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Sustainability & Profits

February 9 & 10 |  Red Deer, AB

Held in partnership with


Rural Routes to Climate Solutions
TRAILBLAZER 1 TRAILBLAZER 2 FRONTIER MARQUIS BUSINESS
ROOM LOOKOUT
ROOM ROOM ROOM ROOM

7:30 - 8:15 Registration (Harvest Centre Lobby)

8:15 - 8:40 Opening Remarks (Marquis Room)

8:40 - 9:20 Consumer Demand for Organics (Marquis Room) with Tia Loftsgard

Organic First Nations


Food Production Record Keeping
Management of
and Climate and Organic Think Beyond the
Herd and Flock
Change - Past, Integrity* Farm
9:30 - 10:20 Health
with Ward Speaker TBD
with Dorothy Present and Middleton & Bernie
Marshall & Mike Future Ehnes
Froese
with Joe Munroe

10:30 - 11:00 Trade Show / Break (Harvest Centre)

Strategies for
Cows vs. Climate Seed Saving: Weed Intercropping
Change Looking at the Management in Your Grain Crops*
11:00 - 12:00 the Transition with Ward
with Nicolette Hahn How-To's
Middleton & Joe
Niman with Shane Woods Years* Wecker
with Anne Kirk

12:00 - 12:30 Lunch (Marquis Room) Canadian


Organic Growers
Producer Focus
12:30 - 1:50 Annual General Meeting (Marquis Room) Group

Organic No-Till:
How Can We
What's up with Nutrient
Livestock Feed Reduce Tillage  A Fair Deal for
CSA's?* Management on Regenerative
2:00 - 2:50 Markets with Daniel
in Organic Grain
Organic Farms* Agriculture
with Ryan Koory Chappell, John Mills Production?* with Kim Cornish
with Anne Kirk
& Mike Kozlowski with Justin Duban,
James Bozarth &
Keith Bamford

Strategic Choosing New


Engagement with Varieties From Soil Carbon
the Local Food the Customer, Sequestration
Producer and Growing High
Act and Local 101: How it
3:00 - 3:50 Climate Quality Grain*
Organic Works* with Cody Straza
Regulation Perspective* with Tracy
with Trevor Aleman, Misiewicz
with Heather
Mads Lund & Denise
Mackenzie
O'Reilly

Maximizing
Trade Show / Break (4:00 - 4:20 PM) Organic Hemp Yields
4:00 - 5:50 (4:30 PM) with
Digging Deeper (4:30 - 5:50 PM, Marquis Room) Alden Braul

6:00 - 7:30 Banquet (Marquis Room)

7:30 - 9:30 Networking / Evening Entertainment (Marquis Room) - Music by Lance Loree and Toby Malloy

* Symbol indicates Continuing Education Unit for Certified Crop Advisor Program available. See session description for details.
TRAILBLAZER 1 TRAILBLAZER 2 FRONTIER MARQUIS BUSINESS
ROOM LOOKOUT
ROOM ROOM ROOM ROOM

7:30 - 8:20 Registration (Harvest Centre Lobby) 

8:20 - 8:30 Opening Remarks (Marquis Room) 

Adaptive Agriculture
8:30 - 9:20
(Marquis Room) with Monica Kohler, Kris Vester, Amber Kenyon & Heather Kerschbaumer

Indigenous
Agriculture:
So You Just Got
Owning More of Reclaiming Culture
and Producing Home From a Soil
the Value-Chain: Plant Protein
Food for Health
Considerations Market Updates
9:30 - 10:20 Community Workshop...*
for On-Farm with Ryan Cameron, with Dennis
Resilience McKnight
Processing Cody Straza, Justin
with Kathy Bosse with Julie Price, Erica Duban & Yamily
Wood, Geordie Wood, Zavala
Robert Guilford & Carl
McCorrister

10:30 - 11:00 Trade Show / Break (Harvest Centre)

Soil Biodiversity: Organic Hemp:


Cultural
Can Beavers and The World Market
Demographics and
Farmers Coexist? New Crop Beneath Your Opportunities Prairie Organic
11:00 - 12:00 Development Fund
with Glynnis Hood Opportunities* Feet* and Agronomy*
with Brian Rozmahel
with Robert Spencer with Jeff Battigelli
& Lori-Jo Graham

12:00 - 12:40 Lunch (Marquis Room)

Living Respiring Value Added


Getting Results Product: Opportunities in
Weed Management
with Great Understanding Organic Grains, On-Farm Clean
in Pulses* Energy
12:50 - 1:40 Compost* the Cold Chain* Pulses and
with Lena Syrovy & Joe with Kale Scarff
with Dawn Boileau & with Keith Ball, Wecker Oilseeds
Yamily Zavala Rosemary Wotske &
with Keith Jones
Cam Beard

