Dean Toews, who farms just outside MacGregor, Man., replanted a large field of sunflowers in hopes of attracting Instagrammers to come, take pictures and make a voluntary donation to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Toews is the president of Feed Other Countries Undo Starvation, or FOCUS. His family’s farm, two others in the area and five Hutterite colonies volunteer to grow food for the organization to benefit the food grain bank. Local suppliers also help with fertilizer and chemical donations. The Canadian Foodgrains Bank works to help developing countries meet urgent food needs and devise long-term solutions to hunger. Last year’s effort raised $2,000 in cash donations and another $20,000 for the sale of the sunflower crop, Toews said. The federal government matched that amount 4:1, meaning a total of more than $100,000 was raised. He hopes to overcome that this year. To get there, Toews uses a large sign with a QR code that visitors can use to donate through their phones if they wish, as well as accept cash. The attraction is also open earlier in the season than last year, increasing the chances of a larger donation yield. Part of the idea also came from a point of tension that can erupt between farmers and city citizens, Toews said Sunday. Manitoba farmer Dean Toews is using a sunflower field as an attraction to raise money for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank for the second year in a row. (Travis Golby/CBC) “When they go out into the field, they want to see the sunflowers, but basically it’s trespassing unless they have a permit. And so we thought, ‘What if we gave people permission to come and have fun in the field?’ Sydney Winter, who left Sunday from Headingley, just west of Winnipeg, said it was worth it. “We love taking pictures, so it was really nice that there was a place that welcomed us onto their property … and I could post on Instagram and not get in trouble,” Winter said. There’s another side benefit, Toews said: connecting people to agriculture. “As time goes on … people are becoming more detached from agriculture and so that allows for more interaction,” he said. “We’re raising money, but from the farmers’ side, it’s just a pleasure for people to enjoy what we’re doing.” To find the fields, drive 1 mile east of the MacGregor Co-Op Gas Bar, located on the north side of the Trans-Canada Highway. MacGregor is located about 120 kilometers west of Winnipeg. I am excited to reopen the Cfgb sunflower field for the public to enjoy. Same turn on rd 54 as last year but instead of going west turn east. The signs are up. Maybe 50% bloom this weekend, but next will likely be much busier. pic.twitter.com/8XjkKm82P0 —@Dt8010
