2026 Conference

Schedule & Sessions:

Friday, February 6th, 2026

1:00 pm – Pre-Conference Tour at Shipwheel Cattle Feeders – Andrea Stroeve-Sawa & Blake Holtman

Blake Holtman was one of the first farms in Canada to begin with with Allan Savory and Holistic Management. Andrea Stroeve-Sawa, Blake’s daughter, are now at the helm carrying on the values of land stewardship and low-stress stockmanship. Visit their operation and see how it all comes together. 

4:00 pm – Transition Café hosted by Young Agrarians – Lydia Carpenter

An interactive session to help you set the stage for a successful farm transition. Farm transitions aren’t just about the business, it’s also about the people. This session is focused on helping you establish and maintain good dynamics between those involved.  Whether the farm is being transitioned to a family or non-family member, this session is for you.

7:00 pm – Networking & Cash Bar

Saturday, February 7th, 2026

8:30 am – Registration

9:00 am – Welcome

9:30 am – Virtual Q & A with Allan Savory

Allan Savory is the founder of Holistic Management. At 90 years old, he is eager to share is knowledge and connect with producers on the land. Bring your questions and ideas and we’ll facilitate a lively discussion with this amazing human being. 

11:15 am – Aggregate: Reflections on the Soil Health Movement – Blain Hjertaas

Blain Hjertaas will share his experience working with the land and supporting producers in transitioning to regenerative practices. Through his work with Understanding Ag and General Mills, Blain has been building a network of producers across the prairies and has found that peer-to-peer connection is foundational.

1:30 pm – From Scarcity to Resilience: Shifting How We Think About Water – Producer Panel with Kelly and Glen Hall, Casey Toews and Harold Perry

This session will feature farmers and ranchers who are using different tools to practically manage the water cycle and create more resilience. Hear about the Hall’s projects at the Timber Ridge Ranch to effectively capture water on the land and their payoff that has come when it finally rained! Learn about how focusing on land and soil health has made the Fishburn Ranch more resilient and engaged their customers. Hear from Harold Perry about using regenerative principles in potato production. 

2:30 pm – Steward Ownership: Investing in Thriving Land, Ecology and Communities hosted by Rural Routes to Climate Solutions – Sheldon Atwood, Kira Gerwing and others

Learn about an exciting project being piloted in Alberta to address the land access needs of regenerative farmers. See how producers, investors and ecologically-minded initiatives are collaborating in shared ownership to keep people on the land and steward ecosystems. Sheldon Atwood brings his experience building collaborative ownership. Kira Gerwing from Sacha Investments will share her perspectives from a regenerative investor’s point of view. 

4:00 pm – Growing Mental Health and Resilience: My Story – Doreen Blumhagen

Doreen’s mission is to inspire resilience, connection, and understanding in the face of life’s challenges. She will share her personal stories of mental and physical challenges while running their farm and how farm life’s stresses can accumulate without us even noticing. Learn strategies to take home and use in everyday life and “when the going gets tough.”

5:00 pm – Digging Deeper: Brainstorming Solutions to Challenges on Your Farm 

Hosted by Holistic Management educators, we’ll give you the change to identify and reflect on what’s holding you back on your farm or ranch. In this workshop, we’ll help you to gain new perspectives and maybe event find a solution and a path forward. 

6:00 pm – Banquet Dinner

Sunday, February 8th, 2026

8:30 am – Welcome to Day 2

9:00 am – Resilient Relationships with Your Farm Team – John and Becky Doherty, Rod and Briana Carlyon and Ashley Nicholls

See how other producers navigate challenges and opportunities with their farm team, whether it be their family members of staff. John and Becky Doherty will share how they made the decision to sell and move their farm. Rod and Briana will talk about how they are working intergenerationally. Get tips from Ashley Nicholls on effectively communicating with your family and farm team. Hear about what might work for you when there are sticky issues between team members. 

10:15 am – Growing the Treaty Land Sharing Network – Elder Larry Oakes and Ross MacDonald

Elder Larry Oakes will share how connecting farmers and other landholders with First Nations and Métis people seeking safe access to land to practice their way of life honours the Spirit and Intent of Treaties by sharing the land for mutual benefit. Ross MacDonald will share his perspective as land manager who is a member of the network and the impact on our communities. 

11:15 am – What to do with profit? Reinvesting in Wealth Generation – Mark Campbell and John Chuiko

Planning for profit is central to Holistic Financial Planning and in a cattle market like this it can be really exciting! Hear from producers on how they are thinking about profit and how to wisely re-invest in their business and their quality of life. Learn how to make strategic decisions when times are good to build resilience for the future. 

1:45 pm –  Taking Home the Tools of Holistic Management – Bluesette Campbell and Dana Penrice

We’ll work with the Holistic Management principles to help you identify next steps on your farm. See Holistic Management can benefit your farm and family.

2:45 pm – Q & A with HM Educators – Ask Anything!

3:30 pm – Wrap Up