Sunday, March 20th, 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, seeding cycles and the role the Canadian family farm plays internationally.
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:
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 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 Vice President at KAP’s 2010 annual meeting. 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 17 years ago.
Curtis McRae, Selkirk Grain Farmer
Keystone Agricultural Producers Executive Member
Curtis will go through the seasons of farming, the cycle of seeding, and he’ll explain why farmers are always in a rush!
Curtis graduated with a B.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering and farms 5000 acres with his brother near Selkirk, just 20 miles 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. He is a member of the KAP Executive and chairs the Rural Development and Land Use Committee. He is also an active judo player coaching at the club in Selkirk with 100 students. He is married and has 3 girls, 2 dogs, and 2 cats.
Jim Campbell, Stonewall Farmer/Bee Keeper
Jim will talk about why Manitoba is one of the most productive places in the world to produce honey and interesting bee facts for consumers
Jim is a honey producer from Stonewall, where he lives with his wife Barbara, and where they raised their two children. Jim’s bees collect nectar from surrounding fields of clover and canola, and he sells fresh honey directly from their farmyard. Jim was educated at both Red River Community College and the University of Manitoba, and worked in the telecommunication industry until retiring to the farm. Jim is an active member of both the Hobby Beekeeping Club in Winnipeg, and the Manitoba Commercial Beekeeping organization.
Gwen Donohoe
Gwen will help consumers understand that family farms still exist and she will explain their role in making Canada a world leader as a producer of safe, high quality food.
Gwen grew up on a mixed farm near The Pas. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in Environmental Science with a minor in Rangeland Resources in 2005 at the University of Saskatchewan. Following graduation, Gwen returned home to the farm and began building her own cattle herd. She went on to earn a Master of Science in Soil Science in 2010. Gwen is now undertaking a PhD at the University of Manitoba. She serves as the youth board member of the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council, and on the boards of the Kelsey Conservation District and the Manitoba Conservation District Association.