AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD
2019 ISSUE
VOLUME 27
AAFC Celebrates the Contributions of
WOMEN IN SCIENCE PAST DR. MARGARET NEWTON – Saving Canada’s Wheat
She was the first woman in Canada to obtain a PhD in agricultural sciences and lead a team in studying wheat rust. DR. MARY MACARTHUR – Pioneer in Food Dehydration
She was the first woman to be named a Fellow of the Agricultural Institute of Canada and was well known for her success with food dehydration and freezing.
PRESENT DR. HEATHER MCNAIRN – Using Satellites
to Monitor Crop and Soil Conditions
She has developed new ways to monitor crop and soil conditions, integrating radar and optical satellite data to classify crop types to produce annual national crop maps. DR. JOYCE BOYE – Using Food to Improve Human Health and Nutrition
Appointed as Special Ambassador for North America for the 2016 International Year of Pulses, she specializes in plant proteins and their importance in helping to improve human health and nutrition.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA On behalf of the Government of Canada, I am pleased to welcome our international guests to the 2019 Calgary Stampede. The Stampede has a century-long tradition of displaying not only the best of Canadian livestock, agriculture, and food products, but also legendary Western hospitality to visitors from around the world. Congratulations to the Agriculture & Agri-Food committee on its central role in building a strong international profile at the Stampede. I applaud this year’s focus on women in agriculture. Helping women take on leadership roles in the industry is a high priority for the federal government. We encourage you to visit the International Room on the grounds to help you connect with Canadian agri-food suppliers. The Government of Canada proudly supports this as part of its trade agenda, which includes agreements with key markets and a target of $75 billion in agri-food exports by 2025. I wish you a memorable visit.
The Honourable Mari-Claude Bibeau, PC, MP
ABOUT THE COVER When I arrived in High River, Alberta, from England in 2005, I had no idea of the structure and history of the West. I gained early, first-hand insight however, when I went on a photo road trip around the province, photographing farms and ranches. I was treated with incredible hospitality. Staying overnight at each location gave me a glimpse into rural family life and I was immediately struck by the role of the women in the family. One of the first places that I visited was a ranch in Sundre, west of Calgary, where on a freezing morning I witnessed a young pregnant wife holding down livestock and helping with doctoring the animals. At another, the woman of the family was running a horse operation alongside the family crop and feedlot business. Invariably the same ladies were keeping the house running and family on track. Good food cooked from scratch was more than a supper—it was an affirmation of history, love and giving, and of sacrificing and enduring. I think that is the real nourishment. The cover image was from a shoot that I did with equine artist (and two-time Calgary Stampede Poster artist) Shannon Lawlor in the summer of 2018. I loved the strength in her hands—hands
that can paint with such exquisite lightness and precision—together with the texture and detail in the vaquero tack. In my opinion, they are a true and authentic capture of the strength, diversity and grace of women in agriculture.
ABOUT NEVILLE PALMER For over 40 years, Neville Palmer has captured commercial images for editorial and advertising use through his photography. His vast portfolio of images includes his Observations of the West. To learn more about Neville Palmer Photography, please visit www.reflectiveeye.com
PROFILE 2019 1
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE CALGARY STAMPEDE As president & chairman of the board of the Calgary Stampede, it is my pleasure to invite you to enjoy the stories of the Calgary Stampede, as well as those of our agricultural community in this 2019 edition of Profile Magazine. Of special note is the story of two young women, showing their passion for agriculture, animals and the land they call home through their incredible artwork. Together, their talents have brought the 2019 Calgary Stampede
July 2019
A MESSAGE FROM MAYOR NENSHI On behalf of my City Council colleagues and the citizens of Calgary, I am pleased to welcome you 2019 Calgary Stampede.
A MESSAGE FROM MAYOR NENSHI On behalf of my City Council colleagues and the citizens of Calgary, I am pleased to welcome you to the 2019 Calgary Stampede.
d to
Over the course of the last century, the Calgary Stampede has been a pillar—not only in our community, but for the agricultural industry as a whole. This has been a meeting place for producers from around the world to come welcome thefoster relationships and create together, you shareto ideas, business opportunities.
