Sunday, March 18th, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Brought to you by Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), representing the voice of Manitoba Farmers.
Some of Manitoba’s greatest resources are in our rural areas, from the people, to renewable energy to our natural environment.
Join us on Sunday at The Forks main stage to hear from Manitoba farmers on issues like marketing opportunities and challenges in agriculture, honey production, harvest cycles and generational transition.
Farmers from Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), Manitoba’s largest general farm policy organization, will be on hand to take part in a panel and to answer your questions. Confirmed guests include:
Curtis McRae, St. Andrews Grain Farmer
Keystone Agricultural Producers Executive Member
Curtis will touch on the season of farming and the cycle of harvest and what it means to farmers.
Curtis McRae graduated with a B.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering and farms 5,000 acres with his brother in St. Andrews, Manitoba, just north of Winnipeg. He farms mostly around Oak Hammock Marsh, the world’s best goose hunting area. Curtis grows wheat and canola and has 120 head of cows.
Curtis a member of the KAP Executive and KAP Manitoba Young Farmers Committee. He also chairs the KAP Rural Development and Land Use Committees.
He is an active in judo both as a participant and coach with the Selkirk Judo Club which has approximately 100 members. Curtis is married and has three girls, two dogs and two cats.
Doug Chorney, East Selkirk Grain Farmer
Keystone Agricultural Producers President
Doug will discuss why it’s important for farmers to participate in direct marketing activities, the opportunities and the challenges.
Doug Chorney is a producer from East Selkirk, where he lives with his wife Michelle and daughter Erin. Cereal, oilseed and forage seed crops make up most of the 1500 acres on his farm, however, Doug also grows and sells fresh vegetables right off the farm.
Doug was elected President at KAP’s 2011 annual meeting and continues to hold that positon. He served as Vice President in 2010.
Doug holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Manitoba and has worked in the resource and aerospace industries prior to coming back to the family farm full time 18 years ago.
Rob Brunel, St. Rose du Lac Grain Farmer
Keystone Agricultural Producers Executive Member
Rob will discuss the four generations of his family farm and his involvement as a young farmer.
Rob Brunel, his wife Erin, their daughter Myley and son Larsen live in Ste. Rose du Lac, where, along with his parents, they operate a fourth-generation 4300 acre grains, oilseeds and grass seed farm.
Rob was appointed to serve as interim President at KAP’s General Council on October 14, 2010. He served as Vice President in 2011 and in 2012 serves as an Executive Member. Rob chairs the Grains, Oilseeds and Pulses committee. He also co-chairs the Manitoba Young Farmers committee and is active on the Environment and Water Management committee.
Rob has served on the executive for the Canadian Young Farmers’ Forum and he remains active in programming for young farmers. He has led the Manitoba Young Farmers committee since its inception.
Linda Neilson, Starbuck Grain Farmer
Keystone Agricultural Producers District Council Member
Linda will touch on the human aspect of her farm including the generational transition and what farm life means to her family.
Linda Neilson is a producer from Starbuck, where she lives with her husband, Dave, son Erik and daughter Kylie.
Linda farms 992 acres of cereals and oilseeds and is looking forward to adding soybeans into the rotation in the near future.
Linda is a KAP District 3 Member. She is active within her district serving as the Secretary for the group.
Linda is a graduate of the Business Accountancy program of Red River College. Family is of the utmost importance to Linda as is the farm lifestyle.