As befits something that won the Civic Recognition Award in the Group Category, Farming for Health is a real group effort, with people from across the region and from across the ag community in the region getting together for the common goal of farming to raise money for local healthcare. To date, the project has raised nearly $1.5 million, the first million to be used for a new hospital, and money that follows being used for equipment to keep improving health care in the area.
Larry Hilworth, who co-chairs Farming for Health with Al Mitchell, said that this recognition is for everyone who has worked hard over the past eight years to raise that money. The beginning of the project was when Hilworth was with Maple Farm Equipment, and the project has continued since, even as many names have changed through the years.
“It takes so many hands to put this crop in the ground, to take it off, to watch it through the year.”
Members of the Farming for Health committee include Pattison Agriculture; Rocky Mountain Equipment; Mazer Group; Agratactics Agronomy; Miccar Aerial; Louis Dreyfus Company; Legacy Co-operative; and, Assiniboine Valley Transfer (AVT). The support for the project goes beyond the committee.
“It’s so gratifying and I am appreciative when we are out in the field and I can phone someone like Manos or Mr. Mikes and say “hey, we’ve got eight guys out working today, do you think you could help us out with dinner or supper in the field?” I’ve never had anybody say no, they’re willing to help us out,” said Hilworth.
The support begins before the seed gets in the ground - Corteva Ag science and DowElanco have donated over $350,000 in seed since the project began - continues through the growing process with fuel from Legacy Co-op, and right to the end, with LDC buying canola and Cargill buying wheat, giving the group a premium for the product. The list of people to thank is incredibly long, and it’s near impossible to thank everyone who has contributed over the years. People from the community also donate through the Funds for Fertilizer program, donating $100/acre to help with costs.
“There are lots of people to thank, I’m just one little cog in the wheel to try to keep everybody short of organized,” said Hilworth.
When they began the goal was to show there’s interest in a new hospital in the region, and show the community is ready to support it and put their weight behind it. After the goal of $1 million was reached, they felt that raising money for the Health Foundation was still important and that they wanted to help with new, needed equipment in the region.
“The group will continue to try to raise money.”
Of course, there remains a friendly rivalry between the different equipment dealers in the field.
“We all come to the meeting in the spirit of collaboration and we leave the meeting as competitors. It’s kind of a unique arrangement, but I’ll tell you, these guys are all for it. They bug each other out in the field that this combine does better than the other, but that’s just expected.”
Ross Fisher, Executive Director of the Health Foundation, said that it’s terrific to see the work of this project getting recognized for their hard work over the past eight years.
“I think that’s one of the most remarkable things about the Farming for Health initiative. It wasn’t a one year thing or a two year thing that people did, it’s eight years and counting. That’s eight years where a lot of businesses have had to take time away from their own businesses and invest in this, and I think that’s a testament to the people, the businesses and the agriculture community for the support they have given our local healthcare.”
This year, the money raised will go to a series of equipment to maintain services. There will be new equipment for the lab to allow for new tests. There will also be surgical equipment upgrades funded by this year’s project.
Fisher said that the initial goal of Farming for Health was to show community interest for a new hospital, and with commitments coming to start that process, he sees the project continuing well into the future, whether it’s funding the building itself or for equipment it will need.
