Livestock auction helps feed the hungry

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This article was published 24/04/2023 (818 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A culled cattle auction raised close to $44,000 for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, through the H.E.L.P. Growing Project near St Pierre.

The project, originally named by a local 4-H group as Helping Everyone Live Properly (H.E.L.P.), has hosted two auctions in the past, but a combination of generous farmers and high cattle prices gave them a record result this time around.

On April 11, 27 donated cattle were auctioned by Grunthal Auction Service.

Auctioneer Brad Kehler said he was pleased with the event.

“I was impressed with the number of cattle we got from area farmers, and the price that they brought,” he said. “They sold well, and it was good to see all that money go to a good cause.”

Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of 15 Canadian churches and church-based agencies working on a shared goal of ending world hunger. They work with locally-based organizations in developing countries to meet emergency food needs, achieve long-term solutions to hunger and work to inspire action by Canadians and governments to support this international cause.

Ron Tone, one of the coordinators of the H.E.L.P. Growing Project, said this year’s auction, the third so far, eclipsed the results of their last one, which raised $23,000.

The first auction raised close to $17,000.

He said cattle were donated from across Southeast Manitoba, with one even coming from as far as Elm Creek.

The cattle are culled from herds, often because they’re no longer milking, or “didn’t catch”, meaning they did not get pregnant after breeding.

The cattle are purchased by buyers and then processed at True North Foods, located near Carman.

Tone said he appreciates the willingness of farmers to donate, especially in the face of rising cattle prices.

“Some of those cows are up to $2,000,” he said. “That’s a pretty good sum.”

And that’s not the only time those producers donate.

Tone said many of them make regular donations to multiple organizations, while also supporting local foodbanks.

Other came together to maximise the money raised. Tone said a pair of truckers hauled the cattle to auction for no charge while the Grunthal Livestock Auction Mart waived all commission.

Even coffee is on the house for the cattle buyers, thanks to Coffee Culture and McDonald’s in Steinbach.

Those donated cattle also raise far more money than the $44,000 that was announced.

The federal government matches donations to the Foodgrains Bank with a ratio of 4:1 up to an annual cap of $25 million.

That means the sale in Grunthal actually generates $176,000.

Tone said the common chord that inspires their Growing Project which began in 2007, is that as believers they feel it’s important to help the poor.

“We’ve got the finances to do it and we eat well as it is, so if we can help the poor, that’s great,” he said. “That’s what we want to do. That’s what we’re called to do.”