The Broken Arrow Youth Ranch says this year’s harvest was a reflection of the support of many in the region.
The ranch is located in the Wood Mountain area. Among its employees is former Estevan resident Todd Moroz and his wife Lara.
For the past 10 years, Broken Arrow has dedicated itself to helping struggling families heal and grow, offering the children of those families an opportunity to live on the ranch for an extended period of time while staff members minister to the entire family, and network them with resources to help them grow towards healthy reunification with their children.
A working ranch, the organization has survived on fundraising and donations from churches and individuals, but CEO Rick Hawreschuk says that churches everywhere have many projects to support, which is what led Broken Arrow to branch out into a new and diverse form of fundraising, which looks to their own ranching and farming roots.
Jennifer and Tom Fetch are two crop scientists with Ag Canada who had learned of the ranch through their family connection to Todd and Lara Moroz. Speaking to their connections within the agriculture community and Canterra Seeds, the Fetches helped foster a partnership between Canterra Seeds and Broken Arrow, whereby Canterra would have the ability to test new product in the field with producers, while giving the ranch an opportunity to benefit from the yield profits.
“Lauren Wensley, a representative from Canterra, has gone above and beyond to make this a win-win-win project for all involved,” said Hawreschuk.
In the spring, producers taking part in the project received enough AAC Cameron variental blend seed from Canterra to plant 40 acres. Once harvested, profits from the yield or a portion thereof would go towards supporting the ranch in a project that would come to be known fondly as the Cameron Project.
A name derived not only from the type of seeds used, it is also in honour of the Moroz’s son Cameron, who died some years ago during open heart surgery to repair a congenital heart defect.
For those who took part in the project, many of whom knew Cameron personally, it became important to see his wish of the ranch succeeding fulfilled.
Right from the start, says Hawreschuk, from the initial seed growth to harvest, the project was one of people generously giving of their time, abilities and products.
In addition to the corporations that helped get the project off the ground, many others stepped forward to help with seed storage, delivery, and even distribution, said Hawreschuk.
In all, a total of seven producers took part in the Cameron Project which yielded an average between 26 and 70 bushels an acre. All generously provided their land, time, labour and equipment in order to see the project succeed.
“We also had a number of personal donations towards the project which allowed us to offset a few other small costs for the producers,” says Hawreschuk. “We are so grateful to all who generously supported this endeavour.”
Following the lead of the Cameron Project, others came forward to see how they too could use their gifts of farming to support the organization’s endeavours, and a plan was made to grow corn to help supplement the ranch’s cattle this winter after a dry and difficult summer.
It all came together with the help from many neighbours who offered up time, labour and equipment.