Going Beyond the Using High Quality


Healthy Soils in
Standard: Beef Grain Buyers Organic Seed on
1:50 - 2:40 Marketing Vegetable Crops*
with Andrew Mans & Speed Dating* the Farm*
with Cody Sander & Yamily Zavala with David Proulx
Andrea Stroeve-Sawa

2:50 - 3:20 Break / Silent Auction Announcement / Trade Show (Marquis Room)

3:30 - 4:20 We Decided to Sell the Farm - What's Next? (Marquis Room) with Don Ruzicka, Andrea Weibe & Dana Penrice

4:20 - 5:00 How Organics Can Fight Climate Change (Marquis Room) with Tracy Misiewicz

* Symbol indicates Continuing Education Unit for Certified Crop Advisor Program available. See session description for details.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH

LIVESTOCK & LOCAL SESSIONS: TRAILBLAZER 1 ROOM

Organic Management of Herd and Flock Health Cows vs. Climate Change
(9:30-10:20 AM) - An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. (11:00 - 12:00 PM) - Our big ruminant friends got a lot of bad media
Hear from experienced organic farmers on their approach to health when it comes to their carbon footprint. Better management
management. Mike Froese will share his experience in organic practices may be the secret to turning cattle into an ally in the
poultry farming and Dorothy Marshall will share her insights on fight against climate change.
ruminant health.

Strategic Engagement with the Local


Livestock Feed Markets
(2:00 - 2:50 PM) - While many Alberta organic farmers grow their
Food Act & Local Organic Regulation
(3:00 - 3:50 PM) - Get an overview of the strategy developed to
own feed, what are the opportunity costs associated with that for
positively impact and promote the Government of Alberta's Local
the farm? Find out what the opportunities look like for selling feed
Food Act and local organic regulations anticipated within it. Learn
on the market or buying it from the open market and become
about the work that has been done to engage and influence the
informed to make a decision about what best fits your farm.
how you can meaningfully contribute to this work.

FRUIT & VEGETABLE SESSIONS: TRAILBLAZER 2 ROOM

First Nations Food Production and


Climate Change - Past, Present and Future  Seed Saving: Looking at the How-To's
(9:30-10:20 AM) - Joe Munroe will be describing the history of First (11:00 - 12:00 PM) - When it comes to saving seeds, a number of
Nations and food production, and how it changed through pre- factors can influence the success of this process, including
contact, post-contact, and into post-treaty. Joe will also discuss temperature, moisture, pollination, etc. Join Shane Woods and learn
how First Nations are using knowledge and the best technology to how to successfully save seeds.
produce food in the face of climate change.

Choosing New Varieties from the Customer,


Producer and Climate Perspective
What's Up With CSA's? (3:00 - 3:50 PM) - Selecting new varieties to grow on your farm can
(2:00 - 2:50 PM) - Join 3 growers as they share their unique
be complicated. Join 3 growers as they discuss what influences
perspectives and discuss what is currently happening in the
those selections. Also hear from the Bauta Family Initiative on
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) market in Alberta. *Crop
Canadian Seed Security about how they're working to improve the
Management CEU
vegetable crops and how you can get involved! *Crop Management
CEU

GRAIN TRANSITION SESSIONS: FRONTIER ROOM

Strategies for Weed Management in the Transition Years


Record Keeping and Organic Integrity (11:00 - 12:00 PM) - As you transition to organic your management
(9:30-10:20 AM) - Hear record keeping advice from the perspective
choices and options will be transitioning too. You will be putting
of a farmer and an inspector and learn the importance of organic
away the herbicide, but how will you be controlling those weeds?
integrity and what you can do to ensure a high level of integrity on
Come learn about weed management in your transition years, and
the farm. *Professional Development CEU
how to set yourself up for success. *Integrated Pest Management
CEU

Nutrient Management on Organic Farms


(2:00 - 2:50 PM) - Nutrient management is key to both high yield
and high quality grain. When it comes to nutrients on organic farms,
Soil Carbon Sequestration 101: How it Works
(3:00 - 3:50 PM) - Learn how soil draws carbon dioxide out of the
farmers rely on plant and animal based sources to maintain fertility.
atmosphere, sequesters it in the ground and creates a critical
Anne Kirk will discuss how nutrient cycling works on the farm,
element of soil health—soil organic carbon.
and the best practices you can use to build the soil health of your
farm. *Nutrient Management CEU

