Saskatchewan Farmers Turn 500 Acres into Global Relief as "Grow Hope" Enters 9th Season
Saskatoon, SK
Picture of a participating farmer’s field near Bruno, SK. The crop grown on this field is sold and the proceeds donated to support food security projects in communities located Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
What started as a 160-acre pilot project is now a province-wide movement. As seeding begins for the 2026 season, seven Saskatchewan farm families have dedicated over 500 acres to Grow Hope Saskatchewan, a unique initiative that bridges the gap between local fields and global food security.
Since its 2018 debut, the project has raised nearly $1.7 million for international food assistance. By uniting urban donors with rural producers, Grow Hope transforms local crops into life-saving support for communities facing hunger across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.
The "Multiplier" Effect
Project Farmer Terry Aberhart speaking at a local event.
The project relies on a powerful partnership: farmers provide land and labour, while donors "sponsor" acres by covering input costs of up to $350 per acre. Once harvested and sold, the proceeds are forwarded to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. These funds are matched up to 4:1 by the Government of Canada—meaning a single $350 sponsorship can result in up to $2,500 of total impact.
"Grow Hope is about stewardship and generosity," says Terry Aberhart, a participating farmer from Langenburg. "It reminds us that farming has always been about more than production. It is about care, responsibility, and service."Bruno – The Hergotts (Hard Red Spring Wheat)
In Bruno, Brian Hergott reported a rough start to the season with little rain and variable conditions. Rainfall has been light, never more than four-tenths of an inch at a time. Despite this, the wheat crop is holding on and showing signs of steady growth. In farming, sometimes average is a quiet victory.
Real Impact: From 3kg to 50kg
Local staff member of Canadian Baptist Ministries Andre Sibomana (left) welcomes a Grow Hope Saskatchewan project coordinator Michael LeBlanc to Rwanda during Learning Tour in February 2025.
The results of this collective effort are tangible. Project coordinator Michael LeBlanc recently visited Rwanda to witness the impact firsthand. He met farmers who, through sustainable techniques funded by these donations, boosted their cassava yields from 3 kilograms to 50 kilograms per plant.
"It was deeply moving," LeBlanc recalled. "I saw the dual nature of these projects: food for today and food for tomorrow."
How to Get Involved
Grow Hope Saskatchewan is built on the belief that collective action can create a more food-secure world. Residents are invited to "become a virtual farmer" by sponsoring an acre or contributing any amount at growhopesk.ca