Through the hard work of the Agri-Food committee the Calgary Stampede also provides an incredible opportunity onlyfor in Alberta’s our community, agricultural community to showcase all that our province has to offer on the international stage.
ot producers from around ess opportunities.
2 INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE & AGRI-FOOD SUBCOMMITTEE
Over the course of the last century, the Calgary Stampede has been a pillar – not only in our com but for the agricultural industry as a whole. This has been a meeting place for producers from aro the world to come together, share ideas, foster relationships and create business opportunities.
Through the hard work of the Agri-Food Committee the Calgary Stampede also provides an incred opportunity for Alberta’s agricultural community to showcase all that our province has to offer on This year’s international stage. theme, Women in Agriculture, is significant.
Nothing happens in a community without strong women
This making year’s theme, Women in Agriculture, is significant. Nothing happens in a community without it happen. women making it happen.
I commend the volunteers for their hard work and
I commend the volunteers for their hard work and dedication and I thank the Calgary Stampede f dedication and I thank the Calgary Stampede for its continued commitment to promoting agriculture.
continued commitment to promoting agriculture. Congratulations!
Congratulations!
Sincerely, Sincerely,
Naheed K. Nenshi Naheed K. MAYOR
Mayor
Nenshi
poster to life, highlighting and celebrating the role of women in the modern West. Originally created as the central marketing piece for the Stampede, the poster has evolved into a celebration of western art and has become an iconic and beloved part of The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. 2019 marks the first time that the artwork was created by a youth artist through the Calgary Stampede Poster Competition and scholarship program. I am extremely proud of this youth education initiative and I hope you enjoy reading more about the artwork and the talented young women behind it. The Stampede is an annual celebration of community spirit and western tradition that has been taking place for more than 100 years. As an organization, we are passionate about bringing together those with common interests in the agriculture industry, and are committed to educating our urban community on agriculture and sustainability. I would like to recognize the dedicated Stampede volunteers of the Agri-Food committee for their work on this publication,
and commend them for their commitment to fostering relationships with individuals and organizations from around the world. I encourage you to experience everything the Stampede has to offer, and look forward to welcoming you to our 10-day festival July 5-14, 2019. On behalf of the Agri-Food committee, I would also like to extend an invitation to producers from around the world to visit the International Room during the Stampede to meet fellow farmers and ranchers and share meaningful conversations about the future of agriculture. See you in July!
Dana Peers President & Chairman of the Board Calgary Stampede
A MESSAGE FROM THE CALGARY STAMPEDE’S AGRI-FOOD COMMITTEE It is with great pride that the Calgary Stampede’s newly formed Agri-Food committee presents the 2019 edition of Profile magazine. It is through the passion and hard work of the International Agriculture & Agri-Food subcommittee that this magazine delivers inspiring stories that build understanding between our southern Alberta food and beverage producers and consumers.
connect agri-food leaders at this important event. Our committee continues to work incredibly hard to publish Profile magazine and as our committee begins to assimilate with other agriculture food production committees within the Stampede, the magazine will serve as an even greater information source for our guests in future editions.
With more than one million consumers walking through the gates of the Stampede every year, our committee has the exciting opportunity to share the story of Agri-Food. From farm to fork, the Agri-Food committee strives to deliver programing to highlight the products, best practices, innovations and new technologies that drive our producers, processors, food service companies and retailers all in an effort to increase public trust.
We would like to thank our sponsors for their support throughout the years. Without their support, we would not be able to provide these quality programs.