Our Tradeshow Participants:
AFSC, AOPA, Arjazon Seed Trading, Bourgault Tillage Tools, Cropland Solutions, EcoCert, Farm Business Consultants, Fresh Hemp
Foods/Manitoba Harvest, Frontlink, Gateway Research Organization, Grain Millers, Grassroots Organic Dirt Supplements, Green Bros Farm,
Greener Pastures Ranching, Health Canada, Hemp Production Services, High Brix Manufacturing Inc., Man@Machine, McRae Holding Ltd.,
National Farmers’ Union, New Leaf Essentials, Norwex, NutraSun Foods, OCIA International, Peavey Mart, Penergetic, Pipeline Foods, ProCert,
Richardson Milling, RW Organic, Sani-Marc, SonTanner Sales, Steam ‘N’ Weeds, Taurus Agricultural Marketing, TCO Cert, Terralink
Horticulture/Bio-Fert Manufacturing, The Jolly Table, Westaqua, Willsie Equipment Sales, XPT Grain, Young Agrarians
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH

ADVANCED GRAIN SESSIONS: MARQUIS ROOM


Intercropping Your Grain Crops
Think Beyond the Farm
(11:00 - 12:00 PM) - Hear from farmers who are making
(9:30-10:20 AM) - Healthy soil grows healthy crops to feed healthy
intercropping work on their farms. They will share examples of
consumers. Learn how the management decisions  you make not
mixtures that work (and some that don’t), considerations for seed
only affect your bottom line but have repercussions through the
cleaning, rotation planning, and why intercropping is such an
value chain all the way to the consumer.
important practice. *Crop Management CEU

Organic No-Till: How Can We Reduce


Tillage in Organic Grain Production? Growing High Quality Organic Grain
(3:00 - 3:50 PM, Marquis) - Managing grain to maintain quality is an
(2:00 - 2:50 PM) - You've heard about the benefits of no-till and low
important step in preparing your harvest for marketing. This session
till farming, but can no-till work in organic grain systems? Keith
will cover key considerations throughout the growing season, and
Bamford will share research conducted at the University of
what you can do from seeding to harvest to storage so that you can
Manitoba, followed by two organic farmers who are trying to make it
get that high quality grain.
work here in Alberta. *Soil & Water Management CEU

BUSINESS ROOM SESSIONS: BUSINESS ROOM LOOKOUT 1

Canadian Organic Growers Producer Focus Group


A Fair Deal for Regnerative Agriculture
(12:00 - 1:50 PM) - Canadian Organic Growers has spent the last
(2:00 - 2:50 PM) - Should farmers and ranchers use management
few months working with farmers to identify the main costs and
practices that put more carbon in the soil? Find out how soil
barriers involved in transitioning to organic production. Outcomes
organic carbon measurement and new initiatives to revamp the
of this work will benefit organic and transitioning farmers across
province's Agricultural Offsets program are seeking to do just that.
the country.

Maximizing Organic Hemp Yields


(4:30 - 5:50 PM) - Learn about the latest research on organic hemp production conducted by Hemp Production Services. Understanding
how to strategically use your "organic toolbox" to increase yields is key to growing organic hemp profitably.

GENERAL INTEREST SESSIONS: MARQUIS ROOM

Digging Deeper
(4:30 - 5:50 PM) - Have you ever attended a conference where there just wasn’t enough time? Where you didn’t get to touch on the most
pressing things on your mind or on your farm? This part of the conference is designed for just that reason. Connect with fellow farmers,
industry, community and experts to discuss what matters most to you. Participants will design the afternoon schedule by bringing topics
of conversation forward. Conversations will convene around these topics with like-minded people.

Non-Fair Related Agriculture Event


SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH

LIVESTOCK & LOCAL SESSIONS: TRAILBLAZER 1 ROOM

Owning More of the Value Chain:


Considerations for On-Farm Processing Can Beavers and Farmers Coexist?
(9:30 - 10:20 AM) - With abattoirs and livestock processors few and (11:00 - 12:00 PM) - Beavers are usually a pain in a producer's side
far between, some farmers are exploring the potential of on farm when it comes to water, but these industrious little guys can
processing. What should you be considering when exploring this actually help with water management and flood mitigation on
opportunity and what are the challenges that you might face agricultural land.
including regulatory requirements?

Getting Results with Great Compost Going Beyond the Standard: Beef Marketing
(12:50 - 1:40 PM) - Join a farmer and soil scientist for this (1:50 - 2:40 PM) - 3rd party certification can be a great tool to help
interactive panel on the importance of using good quality compost your consumers understand more about your farm and product.
and compost teas. Learn from their experience on what tools and What are the options for beef farmers? This panel will discuss the
resources are helpful for farmers to get started or continue to pros, cons and considerations for organic certification, grass-fed
integrate compost on to the farm. *Nutrient Management CEU  certification and supplier certification (in this example A&W).

