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Field of the Future gives back and celebrates best year ever

Oct 21, 2015 | 7:18 AM

With a grand total of $53,931 this year’s crop marked the best ever for Field of the Future.

Three years ago Moker and Thompson Implements, which is now Redhead Equipment, decided to plant wheat on extra land that was not needed for its crop testing and donate the proceeds to deserving charities or organizations in the area.

In 2013 they harvested more than 200 acres of wheat and brought in $38,000 in proceeds that was split between the Victoria Hospital Foundation and the Red River Roping and Riding Club.

 In 2014 they harvested more than 185 acres of canola, bringing in $32,000 of proceeds that was donated to the Mont St. Joseph Foundation.

This year’s proceeds were proudly donated to the Buckland Fire Department.

Arron McLean, sales manager for Redhead Equipment in Prince Albert said he is very happy with this year’s outcome. 

“So many facets go into to turning such a successful year,” he said. “We grew 38 bushels an acre of green peas and we are very happy.”

McLean said if it were not for the long hours put in by Redhead Equipment staff and the generous contributions that are donated each year by various other organizations Field of the Future would not be possible.

“We get a lot of support from 10 or 12 different…. organizations,” he said. “And without the people at Redhead putting the time and effort in you can’t grow a crop, you can’t do all that work. Farming is not an easy business and we learn that every year.”

Ward Howat, deputy chief of Buckland Fire and Rescue said the funds from the crop will assist the fire department with purchasing new rescue equipment and taking additional farm rescue training.

 “One of the main things we do here lots of the time is fundraise for equipment or training…so this large amount is going a long way to help with all of our safety equipment stuff that we need in order to run this department,” said Howat.  “It’s a very welcomed addition.”

Howat said they have already purchased a side by side ATV.

“It helps us get to places where we can’t get our vehicles … it could be accidents or stuff like that where we can’t bring our trucks into so it’s just another facet of the fire training that has made our fire department grow and help to save people or save property or whatever it is,” he said.

Field of the Future has so far raised $124,000 for local organizations since 2013.

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