It’s official—Guinness World Records has certified that Manitoba now holds the world record for the largest number of antique threshing machines operating simultaneously.

The record was set July 31st during the 62nd Manitoba Threshermen’s Reunion & Stampede at the Manitoba Agricultural Museum near Austin, Man.  In total, 148 threshing machines and over 750 volunteers attempted the record, with 139 threshing machines successful in threshing grain together for 15 minutes. The event produced 1,500 bushels of grain from 30,000 sheaves of winter wheat.
The previous record was 111 machines held by a group from St. Albert, Ontario.

Harvesting Hope: A World Record to Help the Hungry drew about 8,000 people to the Museum to see volunteers from across Canada and the U.S. set the new world record.
“On behalf of the organizing committee, we would like to thank all the volunteers and sponsors that made this event possible. Without their passion and commitment our organizations could not have created such a successful event. Thank you!” says Elliot Sims, one of the event’s co-chairs.

In addition to setting the record, the event raised $134,000, which is being split between the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a partnership of 15 churches and church agencies working together to end global hunger, and the Museum, which is dedicated to preserving and promoting Manitoba’s agricultural heritage.

A cheque for $67,000 was presented to the Foodgrains Bank on November 21 for use in its programs in Africa to help small-scale farm families grow more and better food. These funds are matched 3:1 by the federal government, making the event’s impact grow even further.
“Events like this show the strength and community spirit of rural Canadians, and how they can come together to celebrate their heritage and help others” added Sims.

“We were proud to be a part of this record-breaking event, and grateful to receive a donation to help farmers in the developing world,” says John Longhurst, Director of Resources and Public Engagement with the Foodgrains Bank.  

About the Manitoba Agricultural Museum

Founded in 1954, the Manitoba Agricultural Museum celebrates and preserves Manitoba’s rich rural heritage by providing visitors with interactive experiences of pioneer life and maintaining Canada’s largest collection of operating vintage agricultural machinery. The museum is operated by 700 volunteers and welcomed over 18,000 visitors from around the world to its facilities in 2015.
 
About the Canadian Foodgrains Bank

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a Winnipeg-based partnership of 15 Canadian churches and church agencies working together to end hunger in the developing world by providing emergency food aid and helping farmers grow more and better food. With matching support from the Canadian government, in 2015- 16 the organization committed $43 million to assist over one million people in 40 countries.