FRUIT & VEGETABLE SESSIONS: TRAILBLAZER 2 ROOM

Indigenous Agriculture: Reclaiming Culture and


Cultural Demographics and New Crop Opportunities
Producing Food for Community Resilience (11:00 - 12:00 PM) - The past 4 Canadian censuses reveal some
(9:30 - 10:20 AM) - Manitoba’s Peguis and Garden Hill First Nations
interesting changes in ethnocultural diversity in Alberta. These
are strengthening their communities by focusing on local skill
changes represent new opportunities for vegetable producers. This
building and agricultural production. Farming is not only an act of
session will discuss the population changes and outline some of
cultural reclamation and sovereignty, it creates a healthier future
the new crop opportunities. *Crop Management CEU
that is less reliant on outside food sources.

Living Respiring Product: Understanding the Cold Chain


Healthy Soils in Vegetable Crops
(12:50 - 1:40 pm) - Vegetables are live products that require
(1:50 - 2:40 PM) - Learn about how different practices can
specific handling conditions in order to prolong their post-harvest
contribute to the long-term healthy and productivity of your soil.
lifespan. Learn about how the things that are done on the farm
*Soil & Water Management CEU
translate into challenges in the market (and vice versa).

ADVANCED GRAIN SESSIONS: FRONTIER ROOM

So You Just Got Home From a Soil Health Workshop... Soil Biodiversity: The World Beneath Your Feet
(9:30 - 10:20 AM) - Have you been attending soil health workshops, (11:00 - 12:00 PM) - Building soil organic carbon is critical to soil
but not sure what to do when you get back to the farm? A panel of health and fertility. Grain producers can discover how good
farmers will share what they are doing on the farm to improve soil management practices help the thousands of little critters living in
health and some of the changes they are observing. Soil specialist the soil break down organic matter and keep carbon locked in the
Yamily Zavala will offer her insight. *Soil & Water Management CEU ground for long periods of time. *Soil & Water Management CEU

Weed Management in Pulses


(12:50 - 1:40 PM) - Pulses play a key role in organic rotations,
providing many benefits including nitrogen fixation, crop Grain Buyers Speed Dating
(1:50 - 2:40 PM) - Meet with representatives from Grain Millers, RW
diversification, and soil health. In order to maximize all these
Organic, NutraSun Foods, Hemp Genetics, Fresh Hemp Foods, XPT
benefits, the pulses need to reach their full potential. Learn how to
Grain and Arjazon Seed Trading. *Professional Development CEU
keep the weeds down, so that your pulses can thrive. This session
will include the latest research, and experience from the farm.
*Integrated Pest Management CEU   

Our Friend
Sponsors:
Egg farmers of Alberta,
Theobroma Chocolate, Burnbrae
Farm, Fairwinds Farm, Sunnyside
Natural Market
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH

GRAIN VALUE CHAIN SESSIONS: MARQUIS ROOM

Plant Protein Market Updates Organic Hemp: Market Opportunities and Agronomy
(9:30 - 10:30 AM) - The popularity of plant proteins is on the rise! (11:00 - 12:00 PM) - Learn from an experienced organic hemp
Join Dennis McKnight, Director of the Plant Protein Alliance of grower about the challenges and opportunities associated with
Alberta, as he explains the market growth of plant based proteins hemp production. This session will also go over the current market
and how to capitalize on this growing market, *Crop Management outlook for hemp and opportunities for growers to capitalize on this
CEU market. *Crop Management CEU

Value-Added Opportunities in Using High Quality Organic Seed on the Farm


Organic Grains, Pulses and Oilseeds (1:50 - 2:40 PM, Marquis) - Getting your crop off to the right start means
(12:50 - 1:40 PM) - How can organic producers benefit from the putting high quality seed in the ground. Organic farmers have different
blossoming opportunities in the plant protein market and hemp options when it comes to seed - from farm saved, to purchasing
industry? Learn about the impacts of the new cannabis legislation common seed, to using pedigreed seed. A panel of seed growers and
on the hemp industry and the effects of imported organic grain on farmers will share their experiences, key considerations, and challenges
local organic markets. when it comes to getting that high quality seed. *Crop Management CEU

BUSINESS ROOM SESSIONS: BUSINESS ROOM LOOKOUT 1

On-Farm Clean Energy


Prairie Organic Development Fund (12:50-1:40 PM) - Learn about the funding available through the
(11:00 - 12:00 PM) - Come and learn about the prairie organic
Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the new Growing Forward)  for
development fund and how you can help the organic sector on the
energy efficient innovations and renewable energy projects on your
prairies grow.
farm, as well as the best options for on-farm solar and wind power.

