UFA donates to rural communities
Groups in the Alberta towns of Vegreville, Castor, Irvine and Pincher Creek will share $100,000 channelled through the UFA Rural Communities Foundation.
In a new release, the foundation announced that the Vegreville Rotary Club was granted $15,000 for its skatepark project, which will include modern concrete facilities, a walking trail, picnic tables and benches.
The Castor and District Museum Society will receive $27,250 to repair its grain elevator, one of the oldest wooden elevators in the province.
The 20 Mile Irvine Rodeo Committee will use $37,250 for its arena upgrade.
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The remaining $20,500 will go to the Pincher Creek and District Historical Society to add the Colpman’s Drug Store and Soda Fountain building to its Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village.
The foundation aims to improve the lives of Alberta farmers and ranchers by improving access to funding for educational, recreational and cultural facilities and programs.
UFA has committed $500,000 over five years to assist with rural community projects.
Young Agrarians look for mentors
The application deadline for the Young Agrarians Apprenticeship program has been extended to Nov. 6.
The organization seeks host mentor farms in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to help grow the next generation of regenerative farmers.
The program is looking for farmers who are skilled and enthusiastic teachers with a passion for mentoring young and aspiring farmers.
Apprenticeships typically take place over four to eight months during the growing season. They are usually a full-time placement where the apprentice lives on farm, but that can be adapted and tailored for each situation.
The organization will work with each host farm to design an apprenticeship experience that suits goals and context, as well as assist in selecting apprentices.
More information is at youngagrarians.org/call-for-mentors-young-agrarians-apprenticeship-program/.
Dugout inspections recommended
Fall inspection of dugouts should include the area that feeds into the dugout and should be free of debris.
This properly graded area should be mowed and kept clear of trees and weeds.
A well maintained dugout perimeter allows for greater access to it and might also deter native animals, such as muskrats.
Deciduous trees should be kept back 50 metres, and conifers should be no closer than 20 metres.
Inlet structures such as a gated culvert should be correctly operating.
As well, aeration operating systems should be inspected.
During winter, dugout aeration systems can result in open or weak areas in the dugout ice, which can be dangerous for young children, pets and people snowmobiling at night.
Children should be educated about these hazards and the area posted with highly visible warning signs and a fluorescent snow fence around the open water area.
Champions Showdown voting opens
The Champions Showdown is open for voting at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
The event is part of the large livestock feature of the 2020 Royal Agricultural Virtual Experience.
The Champions Showdown will put the past eight years of grand champions in a head-to-head battle to see who will be crowned Ultimate Royal Supreme Champions, from Open Beef, Masterfeeds National Junior Beef Heifer Show – Conformation, Open Dairy and the TD Canadian 4-H Dairy Classic – Conformation.
Exhibitors and cattle breeders from across the country can vote, which runs from Oct. 19 to Nov. 11 on The Royal website.
The Ultimate Supreme Champions will be announced Nov. 14.
FAO celebrates anniversary
Agriculture ministers from several governments, including Canada, commemorated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization on World Food Day Oct. 16.
In 1945, at a conference presided over by future Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson in Quebec City, the FAO was established as a specialized UN agency to combat global hunger and poverty.
