This was an opportunity for them to visit the agronomist hired by Catholic Relief Services and observe how he was working with the farmers.

The McMannus' came away with an understanding of what goes on with the growing projects in Ethiopia and Kenya.

The program will close with prayers of thanksgiving at 4:30 p.m.

Parishioners are also able to participate in the F.O.O.D. Project by donating money to help with the cost of seed, fertilizer, herbicides, etc.

"If you would like to help with those costs as parishioners have so generously have done these past three years, please place your donation in an envelope with 'F.O.O.D.' on the front and place in the collection box," encouraged Touney. "Your contribution will certainly be appreciated and will be well used."