GENERAL INTEREST SESSIONS: MARQUIS ROOM

We Decided to Sell The Farm - What's Next?


Adapative Agriculture (3:30 - 4:20 PM) - After years of building an organic, ecological
(8:30 - 9:20 AM) - The climate is changing. Rising global farm, selling or passing it on to the next generation can be
temperatures will impact Alberta’s biodiversity and natural habitats. daunting. Hear how Don Ruzicka of Sunrise Organic Farm is
Find out how and what producers are doing to meet these approaching this phase of life. Learn how he is setting up his land
challenges to secure his ecological vision and how he is shifting his role in the
farming community though mentorship and eldering. 

How Organics Can Fight Climate Change


(4:20 - 5:00 PM) - A growing body of data shows organic agriculture is energy efficient, produces less greenhouse gases and nurtures soil's
amazing ability to sequester carbon. Find out why.
Trevor Aleman
Trevor has been farming organically since 1989 when he Keith Ball
worked on his dad’s market garden near Coaldale, Not many people log more than four decades of
Alberta. His mom’s name is Bea so they called the experience in their industry. But with a 43-year
business “Busy Bea’s Market Garden”. In 1999 Trevor took background in the produce business, Keith Ball is cool as
over the business and continues to farm near Fort a cucumber in his role as the Calgary sales manager for
Macleod. He mainly grows potatoes, onions and garlic on Peak of the Market. 
10 acres for wholesale markets with a variety of
vegetables. 

Jeff Battigelli
Keith Bamford
Dr Jeff Battigelli is a soil ecologist with more than two
For nearly three decades Keith has worked with Dr.
decades of experience studying soil ecosystems. With
Martin Entz managing field research trials into
expertise in soil quality, compaction, fertility,
conventional and organic crop rotations, crop water use
entomology, taxonomy, and ecology, Jeff has carried out
efficiency, annual and perennial legumes in crop
fieldwork in agricultural, grassland and forest
rotations, weed control in organic soybeans, nitrogen
ecosystems including soil surveys in natural and
producing green manure systems that have included both
disturbed ecosystems. He is working to better
grazing and zero-tillage in organic systems.
understand the world beneath our feet..

Cam Beard
Dawn Boileau
Cam was raised on farms, milking cows and hauling
Dawn Boileau is a partner and co-owner with Kate Hook
bales, slopping the hogs. He was already convinced that
at Sunrise Gardens, a Certified Organic market garden
farming organically was the way to go when he met and year-round producer of shoots and micro greens.
Rosemary in 2005. Cam believes that the science of what Their 10 acre farm has been in production since 2004 and
makes food taste great has become a study of soil, and Certified Organic since 2007. They are located near the
that there is always more to learn and ways to improve, town of Onoway, 80 km northwest of Edmonton.
and it keeps the days full.

James Bozarth
Kathy Bosse James Bozarth is an organic farmer near Sexsmith in
Kathy Bosse is a New Venture Specialist with Alberta Northern Alberta.  Currently he farms 300 acres of crop
Agriculture and Forestry working out of the Red Deer land and 550 acres of hay and forage.  James has
office. She grew up on a mixed farm in Saskatchewan and recently integrated cattle into his operation, which he
has spent 26 years working for Alberta Agriculture and runs with the help of his wife and two children.  His focus
Forestry. Kathy assists businesses develop their ideas is on building soil health through education and
and grow by providing information, tools and coaching.  experimentation; reduced tillage, cover-cropping and
rotational grazing..

Alden Braul
Ryan Cameron
Alden Braul works as an Organic Hemp Production
Specialist for Hemp Production Services and Hemp Ryan Cameron and his wife Bailey run an organic farm
Genetics International. He links organic producers with west of Millet, AB. Ryan enjoys the challenge of learning
top yielding hemp varieties, arranges organic hemp crop rotations and co-cropping to create synergies in his
production contracts and provides research-based grain crops and finding new ways to integrate the cattle.
organic agronomy support. Alden is keenly interested in His philosophy is that everything starts in the soil;
promoting sustainable food production systems and healthy soil makes healthy plants, and in return produces
conducts organic hemp research to improve on-farm healthy foods for both people and animals to consume.
profitability and resilience.

Justin Duban
Daniel Chappell
Justin and his wife Katelyn manage Duban Farms, a third
Daniel is a professional horticulturalist and owner of
generation, irrigated grain, pulse and oilseed farm
Country Thyme Farm, a small vegetable and poultry farm
located outside of Lethbridge. His goal is to create an
in Bowden, Alberta. Daniel has been growing for over 10
agricultural entity which is sustainable ecologically,
years, and has operated a CSA program in the Red Deer
socially and financially for the next generation and the
area since 2011. 
community.  

