The only provincial gathering of Manitoba farm women is celebrating its 15th year this fall.
The success of the Manitoba Farm Women’s Conference is based on the steering committee made up of a dozen farm women, says one of the organizers. They create the agenda and decide what topics to present, said Nancy Brommell.
“It’s grassroots, driven by a strong collective force in the Manitoba farm women’s community and good support from industry and government to fill in the gaps,” she said.
Over the decade and a half, the conference has had some topics that pop up often, such as this year’s session on farm and family finances. Some of the new or irregular subjects that will be featured this year are e-commerce, interior decorating and alternative medicine. There will also be a tour of the McCains food processing plant.
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Brommell said the conference organizers are prepared for 200-400 delegates to the Nov. 12-13 event at Portage la Prairie’s Westward Resort Hotel. Registration forms are at all Manitoba Agriculture offices.
Keynote speaker Dr. Val Farmer, who spoke at the first conference, will talk about the challenges of rural living.
Also speaking at the 2001 conference will be Tim and Donna Treadway who will share their experiences as one of the couples whose year living the pioneer life in Manitoba was featured on a television show called Pioneer Quest.
The conference is holding a photo contest asking women to submit photos, copies or electronic scans featuring past conference activities or following this year’s theme of “Women of all seasons – looking back, moving forward.”
Photo contest organizer Joan McCallister said the deadline has been extended into September because of harvest timing. Send photos to her at RR 1, Box 68, Portage la Prairie, Man., R1N 3A1 or to Cathy Vanstone at the Manitoba Agriculture office, 25 Tupper St. N. in Portage, R1N 3K1.
