Picture to the right:
l-r Foods Grain volunteers Claude Field, Gerald and Ruth Koeslog, Lorne Underwood pictured at a picnic table from Wicked Sticks in Clifford. Owners Ryan and Heidi Martin have donated 7 acres to the Food Grains Bank to grow crops for the past 5 years. Although this is not the picnic table that will grow, the Food Grains Bank will build another picnic table to attempt to break the Guinness Work Book record.

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank has teamed up with Bruce County and the 2008 International Plowing Match. The Foodgrains Bank will attempt to break the Guinness World Book record by building the longest white cedar picnic table in the IPM Tented City on the Bruce County site. The existing record of 100 feet 6 inches was set in June 2005 and is held by Bob Oliver of Markdale, ON.

Lorne Underwood of Clifford area, was dreaming of a way to raise funds for this very charitable organization when he thought how the Foodgrains Bank is all about feeding developing countries. Next he thought about how a picnic table is all about eating on, and there came the idea.

Foodgrains Bank’s overall goal is to reduce hunger and its consequences among hunger-affected individuals, households and communities in developing countries. There specific objectives are: increase immediate and sustainable access to food; increase food security by protecting and building sustainable economic livelihoods, strengthening community development and peace-building; strengthen international and Canadian public policy and action to address hunger; and increase Canadian public awareness and engagement with international hunger issues. Canadian Foodgrains Bank, established in 1983, is a partnership of 15 Canadian church agencies, which together seek a Christian response to hunger.

With the magnitude of exhibits, entertainment, displays and demonstrations to see, you will want to include, as a priority, a visit to the Bruce County three tent and courtyard area, where daily the white cedar picnic table will grow.

The IPM, hosted by Bruce County, held just north of Teeswater from September 16 – 20, 2008, has scheduled a public auction during the Match and this white cedar picnic table will be among the many items to be auctioned. It will be cut into 6 foot, 7 foot and 8 foot lengths, some to be auctioned with proceeds going to the Foodgrains Bank. The remaining tables will be auctioned from the Canadian Foodgrains website. Keep an eye on their site for the posting at www.foodgrainsbank.ca  . For more information about the 2008 International Plowing Match phone or drop into the IPM Headquarters and Souvenir Shop on the main street of Teeswater. Phone 1-877-IPM-2008, website www.ipm2008.ca.