Our Gold Sponsors:


Bernie Ehnes Lori-Jo Graham
Bernie has been farming organically for 27 years, raising Lori-Jo was raised on a ranch on the banks of the
mostly fall rye, spring wheat, durum, peas and red fife Athabasca River and holds a Master’s Degree in
wheat. From 1996 to 2016, he operated an on-farm Environmental Design. She has worked with a variety of
organic seed cleaning operation. He was a director for
emerging industry opportunities and is currently Program
BFPA, also a director for Go Organic, and most recently,
Lead for Biomaterials with Alberta Agriculture and
he has completed the organic inspector training course
and has been hired to do organic inspections for Global Forestry. She works collaboratively to advance bio-based
Organic Alliance. business and the circular economy in Alberta. 

Nicolette Hahn Niman


Robert Guilford Nicolette Hahn Niman is a writer, attorney, and livestock
Robert has been farming organically near Clearwater, rancher. She has authored the books Defending Beef: The
Case for Sustainable Meat Production (2014) and
Manitoba for decades.  He has become an advocate for
Righteous Porkchop: Finding a Life and Good Food
adaptive agriculture and a support person to new farmers
Beyond Factory Farms (2009), as well as numerous
in Northern Manitoba as they develop their skills.  Robert
essays for various publications. She lives in Northern
and his wife Minnie support the Meechim Farm Project in California with her two sons, and her husband, Bill Niman,
Garden Hill First Nation.  founder of the natural meat companies Niman Ranch and
BN Ranch, acquired by Blue Apron in 2017.

Glynnis Hood Adrian Jansen


Dr. Glynnis Hood is a Professor of Environmental Science Arjazon Seed Trading was incorporated as an
at the University of Alberta. Current research projects independent entity in 2013. A seed cleaning facility was
examine the influence of beaver-created landscapes on
constructed in 2015, and in 2017 a brand new facility with
biodiversity, the role of adaptive management in
modern equipment has been built near Fort Macleod. The
reducing human-wildlife conflicts, and the ability of
company currently buys, cleans and packages pulses and
wetlands to withstand repeated droughts. She is the
author of The Beaver Manifesto and has had her research oilseeds from Canadian growers and exports them to
highlighted on various television, print and radio media.  destinations around the world. 

Amber Kenyon Heather Kerschbaumer


Amber Kenyon runs Greener Pastures Ranching Ltd. out Heather and her husband, John, operate a fourth
of the Westlock, AB area with her husband Steve. generation family farm and grass/legume cleaning plant
They manage approximately 1000 head of custom grazed near Fairview, AB. The seed plant, Golden Acre Seeds,
has been certified organic since 2005 and their farm
cattle on around 3000 acres of leased land. This is done
since 2010. They produce organic oats, wheat, barley,
by using a combination of intensive cell grazing, dormant
peas, alfalfa, and clovers. A few years ago they expanded
season grazing, swath grazing, crop residue grazing and
the operation to include leafcutter bees to pollinate their
bale grazing. They also direct market rotationally grazed alfalfa fields. 
pastured pork into nearby Edmonton.

Monica Kohler
Anne Kirk
Monica has worked in the Applications Centre of the
Anne grew up on a grain farm in Manitoba and continues
Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute for over 5 years
to be involved, currently managing the organic portion of
working on projects that enhance the value of wildlife
the farm.  She obtained a Bachelor of Science in
monitoring for stakeholders and policy-makers. She has
Agriculture and a Master of Science from the University
worked on rare species monitoring in the oil sands,
of Manitoba. Her Master's project focused on breeding
monitoring for fulfillment of regulatory requirements, and
wheat for organic cropping systems. Anne currently
collaborative monitoring projects to understand the
works as the provincial cereal specialist in Manitoba. 
impacts of human activity on biodiversity. 

Ryan Koory Mike Kozlowski


As the Senior Economist for Mercaris, Ryan Koory Mike started Steel Pony Farm in the spring of 2011. Steel
produces deep insights and forecasts for organic Pony Farm is a human-scale food project that provides
agriculture markets, bringing much needed clarity to the families with high-quality, nutrient dense vegetables.
growing organic industry. Working as an agricultural Mike primarily markets through the Community Supported
economist Ryan has produced research focusing on the Agriculture model, sells a small amount of produce to
impacts of weather, technology, policy, trade, population local grocery stores and restaurants, and has been saving
demographics, and culture on global agricultural garlic for the past 7 seasons that he sells as seed all
markets.  around Canada.  