The International Agriculture & Agri-Food subcommittee is comprised of a diverse group of volunteers who share a passion for promoting Alberta agriculture & its related food industries. Our mission is to bring members from the world’s agriculture community together to share ideas, to facilitate business opportunities, and to foster friendship and cultural understanding. Year over year, we strive to accomplish this mission by providing the most informative, enjoyable, and highest quality programs possible, such as our famed International Reception, Profile magazine publication and hosting of international guests and agri-food enthusiasts from around the globe in our International Lounge during the Stampede. The International Agriculture & Agri-Food Reception brings industry leaders, government officials and dignitaries together to facilitate an evening of interaction, communication and festivity with the goal of inspiring people to promote and enhance Agriculture and its related industries. We would like to thank McDonald’s Canada, our title sponsor, for helping to
On behalf of all the members of the Agri-Food committee and in particular the International Agriculture & Agri-Food subcommittee, we thank you for being an agriculture and agri-food enthusiast. We hope you enjoy the 2019 edition of Profile magazine. Please don’t hesitate to visit with us during the Calgary Stampede, or contact us anytime throughout the year! Sincerely,
Bryan Walton Chair of the Agri-Food Committee
Dr. Aaron Grant Sub-Chair of the International Agriculture & Agri-Food Subcommittee PROFILE 2019 3
THE CALGARY STAMPEDE INTERNATIONAL & AGRI-FOOD SUBCOMMITTEE We are committed to showcasing Alberta agriculture, agri-food and the Calgary Stampede to the world. Our committee is focused on bringing members of the global agriculture community together to share ideas, facilitate business opportunities, and to foster friendship and cultural understanding.
Maggie Schofield Director, Calgary Stampede Board Cherie Copithorne-Barnes Director, Calgary Stampede Board Robert Wise Director, Agriculture & Western Events Dr. Aaron Grant, PhD Sub-Chair, IAC John Arnold Vice Sub-Chair, IAC Brent Difley Past-Chair, IAC Mackenzie Argent Program Manager, Agriculture & Western Events
Janette Macmillan Manager, Agriculture Competitions & Event Presentations, Agriculture & Western Events Terry Andryo Paul Barker Barry Bennett Penny Blackwell Dave Collins Joan Cool Scott Exner Graeme Finn John Finn Ramon Fosado
4 INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE & AGRI-FOOD SUBCOMMITTEE
Candace Grimes
Sheila Morison
Kerrie Harvie
Holly Nicoll
George Jackson
Jenn Norrie
Patti James
Ranjan Pant
Keith Jones
Dave Phillips
Larry Konschuk
Christie Simpson
Larry Koper
Rick Smith
Laura Laing
Kerry Towle
John Lee
Bryan Walton
Anila Lee Yuen
Jan Warren
Syd Loeppky
Tina Zakowsky
Kim McConnell Ravinder Minhas
CONTRIBUTORS Kristina Barnes is Communications Manager for Agriculture & Western Events at the Calgary Stampede.
Showcasing and Promoting the Alberta Agriculture and Agri-Food Industry to the World Profile magazine is distributed throughout Alberta and across Canada to agriculture and agri-food producers,
Kieran Brett is an Alberta-based writer and the co-owner of Bootprint Marketing. Since 1989, he’s written extensively for agriculture clients in the areas of crop and livestock production, farm business management, research, equipment and technology.
associations and industry representatives. It is shared worldwide with friends of the Calgary Stampede and distributed at major North American and International stock shows and agricultural associations, as well as at select International embassies, consulates and trade offices.
Robin Galey is a Calgary writer who has written about agriculture and health for many years. She contributes her tiny bit to food production by growing tomatoes in her inner city backyard.
Laura Laing Editor
Bryn Lukowiak works in Public Affairs at Enbridge and is first vice-chair of the Calgary Stampede’s Agriculture & Western Events Committee. She is a born and raised Albertan, passionate about agriculture and connecting others to the industry.
Laura Laing is a public relations and marketing and communications consultant, who specializes in agriculture. In addition to her role as Owner and President of L.L Communications Corp., Laura is a cattle producer, who along with her husband, own and operate Plateau Cattle Company, just West of Nanton, Alberta, where they sustainably raise world-class, Alberta beef.
Shannon Murray is the Indigenous Programming Manager at the Calgary Stampede. She holds a PhD in the history of the American and Canadian Wests, from the University of Calgary.
Publisher: The Calgary Stampede International Agriculture and Agri-Food Subcommittee (IAC) IAC Communications Team ©2019 Calgary Stampede International Agriculture and Agri-Food Subcommittee (IAC). All rights reserved. Reproduction or reuse of any information in this publication, in whole or part, without the express written permission of the publisher, is strictly prohibited. While all reasonable care is taken in preparation
Stephanie Ostermann is a content strategist, author and speaker with a passion for creating conversations that build communities. As Director of Content at WS, a Calgary-based marketing agency, she helps agriculture and food brands use content to connect with audiences across multiple media and social platforms.
of this publication, the IAC cannot be held responsible for unintentional errors or omissions.
