Harvesting Hope at Austin beat out six other nominees to win Tourism Westman's Event of the Year at the Tribute to Tourism Awards Gala held at the International Peace Garden.

The Event of the Year Tribute recognizes a hallmark festival or event that creates substantial economic impact within the local community, attracts visitors from outside the region/province/country, generates regional/national media attention and positively promotes Southwest Manitoba.

"We were thrilled to be named event of the year" said Harvest Hope's co-chair Elliot Sims.

This event was conceived in 2014 as a marketing and fundraising partnership between the Manitoba Agricultural Museum and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.  As a result of the organizing committee’s efforts and the generosity of Manitoba individuals and businesses, 7,871 visitors attended the one day event, with a net profit of $134,000 raised.

In July of 2016, this  event held the world’s largest pioneer harvest near Austin in conjunction with the 62nd Manitoba Threshermen’s Reunion and Stampede; breaking a Guiness World Record for the largest number of threshing machines operating simultaneously.

Event proceeds were used to help small-scale farm families in Africa learn to grow more and better food and to help preserve Manitoba’s agricultural heritage through restoration and interpretation projects.

“We had 148 teams that came all the way from Edmonton to Iowa to participate. We also had 1,500 volunteers helping to make it a success.”