A soil health advocate from the United States who has taken expertise to the silver screen will be a keynote speaker at the next Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) Regenerative Agriculture Conference.
Rick Clark is a fifth-generation farmer from Warren County, Ind. who produces non-GMO corn for Danone using regenerative practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping and no-till.
WHY IT MATTERS: The 2025 MFGA Regenerative Agriculture Conference will take place Nov. 12-13 at Brandon’s Victoria Inn.
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Clark was featured in the documentary “Common Ground,” a follow-up to the 2020 award winning Netflix documentary “Kiss the Ground,” both of which highlighted regenerative agriculture.
The MFGA’s 2023 conference highlighted a screening of “Common Ground.”
“We are absolutely thrilled to have Rick Clark attend our conference,” MFGA executive director Duncan Morrison said.
“We are extremely proud of our conference keynote lineup. We have four from Western Canada, and this brings that international shining star. To have someone of Rick Clark’s stature at our conference is something that everyone will appreciate.”
2025 conference
This year’s MFGA event will take place over a day and a half, with the theme “enriching land, lives and livelihoods.”
The event will feature a new addition: a free kids program, offered in partnership with Holistic Management Canada. The MFGA said the initiative is designed to support families attending the event.
Among the keynote speakers is Michael Ferguson, co-founder of Collective Impact and a fourth-generation farmer from Melfort, Sask. Ferguson will explore how changing mindsets can lead to long-term transformation on farms.
Another featured speaker is Rob Wunder, a fourth-generation farmer from Foam Lake, Sask. Wunder will share his family’s journey toward regenerative agriculture, highlighting their use of soil health principles, composting, and the development of a diverse farming system that integrates both crops and livestock.
Kimberly Cornish, executive director of the Food Water Wellness Foundation, will present a uniquely Canadian perspective on ecosystem services markets. Cornish will also discuss her work with the Regenerative Alberta Living Lab and the creation of an ecosystem services registry aimed at rewarding land stewardship and opening new market opportunities for producers.
Rounding out the speaker lineup is Tom Krawiec, a researcher and author known for simplifying ranching practices. His presentation will delve into techniques that make ranching manageable for people of all ages.
For more details and to register for the 2025 Regenerative Agriculture Conference, visit the MFGA website.
