Date: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.)
Location: Southern Alberta Art Gallery, 601 - 3 Avenue South, Lethbridge
Are you interested in local, good, clean and fairly produced food that helps to sustain our healthy landscapes and clean water? How can we achieve greater availability of such food? Perhaps you are not very familiar with these ideas and want to know more, or maybe you have some interesting ideas to share. This event is the place to learn and share ideas.
Our panelists will share their perspectives on this topic, and we will encourage those in the audience to share their questions and ideas as well, including on questions like: How can we support and encourage agricultural producers who are stewards of the land and who manage their land for clean and abundant water, biodiversity and livestock production? How can those buying food, both act and be seen as co-producers, responsible for supporting our primary producers?
Speakers: Jill Cairns, Tony Legault and Wade Nelson. Moderator: Lorne Fitch
Jill Cairns: In 1976, Jill Cairns learned how to milk a cow at a neighbour’s farm. On that same piece of land now stand 20 houses; farmland is being plowed under at an alarming pace. How and why this happens is foremost in this freelance farm activist’s mind. With her community development and public relations background, Jill has gone back to her childhood home and is working to reclaim the rural voice and economic security, emphasizing regenerative and ethical practices.
Wade Nelson: Wade lives and works on Highwood Valley Ranch, a 4th generation ranch west of High River, together with wife Jaimie, and his parents. He is the creator of Highwood Valley Ranch Beef, marketing hormone and antibiotic free, dry aged beef directly to consumers. Wade and Jaimie fill their summer marketing their beef. Their goal is to provide good wholesome beef to consumers and create revenue that allows them to stay on the ranch. Wade has an Agriculture Business diploma from Olds College and a Business Degree from the University of Lethbridge.
Tony Legault: Tony and his wife, Karen, and their children produce tomatoes, without pesticides, at Paradise Hill Farm in Nanton in their greenhouse. He is passionate and focused on local food. Tony believes direct marketing is a way to make the family farm successful. On the rest of their farm, they have Hampshire sheep and an on-farm store featuring their own products. Tony was raised a city kid and was a mechanic for 15 years prior to farming. He has been a director for fresh produce and sheep associations and been involved with the Calgary Stampede for many years.