2019 Conference

***NEW***
FREE Pre-Conference Farm Tour at Nerbas Bros. Angus

Friday, February 1 at 2:00pm Sign up for the tour here.

CONFERENCE TOPICS & SPEAKERS

Fibershed: building regional and regenerative fiber systems that protects the health of our biosphere.” 

Stephany Wilkes is the author of Raw Material: Working Wool in the West. She is a member of the Fibershed, that supports farmers in carbon farming and connects end-users to farms and ranches. By expanding opportunities to implement carbon farming and forming catalytic foundations to rebuild regional supply chains, Fibershed envisions the emergence of an international system of regional textile communities that enliven connection and ownership of ‘soil-to-soil’ textile processes.

A first generation’s grazier path to the pasture: making one’s way in the west

Ariel Greenwood grew up in the rural wilds of North Carolina and began farming at 16. In college, she studied agroecology and psychology while working with community gardens and private farms. Ariel managed livestock in Northern California for 4 1/2 years, primarily at Pepperwood Preserve and Freestone Ranch in the North Bay region while also working at Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, and is now working in the Southwest with Triangle P Cattle Company. She is also co-owner of Grass Nomads LLC, a holistic grazing company based in New Mexico and Montana she formed with her partner. Holistic management first inspired Ariel to shift from vegetable farming to livestock production, and has become essential to her work in the West. 

“Bringing the holistic planning alive through land design principles and Google Maps

Takota Coen was born and raised on the Coen Farm where his family has managed their land according to organic agricultural principles for 26 years. With the help of community supported agriculture, they have began transitioning their land into a perennial based agricultural system. By facilitating connections between a variety of livestock, fruit and nut trees and the patterns of the land itself they hope to mimic the health and diversity of a natural ecosystem. In addition to farming, Takota is a permaculture and holistic land consultant where, through his experience and love for the land, he works to empower others with the tools and resources to design and implement resilient living systems that are earth restorative.

“Building healthy soil with practical techniques you can implement on your farm

Garry Richards, his wife Lynn, and their three children Rebekah, Evan, and Caroline have a mixed grain and cattle farm near Bangor, southeast of Melville. Garry and Lynn came back to Garry’s family’s farm in 2000. At that time Garry was a pharmacist, Lynn was a nurse, and it was their goal in the first few years to determine whether or not the farm would be viable without long-term subsidies from off-farm income. The farm was a straight grain operation in 2000, but beef cattle were added in 2002. In 2003 Garry and Lynn took a Holistic Management course and their first child, Rebekah, was born. In 2009 they started growing cover crop cocktails in an effort to become more sustainable. They strive to integrate the cattle and grain enterprises on their farm to achieve healthy land, healthy people, and healthy profits.

“The Soil and Human Health: Why it matters to me & my family”

Kalie Rider is a Dietitian and has her Master’s in food systems and sustainable agriculture. She is passionate about food as it relates to the land and is a complete nerd when it comes to how food nourishes the body. She is a mentor for the North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition.

Pursuing Regenerative Agriculture – The Evolution of our Farm”

Ryan Boyd operates a mixed farm just north of Forrest, Manitoba with his wife Sarah, daughter Piper, son Bingham, and parents Jim and Joanne Boyd. The farm focuses on integrating cattle and grain crops to capitalize on the many synergies that exist between the two. The farm consists of a commercial herd of black Angus beef cows, calving in June and a diverse crop rotation. Ryan was recently awarded a 2019 Nuffield Farming Scholarship.

Healing Land and Building Markets: A Needs Assessment for Holistic Management Verification

Kalynn Spain was raised in Winnipeg but has been immersed in the sustainable agricultural community since 2012. She visited 80 direct-marketing farms in 2013 to create an online marketing platform and initiated a provincial conference and peer network shortly thereafter. These producers are now represented by the policy association Direct Farm Manitoba. Kalynn has worked for St. Norbert Farmer’s Market and Keystone Agricultural Producers and recently started a position with the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences in recruitment and cooperative education. Kalynn purchased an acreage near Homewood, Manitoba, last spring and plans to raise livestock on it this upcoming year.

 
“Building a successful farm business using holistic planned grazing, diversification, and direct marketing” 
Lydia Carpenter, her partner Wian Prinsloo, and their young son Alastair run a multi species grazing operation south of Belmont Manitoba. They currently run cattle, sheep, hogs and poultry. Both Lydia and Wian are first generation farmers. They started farming together in 2011 with nominal savings and the opportunity to lease 80 acres of pasture. By 2014 they were both employed full time on the farm with much of their income coming from direct market sales of cut and wrapped meats.  Through leasing land, employing portable planned multi species grazing systems, and direct marketing their farm business has been able to survive and grow.  They have recently purchased land from another Holistic Management practitioner and graze additional leased acres using planned grazing methods.

Click the button above to register online. If you prefer to register
by cheque please complete this form and send it by mail. 

TRADE SHOW

Meet with vendors supporting and supplying ecological, regenerative farm businesses. Meet with vendors supporting and supplying ecological, regenerative farm businesses. To book your booth space contact: Dana Penrice 780-914-6282 coordinator@holisticmanagement.ca

TRADE SHOW FORM


SPONSORS

Interested in sponsoring our event? Contact: Dana Penrice 780-914-6282 coordinator@holisticmanagement.ca

SPONSORSHIP FORM


VENUE & ACCOMODATIONS

The Russell Inn Hotel & Accommodation Centre – Book your rooms soon!


KIDS PROGRAM – now FREE!!!

It is with deep gratitude to the Dennis Family that we are announcing the Neil Dennis Memorial for Future Stewards of the Land that will support the kids programming at the conference. At this year’s conference, we will have programming and childcare for all ages of kids on Saturday and Sunday. Some of the activities we have planned are:

  • Goal Setting for Kids with Ralph and Linda Corcoran
  • Good Bug, Bad Bug with John Gavloski, Entomologist
  • Tobogganing and lots of outside time
  • And more!!
We’ll have an older group and a younger group but siblings can be kept together if desired. The kids programming will be ran in a room adjacent to the main conference room in the George P. Bulezuik Hall. Kids will eat meals with their parents in the main conference room. Please bring winter clothes, toboggans, water bottles, snacks, etc.

For infants, we are offering babysitting services tailored to the parents needs (and what sessions you want to see). Contact Dana at coordinator@holisticmanagement.ca / 780-914-6282 for babysitting or for any questions around the kids programming.


FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Eligible Manitoba farmers, including young and beginning farmers, can apply for financial assistance of up to 50% for this conference through the Manitoba Ag Action Program. To find out if you qualify and to apply  visit the Manitoba Ag Action Program website.