Members of the Hanley Elks last Tuesday celebrated their second successful harvest.
Five combines made the rounds on a half section of land northeast of Hanley as part of the local service club’s fundraiser.
“Our slogan is: Hanley Elks Farming for Our Community,” said Garry Dubyk, exalted ruler of the Hanley Elks Lodge No. 153.
Proceeds from the sale of the soft white wheat crop, whose yields Dubyk expected to average 55 bushels to the acre, will go towards community projects.
Some of the proceeds from last year’s harvest were donated to the Hanley skating and curling rinks, as well as helping with medical expenses in the community. Other revenues from the first harvest were invested into community farming project.
“A lot of last year’s revenue we put back into it,” said Henry Peters, Elk member and one of the project organizers.
He said the Elks borrowed the idea of farming land to raise money from other communities. He said the idea behind it is instead of having a lot of suppers and other small functions to raise money, they could pool their manpower and resources by farming land.
This year’s harvest is bittersweet for the Hanley Elks. The land belongs to the late Erwin Beaumont, who passed away in the spring.
Dubyk said Beaumont, who was 80 rented his land to the Elks in 2012 when he heard the group was looking for land to use in its fundraiser.
“He was so proud and happy because his dad had been an Elk,” Dubyk said. “Erwin even rode around with us for the harvest.”
To show their appreciation to Beaumont for allowing them to rent the land, the Elks invited him to their events that year, something the long-time bachelor seemed to enjoy.
“It’s sad he got sick,” Dubyk said.
Beaumont got cancer and died before he could watch the Elks farm the land a second time.
Dubyk said the Elks appreciate Beaumont’s family, who are honouring the three-year lease agreement they had with Erwin.
They also appreciate the support from machinery dealers and input suppliers for helping them with the initiative.
Hanley Elks has 48 members ranging in age from their early 20s to 80s.
