Media Release: Producer-focused Peer-to-Peer Learning Served Up Big Time At MFGA Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRODUCER-FOCUSED PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING SERVED UP BIG TIME AT MFGA CONFERENCE

Producer panels at 5^th Annual MFGA Regen Ag Conference stacked with mentoring wisdom, experience

Winnipeg, MB – (October 24, 2022) - When it comes to all things around learning about soil health and farm producers, Larry Wegner has a favourite saying: “Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach them how to fish and you feed them for a lifetime” - a familiar quote he says he has heard numerous times over the years in the context of bettering soil health.

So, it should come as no surprise to anyone that Wegner, the 2022 co-chair of the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association’s 5th Annual Regenerative Agriculture Conference slated for Brandon’s Victoria Inn Conference Centre November 14-15, 2022 is particularly enthused about the line-up of keynotes and especially, he says, with the depth of the producer panels that he considers the backbone of the conference. The event kicks off with the MFGA Annual General Meeting at 12:00 pm November 14 where the second MFGA Wall of Fame class will be announced and approval of updates to the organization's bylaws and policies will occur.

“We know producers will travel far and wide to come to conferences for high-end keynotes like Fred Provenza and Kara Kroeger, both who will be at our conference. Speakers of that pedigree and reputation fill banquet rooms across North America to hear their talks and ours will be no exception," said Wegner, who farms near Virden with wife Rosemary, and sons Max and Herbert. “But often the difference between a good conference and a great conference for producers is the chance to hear, network and learn from other producers, especially local producers who are doing many of the things they are interested in right here in Manitoba and on Canada’s Prairies. And we have some outstanding producers lined up for our panels to help break down and discuss what the keynote has just detailed. It is peer to peer interaction in a very effective tried and tested platform.”

Wegner says the annual MFGA conference serves as a perfect introduction on regenerative agriculture for interested citizens and politicians alike and welcomes and invites all to attend. Wegner feels that emphasizing and sharing the experiences of early adopters at gatherings such as the MFGA Regenerative Agriculture Conference and the Western Canada Conference on Soil Health & Grazing to be held in December in Edmonton is the right path to producer education, uptake and profitability. Zack Koscielny, MFGA Regen Ag Conference co-chair with Wegner, concurs.

“Many of us that have adopted regenerative agriculture practices have done our own research and networking. We change because we want to and we see the potential for profit, not because we are told to or are mandated to,” said Koscielny, who runs Green Beach Farm and Food, a mixed grain and livestock operation near Strathclair MB with his family and fiancé Kennedy. “As a producer, we want to hear from others so we can replicate our own activities on our own farm. This is the beauty of the peer to peer interactions. It is as open and honest as one can find.”

Koscielny points out that using the one-two punch of keynote and producer panel formats in MFGA’s previous four conferences has really helped establish two recurring and important things. Firstly, that farmers in Manitoba and on Canada's Prairies are really making dedicated efforts on behalf of their farms, families and soils. Secondly, that leaders walk among Manitoba and Prairie-based farmers at the conference every year.

“It is becoming increasingly clear from our previous panels in prior years, that Manitoba and Prairie-based farms and farmers are leaders on the regen ag front in Canada, perhaps in part due to the openness and willingness of producers to share not only their successes but their challenges too,” said Koscielny. “That is important. Regenerative Agriculture is a long game. You have to monitor and you have to adapt as you are going forward. As a result, the experiences of those who have tried things right here in Manitoba or on their Prairie farms become incredibly valuable lessons for all of us to hear.”

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For more info:

Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director, Duncan@mfga.net, 204.770.3548

Sidebar: 2022 MFGA Regenerative Agriculture Conference Panels

The list of confirmed keynotes with moderators, producer/ag group panelists (*subject to additions/deletions) is as follows:

Conference Co-Chairs: Larry Wegner (Virden, Mb), Zack Koscielny (Strathclair, Mb)

DAY ONE:

PANEL: YOU'VE GOT CARBON, NOW WHAT?

Moderators: Ryan Boyd (Nuffield Scholar 2019; South Glanton Farms, Forrest, Mb); Kimberley Cornish (Food Water Wellness Foundation, Olds, Ab)

Producer Panel: ANNUAL CROPS

Chelsi Malach (MFGA board; grain farmer, Hartney, Mb)

Lori-Ann Kaminski (Research Manager; Manitoba Crop Alliance)

David Rourke (PhD candidate; farmer, Minto, Mb)

Producer Panel: GRAZING

Cameron Hodgins (Woodworth Grazing Club; farmer, Lenore, Mb)

Robert Johnson (Manitoba Bison Association; farmer, Southeast Saskatchewan)

Mike Duguid (MFGA/MBP board; farmer, Arnes, Mb)

Producer Panel: MARKETS/TRENDS

Kara Kroeger (Understanding Ag, Texas)

Antonius Petro (Regeneration Canada, Montreal)

Michael Thiele (DU Grazing Clubs/Understanding Ag, Shoal Lake, Mb)

Stuart Chutter (Alberta Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, Leduc Ab)

DAY TWO:

KEYNOTE 1 - PALATES LINK SOIL, PLANTS, LIVESTOCK, PEOPLE

Speaker: Fred Provenza (Author & Phd; Utah State University, Logan Ut)

Moderator: To be determined

Producer Panel:

Jacques Sacquet (MFGA board/Manitoba Bison Association; bison farmer, Laurier, Mb)

Amber McNish (Union Forage; farmer, Lyleton, Mb)

KEYNOTE 2 - TURNING THE TABLES: THE DIRT ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION AND HEALTH

Speaker: Kara Kroeger (Understanding Ag, Texas)

Moderator: Lawrence Knockaert (MFGA Chair/Dairy Farmers of Manitoba; dairy farmer, Bruxelles, Mb)

Producer Panel:

Shauna Breault (Breault Family Ranching, Toutes Aides, Mb)

Sean Smith (Clanman Jerseys, dairy farmer, Clanwilliam, Mb)

KEYNOTE 3 – PANEL: REGEN AG IN YOUR REGION

Moderator: Laura Rance (Farm Business Communications)

Producer Panel:

Scott Duguid, Interlake

Peter Penner, Red River Valley

Andrea Hamilton, South Central

Peter Tokar, Parkland/West Central

Guy Bouchard, Eastman

One spot to be confirmed