A new initiative is encouraging consumers to tour local farms and learn about the sustainable food production.
The Real Beef initiative will be introduced at Butters Ranching Ltd., which is located about 20 minutes northwest of Cochrane at Benchlands, Oct. 16. A tour, workshop and barbecue event, will take place from 2-7 p.m.
“This initiative is all about connecting ‘good news’ agricultural producers and their products with the environmental-savvy urban consumer,” said Norine Ambrose, Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society (Cows and Fish) spokesperson.
“We believe consumers are interested in the stewardship aspects of agricultural products, and are willing to pay for this product. At the end of the day, we believe this initiative will encourage additional sustainable practices on the land, bring fair value to producers and satisfy consumer interest in buying sustainable products.”
Real Beef is an initiative of a number of Alberta agricultural agencies in Alberta.
In its pilot year, the initiative will promote six Alberta cattle producers that are running small-to-medium-sized operations and have demonstrated strong stewardship and conservation practices on their ranches.
One of those families is the Butters.
Butters Ranch dates back to the 1930s, when the family started a cow/calf operation. They also grew their own cattle feed.
The ranch is located in the high foothills not far from the Rocky Mountains, at 4,600 feet in elevation.
The family currently runs a cattle ranch, typically running 250 head. The Butters no longer grow their own feed, because the topography of the area is not conducive to that.
Since the inception of the farm, the Butters were interested in proper management of their land.
“Mom and dad came from ranches and farms in which looking after the land was paramount,” said Erin Butters, who, along with her husband, is starting to take over the reins from her father Erik Butters. “Their passion was given to us, we were born into it.”
The Butters’ passion for the land morphed into a partnership with Cows and Fish when Butters was in her teens, about 18 years ago.
“I remember all the excitement when we started partnering with them,” said Butters. “It was very exciting to find a group that could enhance what we did.”
The organization added the scientific detail and support the family needed to properly steward the land, said Butters.
The family puts many land stewardship practices in place, including rotational grazing, fencing off Robinson Creek, a small tributary of Ghost Lake that runs through their land, and maintenance of native prairie grasses through proper timing of cattle grazing.
“At the end of the day, it is trying to leave the landscape in a better position than we found it,” said Erik, who along with his daughter and her husband, farms the land. “It is pretty simple stuff really.”
Erik’s passion for the land has increased since he became a grandfather.
“I am wanting to preserve it for future generations,” he said.
Since their involvement with Cows and Fish, the family has attended many workshops to learn about proper management of the land, which includes both riparian an upland areas. Now, they share their expertise with other ranchers and consumers at events such as the tour that will take place next week.
“We are going to talk a little about riparian management and upland management,” said Erik, adding that he appreciates the opportunities to meet with producers, but is thrilled with the chance to meet with consumers.
“I think most consumers are probably reasonably confident that the landscape is being protected, but we would like to take the opportunity to show them what is going on and why.”
Consumer-producer dialogue is critical, said Butters, to ensure the survival of the family farm, which she says is at risk in Canada.
“It is in the Province’s best interest to try to help ranchers survive, because that is a big part of who takes part of the land,” said Butters, adding that she is willing to do what it takes to ensure open spaces of agricultural land remain around the province.
The tour and barbecue provides just such an opportunity to connect consumers with their food source, said Ambrose. As does the Beef Initiative, which is funded by several organizations including the Government of Alberta’s Rural Community Adaptation Grant Program and Alberta Beef Producers.
“One of the aspects we are going to talk about is how the landscape functions and how it works,” said Ambrose.
“It’s an opportunity to connect producers and consumers and get them a little more familiar with one another”.
