(Central Alberta Foodgrains Growing Project)

By Jordan Rein

Sept. 26 harvest near Bentley

Central Alberta Foodgrains Growing Project celebrates 30 years

Sep 24, 2025 | 12:58 PM

The Central Alberta Foodgrains Growing Project is celebrating 30 years of alleviating hunger worldwide.

Doug Maas, spokesperson for the group, says 72 acres of canola northwest of Bentley is set to be harvested over the Sept. 26-28 weekend.

The field was seeded on May 29, with three volunteers swathing the field on Sept. 13.

Maas says the group was pleased to see more moisture and ideal crop growing conditions in the fields compared to recent years, adding it was a good crop this year.

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Doug Maas speaking to the ideal central Alberta farming conditions in 2025

Around five combines will be in the field over the weekend, with volunteer farmers treated to a special lunch on Saturday.

In all, 12 local committee members, and an army of 20-25 volunteers have come together to make this 30th anniversary event a success.

“We live in a great country, we have opportunities and advantages here that people in South Sudan, Sudan and The Congo don’t have,” says Maas. “I think it’s our responsibility when we have so much to help those who have so little.”

Doug Maas speaking to why he involved himself with the project

While it’s a rewarding feeling knowing they’ve helped feed hungry people, Maas adds, an added benefit is that the local community is strengthened by bringing people — urban and rural — together in a unique way.

“By helping other communities in the world, we’ve also strengthened our own community,” he explains.

On Saturday, volunteers will come together at noon at the field to supply a lunch. Volunteer harvesters will eat first, but afterwards, the general public is invited to partake.

After lunch, the public is invited to pull up a lawn chair, says Maas, as it’s quite common for folks to watch the harvest action up close.

The 2025 farm is located in Lacombe County approximately 4 km north of the Hwy 12 and Hwy 20 roundabout.

In 2024, the Central Alberta Foodgrains Growing Project raised nearly $71,000 for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

The money came from a 120-acre canola harvest near Lacombe, plus 20 acres near Gull Lake.