Graphic Design: Quarter Section Creative Production: BootPrint Marketing Printer: West Canadian Digital Imaging Inc.
CONTENTS Honora Jackson Roe is an analyst for the Farm Management Consulting team at MNP in Red Deer, Alberta. With a M.Sc. in Sustainability and Management and a B.Sc. in Agriculture Business, she is passionate about promoting sustainable agriculture.
Lisa Skierka’s commitment to advocacy was nurtured on the family ranch in southern Alberta, leading to an extensive career in not-for-profits, publishing and agriculture. In addition to running her own communications consultancy, she is also associate vice-president of SkierkaTech Inc., which is focused on growing trade in the areas of agriculture, construction, energy and the environment.
6
Welcoming the World
8
The Next Generation of Western Art
10
Women of Early Stampede
12
A New Breed of Producer
14
Q&A with Cherie Copithorne-Barnes
16
A Commitment to Hard Work
18
Sidesaddle: A Story of Grit and Grace
20
Bridging the Gap
22
A Legacy of Strong Pioneering Women
24
Ask a Farmer
26
We’re Greatest Together PROFILE 2019 5
WELCOMING THE WORLD & SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON ALBERTA’S AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY By Laura Laing
6 INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE & AGRI-FOOD SUBCOMMITTEE
For 36 years the International Agriculture and Agri-Food Subcommittee (IAC) has worked hard to bring the world’s agricultural community together to share ideas, opportunities and foster friendship and cultural understanding and, of course, shine a spotlight on Alberta’s Agri-Food and Beverage Industry.
THE INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE & AGRI-FOOD RECEPTION The IAC is proud to play a major role in connecting members of the agri-food industry. Last year during our annual International Agriculture & Agri-Food Reception, we were honoured to host a major announcement for Canadian agriculture. John Betts, McDonald’s CEO and President, announced that McDonald’s Canada (Canada’s largest buyer of beef), would be promoting the company’s burgers as made from verified sustainable Canadian beef. Produced under the 27 indicators set out by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CSRB), it is expected that more than 20 million Angus burgers will have been consumed under this program by the time the gates open for the 2019 Calgary Stampede.
WHERE IN THE WORLD DO YOU FARM? In our role as connectors and promoters of agriculture, agri-food and beverage, each year the IAC committee hosts thousands of guests at our “Where in the world do you farm?” in the Nutrien Western Events Centre and in our International Lounge during the 10 days of Stampede. We actively engage in discussions with guests from around the world who share an interest in the industry and discuss the business of agriculture. These one-on-one discussions and connections are a highlight every year for each and every member of our committee.
McDonald’s Canada is the first Canadian company to acquire beef that is “certified sustainable” under the CSRB standards. What an incredible dedication to our Canadian cattle industry and acknowledgement of our efforts for creating world-class beef through continued advancements and high standards in animal welfare and health and environmental stewardship.
Each year IAC welcomes thousands of agriculture guests from around the world.
IAC Committee member Kim McConnell (left) Cherie Copithorne-Barnes of CSRB (middle) and McDonald’s President and CEO, John Betts make a beef lollipop toast at the 2018 International Agriculture and Agri-Food Reception held during the Calgary Stampede. IAC Subcommittee member Kim McConnell (left) Cherie Copithorne-Barnes of CRSB (middle) and McDonald’s President and CEO, John Betts (right) make a beef lollipop toast at the 2018 International Agriculture & Agri-Food Reception held during the Calgary Stampede.
We would like to take this time to both thank and acknowledge McDonald’s Canada, IAC’s title sponsor, for its commitment and support of our agricultural industry in Canada. The International Agriculture & Agri-Food Reception will take place again this year on the Wednesday evening, bringing together industry leaders to both connect and celebrate agriculture.
