Harvesting memories and giving back
Antique combine demo raises funds for local food banks.
By Kate Winquist
DENZIL – What began as a hobby has turned into a yearly tradition of giving back for local farmer and tractor enthusiast Greg Rissling. On Sunday, September 21, just three miles south of Denzil, Rissling fired up his restored antique combine for a harvest demonstration that raised funds for food banks in Denzil, Macklin and Luseland.
Rissling has been hosting the event since 2018, when he first began showcasing the antique machinery he’s painstakingly restored. This year’s feature was a 74-year-old combine—still running strong and producing grain that Rissling proudly says is “just as clean, or cleaner, than the newer million-dollar models.”
A 74-year-old antique combine, expertly restored by local farmer Greg Rissling, works through a barley field just south of Denzil during his annual harvest demonstration. The event, which draws families and tractor enthusiasts from across the area, raises funds for local food banks in Denzil, Macklin and Luseland while giving kids a hands-on look at farm life and antique machinery in action. PHOTO BY KATE WINQUIST
PHOTOS BY KATE WINQUIST, click for larger images
But for Rissling, it’s not just about the machinery. “When you come from a small little village, everything you do has a big impact,” he said. “Anytime we can do something, it matters.”
The event drew neighbours, families and kids, who enjoyed tractor rides, shovelling grain, and of course, treats and cold drinks. “I had one kid out there until dark—he wouldn’t get the hell off,” Rissling laughed. “Some kids never get out to the farm. It’s always something good.”
This year’s harvest produced one of the biggest crops yet. “We finished at dark and we filled everything right to the nuts, so she’s gotta be in the 60s or 70s,” Rissling said, noting the region’s strong barley yields of 100–110 bushels per acre thanks to well-timed rains.
Donations collected at the event totalled $1,267. Once the grain is hauled in, Bunge/Viterra will match the value, with final proceeds—typically between $4,500 and $6,000—split three ways between the local food banks. “Last year Luseland and Macklin were very low,” Rissling said. “That really helps, especially with food prices the way they are.”
Rissling is quick to credit others for helping make the day a success. He thanked the Kohlman brothers for seeding and spraying the crop, his brothers Murray and Pat for running equipment, and the many people who donated.
The passion for old machinery runs deep in the Rissling family. Greg recalls his late father buying his first antique tractor in 1998. “We thought he was nuts,” Rissling said with a smile. “But he restored it, and within a couple of years he had five. He passed away, my brother carried it on, and then I got hooked too. You start getting into it and you meet a whole bunch of wonderful people.”
Now president of the Antique Tractor Pulls, Rissling spends summers with yard work and tractors. “My wife says, What did we do this summer? Yard work and tractors!” he laughed. His sister, Colleen, says the family is proud of Greg’s community spirit.
Whether it’s tractor pulling, antique restoration, or harvesting with a combine older than most of its spectators, one thing is clear: Rissling’s passion is about more than machines. It’s about keeping community traditions alive, giving kids a taste of farm life, and helping local families in need.