Just before the combines rolled on Wednesday, Oct. 5, in an attempt at a Guinness Book of World Records mark for speediest harvest, the prayer asked for blessing from “the one who said, ‘When two or three are gathered together, He will be there’.”
There was certainly no question, however, about whether there would be enough people gathered in the field just north of Monkton to offer their faith in the endeavour. Over 2,000 people — gathering on short notice, since the harvest was postponed twice due to wet weather, making it impossible to inform people through the area’s weekly community newspapers — converged on the site, climbing into dozens of bleachers, lining a ditch that separated the soybean field from the main viewing area, and climbing onto a brushy knoll to try for the best vantage point.
“It’s truly amazing how one simple idea can come together into something great,” commented lead organizer Randy Drenth, who was inspired by a youtube video to dream up the plan last year as a fundraising initiative for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. In a project that gathered speed week by week and garnered support from a wide range of stakeholders in the agriculture sector, Drenth and his friends eventually rounded up over 100 combines and their operators to harvest 160 acres of soybeans.
“If ever you’re looking for somebody to herd cats or nail jello to a wall, Randy’s your man,” joked Foodgrains Bank Ontario coordinator David Mayberry, minutes before the reels began to turn and the dust began to fly.
After two rain delays, organizers had combined the headlands and a strip down the middle on Tuesday. On the sound of the horn, two rows of green, red and grey machines began advancing from opposite ends of the field. Through the dust, additional combines could be seen moving into place behind the first phalanx, taking care of the in-between rows of beans.
By the time they reached the strip down the middle, opposite the main viewing area, there was dust everywhere.
Prior to the harvest, North Perth Warden Julie Behrns made strong reference to the coming Thanksgiving holiday, saying, “I am one who is truly thankful for the land, for the harvest, for the people of southwestern Ontario, and for the fact that some of these people have found it within themselves to give to those who are less fortunate.”
After the harvest, various-sized lots of soybeans were auctioned, with all proceeds to Canadian Foodgrains Bank — which sees such contributions matched 4-1 by the Canadian International Development Agency.
The pre-harvest prayer noted the Foodgrains Bank’s ongoing work in places like North Korea, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Somalia.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is a day of community,” Mayberry told the massive crowd. “Not just our community of southern Ontario, but this is a day of celebrating the gifts of our global community.”