PROFILE MAGAZINE The Profile magazine, the official publication of the International Agriculture & Agri-Food Subcommittee, was developed to showcase our industry of agriculture throughout southern Alberta to the world. Each year, we proudly share the stories of our vibrant and diverse agricultural industry. In this 2019 Profile issue, we highlight women in agriculture— the trailblazers, past, present and future. From the beginning, women have graced and nurtured the landscape of agriculture—from ranching to farming, to leading the way with new ideas and approaches—ideas that have helped and continue to advance our industry and we are excited to share their stories with you. And of course, we would like to thank all of our IAC sponsors, whom are noted within this publication. Because of you we are able to share our passion for the industry of agriculture, and shine a spotlight on Alberta’s agri-food and beverage industry along with the insights and expertise that, together, will help us continue to advance the industry of agriculture worldwide. Thank you!
For more information, visit us at: http://ag.calgarystampede.com/IAC Facebook Calgary Stampede International Agriculture & Agri-Food Committee Twitter @stampedeIAC #CSIAC Instagram stampede_IAC #CSIAC Photos courtesy of ShowChampions John Betts, McDonald’s President and CEO announces commitment to verified sustainable Canadian beef at the 2018 International Agriculture & Agri-Food Reception. McDonald’s Canada says it gets 100 per cent of the beef for its hamburgers from Canadian ranches and farms, primarily in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
PROFILE 2019 7
THE 2019 CALGARY STAMPEDE POSTER By Kristina Barnes
The Next Generation of Western Art and Women in Western Culture Red roses. Red lips. Red chaps. With a click of her camera’s shutter, Samantha Callioux captured a striking image. A young woman on horseback with long, curling blonde hair and a gentle smile on her face. “The photograph represents to me the multifaceted art of being a woman, not just in the western culture that I love so much, but a woman in today’s world,” says the photographer from the tiny Alberta hamlet of Wildwood. “Women cannot be defined by just one thing; we can be strong, kind, independent, creative, soft, yet fierce.”
says Shuttleworth. “I like the elegance that Samantha captured in the photograph.” With the image as her inspiration, she used pastel to create the artwork now featured on the 2019 Calgary Stampede poster. Originally produced as the central marketing tool for the city’s iconic annual festival, the poster has evolved into a celebration of western art and for 2019, the next generation of women in western culture. This also marks the first time the artwork was created by a youth artist, through a unique new initiative.
Artist Rebecca Shuttleworth and Dana Peers, Calgary Stampede President and Chairman of the Board stands beside the Calgary Stampede 2019 Poster.
The vibrant photograph caught the eye and the imagination of another talented young Alberta artist, Rebecca Shuttleworth. “It was striking,”
8 INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE & AGRI-FOOD SUBCOMMITTEE
The Calgary Stampede Poster Competition, which began in 2018, is one of the largest arts scholarships in Canada with $20,000 distributed among the top eight finalists. Young Albertans were invited to enter for their chance to create the 2019 Stampede Poster art and participate in a youth achievement opportunity of a lifetime. Successful applicants participated in hands-
on learning and development experiences, which included one-on-one time spent with local western artists and mentors. “The whole experience of being involved in the Poster Competition was surreal,” describes Shuttleworth.
“As a fifth-generation farmer I know how hard women work on the farm and that’s something that motivates me every day to do my best. It’s what I wanted to show in my piece.” “I feel the artwork captures the elegance of the female role. It portrays a hardworking woman, but she’s elegant too; graceful and hardworking.” Much like Shuttleworth, Callioux’s upbringing on her family’s ranch created deep roots in the western way of life and inspires her art. “It was a privilege to grow up in a rural setting surrounded by horses and a culture of hard work and practical life skills. I love being able to showcase the beauty that has surrounded me my entire life.” For the next year, the beauty created through the artistic collaboration between two talented young women will be showcased far beyond their rural homes, far beyond our province, far beyond Canada’s borders. Annually, more than 30,000 Calgary Stampede posters are distributed around the world. That’s not what Samantha Callioux was thinking about as she fastened her father’s antique saddle to her mother’s horse, pulled a few special items from her closet, tucked some red roses into her favourite hat and placed it upon her model’s head. But reality hit home when the 2019 poster was revealed to the public on October 17.
