Young Farmers Discuss Ag Policy At 2-Day Conference

Jan 29, 2018

Young farmers from across the province are gathering in Winnipeg this week for the 2018 Manitoba Young Farmers Conference.

The event is put on in part by Manitoba Agriculture and Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) and is funded in part by Growing Forward 2.

Kalynn Spain is an Executive Assistant with KAP.

"We really focus heavily on policy development and getting the students and the young farmers engaged in policy issues," she explained. "We had 10 policy files that our policy analysts at KAP put together and it's amazing to see how the young farmers will engage in that issue actually from a different perspective than what maybe our traditionally older members would."

Spain talked about the importance of having the Young Farmers Conference overlap with KAP's AGM Thursday morning.

"They're witnessing our policy resolutions process and for them that's quite new. They can understand those issues and talk about those issues and how that's affecting them, but for them to see it at the policy resolution level, to see our members voting on these issues, is extremely important to us."

The event also included a Canadian Farm Leaders Panel with participation by KAP President Dan Mazier, Canadian Federation of Agriculture President Ron Bonnett, Alberta Federation of Agriculture President Lynn Jacobson, and Ian Boxall, Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan Vice President.

Source : Steinbachonline

Video: California Farm Bureau 2025 Farm Dog of the Year Contest Winner - Willy - CAFB 107th Annual Meeting

Meet Willy: California Farm Bureau’s 2025 Farm Dog of the Year!

We’re excited to introduce Willy, a miniature long-haired dachshund with a big heart and even bigger courage, and the Grand Prize winner of this year’s Farm Dog of the Year Contest!

Willy may be small, but he’s become an indispensable partner on owner Marshal Hagedorn’s forestry and cattle operations in Shasta, Tehama, and Siskiyou counties. Adopted in 2023, he quickly found his place on the ranch, helping manage critters, tagging along for long days in the woods, and offering unwavering companionship during demanding logging work.

Willy has even taken naturally to moving cattle, surprising calves (and more than a few full-grown cows!) with his burst of energy from the tall grass. As Marshal put it: “He goes with me everywhere every single day.”

Congratulations to Willy and his family, a perfect example of how every good farm dog, no matter the size, helps keep California agriculture running strong.