AgriSuccess workshops
Farm Credit Canada has expanded its lineup of AgriSuccess workshops, which are designed to help Canadian farmers deal with operational challenges such as high input prices, low commodity prices and staffing shortages.
Four workshops will be held in more than 30 communities between December 2004 and March 2005. They will be offered through a partnership with the Canadian Farm Business Management Council.
Each workshop features professional presenters in a half- or full-day, hands-on setting. More than 3,200 producers and advisers have already taken a course. This is the fourth year FCC has offered such training.
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To learn more about the workshops or to register, visit www.agrisuccess.ca or call 888-332-3301.
Exhibition official
Glen Duck is the new executive director of the Saskatchewan Association of Agricultural Societies and Exhibitions.
Duck, who replaces Judy Reimer, has been active in the fair industry for several years and has helped organize exhibitions in Regina and Moose Jaw, Sask., as well as the Kinsmen Rock ‘N the Valley event at Craven, Sask. He has been a director of the association since 2000.
Ag scholarship
Alberta Agriculture’s ag-entrepreneurship division and Camrose Regional Exhibition have established a scholarship that will sponsor farm direct marketers, ag tourism operators and farmers’ market managers to attend national and international educational tours and conferences.
Alberta entrepreneurs who operate a farm direct marketing or ag tourism business can apply for the scholarship. Managers of Alberta approved farmers’ markets are also eligible. Applicants must be prepared to share their ideas and experiences through three different extension activities upon returning to Alberta.
Applications are available at www.agric.gov.ab.ca by clicking on the link to business & economics/ag-entrepreneurship/farm direct marketing. For more information on the scholarships, call Marian Williams with the farm direct marketing initiative at 780-679-1360 or e-mail marian.williams@gov.ab.ca.
Sheep official
Andre Trepanier, a sheep producer from Ste. Sabine, Que., was named chair of the Canadian Sheep Federation at the federation’s annual general meeting in Moose Jaw, Sask., in November.
Trepanier has been a member of the federation’s board of directors for the past five years and has been the vice-chair for two. He has also been vice-president of the Federation des producteurs d’agneaux et moutons du Quebec for the past four years. Trepanier was chosen by acclamation.
Also at the meeting, John Hemsted of Oro Station, Ont., was elected vice-chair of the federation. As well, he was recently elected chair of the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency for his fifth consecutive term.
Other executive members include Randy Jordan from Raymore, Sask., Laurence Read from Silver Valley, Alta., and Randy Eros, who served as federation chair for the past two years.
