Off a dusty gravel road in rural Ontario, down a long laneway and inside rows of barns and sheds sits one of the largest private collections of antique tractors and farm equipment in the province, perhaps even the country. This impressive collection, which had been an after-work hobby for a local farmer, John Bosomworth, became a unique fundraising tool. By opening up their farm, the Bosomworth family and their community have now raised over $75,000 for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) – which was then matched 4:1 by the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development (formerly CIDA) – helping to end hunger for thousands of families in need around the world through CFGB members such as World Renew.

John Bosomworth passed away last year, but his memory, his love, his passion for antique farm equipment and his desire to share his blessings with communities thousands of miles away lives on in this rural community.

“I never realized how my grandfather’s hobby would impact the world,” stated Megan Lair, his oldest granddaughter. Megan, along with her mother and all her Bosomworth aunts, uncles and cousins returned to the family farm to help out with the third and final “Antique Extravaganza” held at the Bosomworth farm on August 3 and 4.

The first one-day Antique Extravaganza in 2006 was the idea of John’s sister-in-law, Mary-Lou Holliday, who was a long-time supporter of CFGB. The Foodgrains Bank is made up of 15 church denominations and agencies who work together to respond to hunger around the world. “At the first event, some people came with cans of food, thinking it was for a local food bank,” explained Eunice Bosomworth, John’s wife, “but now the Canadian Foodgrains Bank is much more recognized.”

Over 1,300 people came out in 2006 and raised more than $13,000 for CFGB, which was then used by CFGB’s 15 member agencies to respond to disasters and chronic hunger around the world. In 2009, the family decided to host a second event. Again, thousands came out to the farm and that day they raised over $21,000.

This year the family planned  a two-day “open-house” style event that allowed people from across the province to explore the barns filled with antique equipment and restored classic cars, admire the farm’s unique Fjord horses and enjoy great  music and food.

In honour of the 30^th anniversary of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Eunice and her children, together with a planning committee that brought together 6 local church denominations, set their fundraising goal high, hoping to raise $30,000.

The field next to the farm was mowed and several people directed traffic as young children and retired farmers from the community and across Southern Ontario arrived to see the treasures stored in this remote farm.

“It brings back old times!” stated Harry Driedges, a retired farmer who recognized the first tractor John ever owned. Standing next to him was Rudy Derkson, who had taught two of John and Eunice’s children in school. “I am incredibly amazed that one farmer could collect so much and still have time to farm!” he exclaimed.

An afternoon service was held to honour John’s memory and to thank supporters. “It is great to meet people who have been involved in supporting the Canadian Foodgrains Bank for years,” stated Executive Director Jim Cornelius. “This event is a chance for me to say thank-you.”

Gary Schellenberger, the local Member of Parliament for Perth–Wellington also spoke at the event, commenting that he is “very proud of the Canadian government’s long-term partnership with the Foodgrains Bank.”

On Sunday evening, as participants sat down on long tables scattered across the family’s backyard to enjoy an anniversary dinner that would wrap up the 2-day event, Eunice came riding up with a grin on her face. She announced to the crowd that they had now raised over $40,000!

“Support like this enables us to provide food and other assistance in response to urgent needs,” explained Wayne de Jong, Director of Disaster Response for World Renew, “such as the conflict in Syria, which CFGB is responding to with over $4 million in assistance.”

“Very few organizations have this kind of support,” commented David Mayberry, the Ontario Regional CFGB Coordinator. “When you ask for help, people come forward offering their gifts, time, passion and their compassion. This event has surpassed even our great expectations.”