The first event of Ag Days is a textbook example of showcasing the Prairie region’s products.
It’s beer tasting at the dome building on the Keystone Centre Grounds. The Monday evening event will feature numerous craft brewers who will tap kegs and provide samples of products made with the malt barley grown by farmers.
“This is a new event with local brewers for an evening of socializing, informal get-togethers, chatting and camaraderie,” says Teresa Vallotton, media coordinator for Ag Days.
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“You get a dozen brewers all in one room selecting their own product from their own process to make a beer that they think is great for anyone who wants to visit — and hopefully leave the night with a new favourite beer.”
The next morning, Ag Days starts in earnest with the traditional breakfast, also served in the dome building, from 7 to 8:45 a.m. Just after 9 a.m., the NMP and FCC theatres will open their doors and a stable of 63 speakers will inform and entertain for the next three days.
“We have over 60 speakers this year covering a wide variety of topics,” says program committee member Hannah Minshull.
“We still have a strong focus on agronomy – that seems to be what draws the crowd – but we definitely have sessions on livestock, technology, business strategy, innovation and equipment.”
David Frum, the Toronto-born political commentator, speech writer for president George W. Bush and staff writer for The Atlantic, will speak on geopolitics in uncertain times.
“There are a lot of uncertainties in the agriculture industry so having that geopolitical background or insight is beneficial,” Minshull says. “It makes people think beyond what you see in front of you every day. It encourages you to think outside the box and challenge your thought. So that will be an interesting one.”
Futurist and innovation expert Jim Carroll will speak on the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) into agriculture. As computer power increases, machines will become more capable and more independent. Find out what the futurist thinks during his address.
Two other presentations highlight what the Prairies have to offer beyond supplying raw materials. Two success stories will be told about finishing and marketing products made from regionally produced materials.
“One of them is Graham Sherman, co-owner of the Toolshed Brewing Company,” says Minshull. “It’s a great story of an entrepreneur in the prairie ag industry, how he achieved success along with some of the challenges he overcame.”
Closer to home is Alfred Lea from the Pine Dock First Nation and the Native Canadian Chip Corporation, a food processing company working out of Riverton. It makes Tomahawk Chips in a variety of flavours, which are shipped to markets all over Canada and the U.S.
It’s a Manitoba company making a popular product while generating economic activity and employment in the north Interlake.
“It’s really interesting to have that insight, to have that access to where our food is made, how our products are produced, who the people are, and the faces behind those products,” Minshull says.
“And that’s really what our program is about, learning what’s new, what’s been done, learning what challenges were overcome and sharing that knowledge and information with your peers to enhance the industry overall.”
There are speakers on technology, old and new, and how to get the best out of both.
“One of our speakers is talking about precision farming and your machinery,” Minshull says.
“Matt Yanick, the president of My Precision Ag, will talk about how to take your classic equipment and customize it with the newest and most cutting edge technology.”
Matthew Johnson, vice-president of education and digital ag with Volatus Aerospace, will talk about drones. They’ve become an important eye in the sky for farmers and agronomists alike and have revolutionized crop scouting.
Drones can gather intelligence about disease issues, fertilizer deficiencies or insect infestations from any point in the field and can be dispatched to do small scale spot spraying.
“It’s new technology or newer technology and sometimes it’s hard to determine whether or not implementing something like that into your own operation is feasible,” Minshull says. “Having the chance to sit in a room like that and ask questions is always a great opportunity.”
Perhaps the most unusual presenter is rodeo announcer Brett Gardiner, the voice of the Calgary Stampede and 12-time winner of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association announcer of the year.
A former school teacher from Sylvan Lake, Alta., Gardiner has a Master’s degree in counselling and is currently working on a PhD in sport and performance psychology. He’s a committed advocate for mental health.
“He’s got quite a personality,” Minshull says. “He’s a positive and entertaining type of speaker. He’s on the Wednesday afternoon in the livestock roundup session, so that would be really entertaining.
“We bring in some high class, high quality speakers. We’re jam-packed with lots of things that the industry was asking for.”