“It is a complete honour to have one of my photographs used in collaboration for something as prestigious as the Calgary Stampede Poster Competition,” Callioux reflects. “I will always be grateful to Rebecca and to the Stampede for choosing my artwork to help showcase women in western culture and for it to become a part of the Stampede’s history.” Rebecca Shuttleworth is hoping the eye-catching artwork encourages greater conversation about women in agriculture, with the art she created for the poster representing not just the Calgary Stampede, but a way of life.
“Great art isn’t great art unless it creates some kind of emotion, some kind of thought,” she says with a smile. “It’s been interesting to be a part of this.”
Photographer Samantha Callioux captured the photograph and inspiration for the 2019 Calgary Stampede Poster.
PROFILE 2019 9 1
OF THE EARLY STAMPEDE By Shannon Murray, PhD Photos Courtesy of The Calgary Stampede Archives
In the spring of 1916, women in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan achieved the right to vote. Although there were limitations based on where she was born, her marital status and, in some cases, whether she owned property, it was still a major accomplishment for women’s groups that had been working since the 1880s for voting rights. Before this, women across Canada had uneven suffrage rights. Some cities allowed women to vote in municipal affairs or in special elections that were “women’s concerns” like school trustees. Only two years later, women got the right to vote federally as well (though again, with some limitations). On the range, women helped in branding, breaking horses and animal tending in addition to keeping house, managing food supplies and child rearing. This kind of work went against the strict gender roles of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries that claimed a woman’s place was only in the home. Some women used their ranch skills to pursue independence. In 1912, Calgary hosted the world’s best rodeo stars and western performers. It is hard to avoid using clichéd words like “fierce” and “independent” to describe these women who became popular vaudeville and rodeo stars. In joining troupes that travelled throughout North America and Europe, these women didn’t just break expected roles as wives and mothers, they smashed them. No small part of women rodeo stars’ audience appeal was to see women in unexpected situations. Bertha Blancett riding a bucking bronc to standstill was an exceptional sight for audiences worldwide. Of course, ranchers knew that women who lived on the range needed the same roping and riding skills as men as they worked on the range in addition to in the home. 10 INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD SUBCOMMITTEE
Women like Lucille Mulhall, Bertha Blancett and Flores LaDue were pioneers in the early-twentieth century rodeo and western performance scene. Their mix of skill and bravery helped them rise to the top of performance billings. Many performers had to balance their extraordinary day jobs with the gender expectations of the day. Women performers had to be tough enough to ride and bronc but, once on two feet instead of four, they were expected to be as feminine as the genteel ladies who lived in cities. This balance is reflected in their clothing, as most women performers did not want to wear skirts and ride sidesaddle. But if women performers wore pants, it took away from the spectacle. So came the “split skirt.” When standing, it looks as though women were wearing the smart skirts of the day, but upon closer inspection, it was really pants with rather wide legs that enabled them to ride and do tricks without compromising safety or femininity.
LUCILLE MULHALL Lucille Mulhall grew up on a ranch near Mulhall, Oklahoma. She was an excellent rider and roper who travelled to the United States performing in the Miller Bros 101 Wild West Show (where she met LaDue). She was among the first women rodeo contestants and a successful performer, but people had a hard time describing her. An Oklahoma City performance in front of then Vice-President Theodore Roosevelt changed that: he called her a “cowgirl” and the term finally stuck (it had been in use, but Roosevelt’s status helped the term gain prominence). Mulhall came to Calgary for the 1912 Stampede and, the following year, started her own “Wild West” travelling show. She was the first woman to manage such a show.
FLORES LADUE Flores LaDue grew up in a small Minnesota town, where she began riding horses and learning roping tricks at a very young age. In 1905, the 20-year-old left home to join Col. Fred T. Cummins Wild West Show and Indian Congress. She was a hit performer. At the first Stampede, she took home the title of world champion trick roper. Thanks in part to her success with the Texas Skip (where a performer spins a lassoo vertically and hops through the loop), she won the title two more times, retiring undefeated. She was married to Guy Weadick and helped him organize the Stampede and later, run their guest ranch that was outside of High River, Alberta.