Our Silver Sponsors:


Tia Loftsgard
Heather Mackenzie
Tia is the Executive Director of the Canada Organic Trade
Association. With extensive experience working in the Heather MacKenzie is a government relations and lobby
organic food industry, Tia co-founded Camino in 1999, professional with a wealth of experience supporting a
going on to become the organic and Fairtrade cocoa wide variety of clients including municipalities,
company’s Director of Sales. In 2013, she moved over to businesses, associations, and not-for-profits. She works
Fairtrade America, where as its Chief Operating Officer, effectively with counterparts across a variety of
she successfully developed advocacy initiatives and government bodies and has successfully shepherded
grew U.S. market opportunities for small farmers. Tia legislative changes through to enactment. 
joined COTA as the Executive Director in March 2016. 

Andrew Mans Carl McCorrister


Andrew Mans is a farmer from southern Alberta. He grew Carl is a member of Peguis First Nation where he has
up farming but actively returned to the farm in 2012 and been an educator and a strong community supporter.  In
operates a certified organic farm and greenhouse with partnership with others from Peguis, he founded the
his wife and parents. He enjoys agriculture and the Peguis Agricultural Project. Carl continues to consult with
challenges that come with it. Along with 5 children and a elders and other community members on the vision of
few animals life on the farm is busy but enjoyable..  ‘food security for all’ and how to achieve it.

Dennis McKnight
Darrell McElroy
Dennis McKnight has been involved in the Agri-Food
Darrell McElroy is the Seed Production Manager and
sector for the past 35 years providing strategic advice to
Agronomist at Fresh Hemp Foods.  Fresh Hemp Foods is a
many global organizations active in the food and
recent merger of two hemp processing companies, and
beverage industry. He has traveled extensively in Asia,
operates as Manitoba Harvest when selling branded,
Europe, South America and the Middle East in search of
retail-ready hemp food products, and as Hemp Oil
the very best when it comes to innovation in food. He has
Canada for sales of bulk food ingredients. The company
led missions of business executives, scientists and food
is the largest hemp food processor in Canada, marketing
professionals seeking to establish deeper international
products throughout North America and to several
connections, business relationships and collaborations. 
countries overseas.

Ward Middleton Tracy Misiewicz


Ward and Jo-Anne Middleton operate Midmore Farms. Dr. Tracy Misiewicz is the Associate Director of Science
The farm includes 500 acres under cultivation for organic Programs for The Organic Center. She works closely with
grains, oil seeds, herbal and nutraceutical crops; 160 researchers, industry, farmers, and policy makers to
acres of silvopasture that combine custom grazing with identify organic research needs, facilitate project
sea buckthorn berry production; and an 80 acre woodlot implementation and communicate scientific results
that includes native aspen, cultivated spruce and pine across the organic sector. She leads the Center’s reports
trees. Recently, the custom grazing enterprise has compiling current science on critical issues affecting
evolved to become part of the soil health and nutrient organic food and farming and also heads The Center’s
management plan for the cultivated land.   grant writing program.

Joseph Munroe Denise O'Reilly


Joe Munroe is the founding first president of Muskoday In 2001, Denise and her family moved to her Great-
Organic Growers Coop in Muskoday First Nation Indian grandparents homestead in Cherhill. They established a
Reserve. He was educated by his Cree Elders and Heritage seed business and garlic growing operation. She
multiple universities including Saskatchewan and Trinity has renamed the farm "Hill and Dale Farm" after her great
Western. His most recent position has been Indigenous grandparents, and sells free range meat, wild foraged
Peoples Field Coordinator for Heifer Project International
mushrooms, 20 kinds of garlic, 60 types of potatoes and
- Canada. His work there has included Indigenous
related products to direct markets. She sells seed grown
Peoples food sovereignty, and reclamation of Indigenous
Foods and Food systems by Indigenous people. on the farm locally and abroad.

David Proulx
Being raised on a Dairy and seed farm since the late 60’s,
Julie Price David became in touch with the land from a very young
age. After high school, David studied science and
Julie supports the Northern Manitoba Food, Culture &
business administration at the University du Quebec à
Community Collaborative. Her family is from a small farm
Trois-Rivières. In 1996, he was brought back to the land
in Southern Manitoba, and food, community and healthy with his father, where he became the general manager of
people and land are all very important to her. the farm RDR Grains & seeds.  He operates a 1200-acre
organic farm where corn, soybeans, winter wheat, barley,
hemp, peas and oats are grown.

