Kelwood Fair/Harvest Sun Festival

Farm fair meets folk fest

A traditional agricultural fair and the Harvest Sun Music Festival have become a draw for a somewhat eclectic crowd at tiny Kelwood, Man., about 100 km southeast of Dauphin, on Aug. 20-21, 2011. Co-operator reporter Lorraine Stevenson attended both the Kelwood fair and festival, a mix of old and new -- the former run by an ag society around for 114 years, the latter just six years young. For the full story you'll want to check out the Sept. 8, 2011 Manitoba Co-operator (Fair and music festival link up, page 22) -- and here for you is a gallery of photos from both events. All photos by Lorraine Stevenson.


Baloun Alpaca Acres

A high-fibre venture

In our Feb. 24, 2011 issue (Value-added venture has good fibre, Co-operator, page 28), reporter Lorraine Stevenson took us on a visit to Baloun Alpaca Acres at Manitou, Man., where entrepreneur Angie Baloun is not only raising alpaca for their rich, soft fibre but is also processing the fibre and marketing alpaca wool products. All photos by Lorraine Stevenson.


111th annual count

The Christmas Bird Count

In the Dec. 23, 2010 Manitoba Co-operator (page 12), reporter Lorraine Stevenson accompanied a group of Manitoba birdwatchers on the 111th annual Christmas Bird Count, a nationwide activity which attracts about 12,000 birders of all skill levels. Co-ordinated in this country by Bird Studies Canada, the count has yielded invaluable data for bird biologists to assess the health of various bird populations and help steer conservation efforts. All photos by Lorraine Stevenson.



All in the family

Heartland Rodeo Finals

Spectators filled the bleachers in Carman during to watch 117 competitors from across Manitoba compete in 12 events at the Heartland Rodeo Finals, held in Carman Sept. 11 and 12. Set up in 1995, the Heartland Rodeo Association bills itself as an association to "promote and continue the sport of rodeo in Manitoba, with the entire family in mind. During the finals weekend, top qualifiers from the association's nine major and two minor events compete for the chance at awards. Co-operator reporter Lorraine Stevenson attended the finals and files these photos.


Sheep show revival

Gathering of the flock

In the Aug. 26, 2010 Manitoba Co-operator (page 21), reporter Lorraine Stevenson took us to the Gathering of the Flock at Neepawa. Held Aug. 13-15, the event represented a "revival" of sorts for its host groups, the Manitoba Sheep Association and Prairie Shepherds 4-H Club. It marked a significant expansion over and above the MSA's traditional summer sale, offering Manitoba's sheep producers a chance to connect with new market opportunities as well as with young sheep producers just getting started. All photos by Lorraine Stevenson.


Woolen mill at Inwood

Taking the wool from fleece to yarn

Co-operator reporter Lorraine Stevenson travelled to Inwood, Man., about 70 km northwest of Selkirk, to visit Joe and Kim Streker's business, Sheeples Fine Fibres. In the Feb. 5, 2009 Co-operator, the Strekers take us through the woolen mill they've set up over the past two years on the farm where they've lived since leaving their jobs as college professors in Ontario ("From fleece to yarn," page 28). All photos by Lorraine Stevenson.


Gilbert Plains’ live-animal pageant

Bringing the Christmas story to life

Co-operator reporter Lorraine Stevenson paid a visit to the community of Gilbert Plains, Man., about 40 km west of Dauphin, for that town’s new outdoor, live-animal, live-action pageant. As explained in the Co-operator ("Bringing the Christmas story to life," Dec. 18, 2008, page 1), United Church choir director Linda McNabb last fall began urging her community’s churches to join together and stage this event, titled "A Journey to Bethlehem." All photos by Lorraine Stevenson.


Stock Dog Trials

Stock dogs compete for best in the west

Co-operator reporter Lorraine Stevenson paid a visit to the Western Canadian Stock Dog Championship near Eriksdale, Man., on Sept. 26-28 ("Stock dog trials showcase Canadian talent," Manitoba Co-operator, Oct. 9, 2008, page 21). The Manitoba Stock Dog Association hosted the 30th annual event, which included about two dozen competitors and their dogs. Top spots went to Danue Frew and dog Bram of Gull Lake, Sask., in the nursery category (five dogs); Bev Sommer and dog Jed of Pleasantdale, Sask., in the pro-novice (jackpot) category (12 dogs); and Norm Sommer with dog Jock, also of Pleasantdale, in the open double lift finals.


Manitoba Rainbow Trout Farmers

Springtime is seeding time..for trout

Co-operator reporter Lorraine Stevenson profiled the Manitoba Rainbow Trout Farmers Association in our May 29, 2008 issue ("A different kind of spring seeding," page 20). The MRTFA is a not-for-profit broker group, operating since the early 1970s, importing trout fingerlings for the use of Manitobans who want to stock farm dogouts, private lakes, small lakes on Crown land or small recreational fisheries. In this series of photos Stevenson gives us a closer look at the association's trout depot near Minnedosa, as the group takes delivery of 70,000 hatchery-raised baby fish from Buffalo Gap, S.D. in May.


Tile Drainage

Research farm to test tile drains

Co-operator reporter Bonnie Baltessen checked out the beginning of a new research project on the effects of tile drainage on heavy clay soils and water quality, taking place at Richardson Kelburn Farm near St. Adolphe, in our Sept. 11, 2008 issue ("Test drains sunk into heavy soils," page 26). In this series of photos we see what it takes to lay tile in the "gumbo" soil on the banks of the Red River.


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  Farm economic indicators, 1988 vs. 2007

Darrin Qualman, director of research for the National Farmers Union in Saskatoon, recently delivered a paper on the effects of free trade on agriculture at a conference in Minneapolis. The paper included a table comparing current statistics on farm returns, input costs and industry consolidation with 1988, when the North American Free Agreement came into effect. The NFU's full list of statistics, the reference point for a condensed table that appeared in the Co-operator (Nov. 22, 2007, page 5), is posted here.
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