Small farming operation owners are invited to attend the third annual Small Farm Summit taking place on Nov. 9 at Heritage Park in Calgary.
“Anyone who is growing or farming not on a factory or industrial level is welcome to attend,” said organizer and freelance farm activist Jill Cairns, who lives in northwest Rocky View County (RVC).
“In my opinion, a fourth-generation farmer with lots of land is still a small farm simply because their reach into the community and probably their customers is local.”
Cairns said the idea to host a summit came to her while she was visiting British Columbia several years ago and saw the number of smaller farms and organic or value-added operations where “gate sales are the norm.”
She remembered thinking that “small-scale operations in the prairies need a support group as well,” she added.
“I think the smaller, niche operations exist here, they’re just not as visible. I think it’s important to support alternatives to the big guys just because I like knowing where my food comes from and what’s in it and how it’s made,” she said.
“It’s also important to me that we have the capacity to transfer knowledge from one generation to the next.
“The statistics on the average age of a Canadian farmer and the number who are soon to retire means that there is some urgency in making sure we have enough people and enough knowledge to effectively have an agricultural industry (in the future),” said Cairns.
The summit will be an informal event for agricultural producers to share their areas of expertise and learn from each other, said Cairns. The summit in 2011 and 2012 drew about 30 people but Cairns said she is hoping for 40 to attend this year.
Three guests speakers are lined up to talk about pasture programs and approaching direct sales as a small farm operation.
A speaker will also give a historical viewpoint on dairy farming in Alberta and the ways dairy operations have changed over the years.
Cairns said the floor will be open to impromptu discussions.
“Anyone who feels they have an area of expertise can stand up and announce themselves. Some people come to the summit to learn and some come to teach. Hopefully, everyone gets a little of both.”
The free event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Millarville Ranchers’ Hall. Registration is required by emailing [email protected]