Our Bronze Sponsors:


Cody Sander
Brian Rozmahel
Cody Sander attended Olds College and graduated with
Brian Rozmahel farms 7 quarters of certified organic land
diplomas from the Ag Business and Ag Production
in east central Alberta. Four generations of Rozmahels
programs. After college he worked for several feed
have farmed this land. He is in his 4th year of being
companies and managed his own business. Cody is
certified organic and growing hemp. His interest lies in
currently employed with Pro-Cert Organic Systems Ltd.
using cover crops to improve soil health, increase fertility
where he is the Certification Coordinator.  Cody grew up
and to control weeds. Brian is excited about the hemp
on a mixed farming operation outside of Beechy, SK
industry moving into Alberta and looks forward to its
which has been certified organic since 2010.
increased growth. 

Cody Straza
Robert Spencer
Cody grew up near Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan on a
Rob Spencer has been a Commercial Horticulture
mixed farm. After getting a bachelors of Engineering and
Specialist with the Ag-Info Centre in Stettler, AB for 15
working off the farm for a number of years, he and his
years.  Rob specializes in horticulture crop production
wife Allison bought their own farm in the Wood Mountain
extension. Rob is the author and editor of the monthly e-
area in 2010. On their farm they grow mostly Kamut,
newsletter, Hort Snacks, which has been running for
lentils and flax. Recently they've also grown spelt, forage
almost 10 years.  Rob has a BSA (Honours), majoring in
peas, yellow mustard and chick peas. Over the last few
Horticulture, and an MSc, majoring in post-harvest potato
years there has been a focus shift to soil health. They've
pathology, from the University of Saskatchewan. 
started growing diverse cover crops and reducing tillage.

Andrea Stroeve-Sawa Lena Syrovy


Andrea is a fourth-generation farmer now managing Lena Syrovy is a Research Officer in the Agronomy and
family owned Shipwheel Cattle Feeders Ltd. This Weed Ecology program at the University of
operation includes a yearling grazing program, 5500 head Saskatchewan.  She completed her masters in the same
feedlot, some cropland and a compost producing facility. program, and her bachelors in Global Resource Systems
She is passionate about using the principles of holistic at the University of British Columbia.  Lena has spent her
management; increasing the storage of carbon in her soil; 15 year career as a “dual citizen” of both conventional
proper stock handling to heal and maintain healthy and organic agriculture, working in a variety of
animals; and helping to respect and appreciate the horticultural and field crops on basic agronomy, pest,
presence of women in Agriculture.  disease, and weed management.

Kris Vester Joe Wecker


Kris Vester is a committed proponent of sustainable food Joe Wecker grew up on a organic farm in southern
systems that are accessible to all, regardless of their Germany. He has over 20 years of combined experience
socio-economic status. As the current President of Slow in conventional and organic farming. Now farming 11,000
Food Calgary, Kris is actively participating in the creation acres with his family in Southeast Saskatchewan with
of a resilient local food system by building strong 6000 ac organic and 5000 ac biological, he is using a
relationships between producers, suppliers, chefs, and Nutritional Farming system on his whole farm. This
consumers and by taking every opportunity to educate system is a holistic approach of balancing soil nutrients,
young and old alike about the complex issues soil biology while focusing on plant health and beneficial
surrounding food.  insects to raise a crop that is nutrient dense. 

Shane Woods
Geordie Wood Shane has over 40 years of gardening experience. He
Erica and Geordie are young farmers and members of grew up in Nova Scotia where he learned to respect and
Garden Hill First Nation. They have been working with the appreciate the delicate balance of sustainable gardening.
 It is a gift that was instilled in him by his mother and
Meechim Project, a northern agricultural initiative in their
father who gardened out of necessity. He advocates that
fly-in community, for the past two years to build their
gardening should be cultured and entrusted to everyone.
skills. Geordie and his wife Erica have two young
 Everyone should have the right to grow and process
children. their own healthy food. Shane along with his wife Tami,
established Wildrose Heritage Seed Company in 2012.

Rosemary Wotske Yamily Zavala


At the age of 12, Rosemary visited a family friend’s farm Crop and Soil Nutrient Management Specialist Dr. Yamily
and fell in love. 32 years ago, and after completing a Zavala has managed the Chinook Applied Research
couple of science degrees, she hit the point in life where Association’s crop and soil program for the past four
she thought, “do it now or forget it!”. Soon after, she years. Yamily’s extensive international experience in
purchased land, and has been busy on a learning curve restoring soil fertility and improving cropping systems is
ever since. She has spent years observing how soil, supported by an education focused on agriculture and
climate and plant genetics are an interplay – how the soils. Her passion for understanding and improving the
terroir of vegetables can make eating bland and dull, or health of soils has contributed to improvements in the
sweet and interesting.  local agricultural economies where she has worked.

Our Supporter Sponsors:


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