Bertha Blancett Bertha Blancett was a true pioneer for women in western shows and rodeos. She was the first woman to compete in the bucking bronc competitions at Cheyenne’s Frontier Days. She toured with the Miller Bros. show with LaDue and Mulhall and was a stunt rider in early movies. In Calgary, she was the only one to enter all the women’s events. She won the relay race and placed in others, taking home $1,100 in prize money here (for comparison, an average teacher’s salary in 1912 was just over $500).
PROFILE 2019 11
MEET A NEW BREED OF ALBERTA LIVESTOCK PRODUCER
Jessica and Chris Fasoli, Owners of Bear and the Flower, Irricana, Alberta.
These two new farms are shaking things up—raising their animals their way and showing chefs and consumers how careful and humane production yields top-quality meat.
PORK PIONEERS AIM FOR INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATION By Kieran Brett & Laura Laing “I’ve always wanted to be a farmer.” These words, spoken by Christopher Fasoli four years ago, marked the start of Bear and the Flower, a pork producer located northeast of Calgary near Irricana. Since then, Bear and the Flower has emerged as one of the most innovative, ambitious and talked-about new farms in the province. As wife Jessica Fasoli explains, their farm is different from how most pork in Alberta is produced. Their pigs are raised outdoors on over 90 acres of paddock space on a recent farm expansion. It’s a lifestyle Fasoli believes is meeting the demands of today’s consumer. Still, getting the marketplace to pay attention wasn’t easy. “When I first talked to restaurants, outdoor-raised pork had a bad reputation for not being a consistent product,” says Fasoli. Still, they persisted. The couple feeds the pigs a diverse, scientifically-based ration of locally grown grains. By including flax, a portion of Bear and the Flower pork delivers the same amount of healthy Omega 3 fatty acids as a portion of fish. That’s now a key selling point. Every week the Fasolis receive a delivery of young pigs weighing around 50 lb. from their breeder near Three Hills. The pigs’ genetics have been carefully selected so they thrive 12 INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE & AGRI-FOOD SUBCOMMITTEE
outdoors and, once they’re at market weight, produce moist, flavourful pork. The key ingredient, however, is the care and attention they give their growing pigs. “When people have questions about our pigs and how they’re raised, I say, come out and see,” says Fasoli. “We have an open-gate policy. People cannot believe how friendly the pigs are, and it’s a chance to see just how different outdoor production is.” She explains they’d prefer to feed organic grains in the ration, but it’s been difficult to secure a dependable and large enough local supply. They’d like to start a grain farm of their own, to grow organic feed for Bear and the Flower pigs.
Jessica Fasoli, owner of Bear and the Flower, says their outdoor-raised pork is realizing great opportunity for the industry.
Red Seal Chef & Master Butcher Alex Ross of Harry’s Natural Meats says that providing his customers with meat raised by local producers who engage in best practices in animal welfare and sustainability is meeting the demand of today's consumer.
WHERE CONSUMERS CONNECT Nancy and Ray Nolan, owners of Lambtastic Farms, Vulcan, Alberta.
“Looking ahead, we see opportunity,” says Fasoli. “We could export, we could sell to large retailers and for that, we need outdoor production to be scalable. It’s there in our mission statement; we are all about transforming the pig industry.” The Calgary Stampede will showcase Bear and the Flower pork on Stampede Park for the first time in 2019. “We are thrilled and proud to be selling our pork on-park at the Calgary Stampede,” says Fasoli. “There is no better place to showcase our pork than at The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.”
CHEFS-TURNED-FARMERS SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON LAMB IN SW ALBERTA For a chef, London’s fine dining scene is as high-profile as it gets. For Nancy and Ray Nolan, working together in the five-star Dorchester Hotel in the UK capital represented a career high point. As glamourous as that was, agriculture was calling them home. Ray grew up on a sheep farm in Ireland, and Nancy on a beef cattle operation near Vulcan, Alberta. They moved to Calgary so they could work as chefs and help Nancy’s family on the farm. Later moving to Vulcan in 2013, the Nolans found themselves on fertile ground. Alberta’s local food scene was thriving, with a new generation of chefs passionate about local, natural meats. Consumers, meanwhile, wanted fresh new experiences. The couple founded Lambtastic Farms and began reaching out to chefs. Lambtastic meat was highly sought-after, and they fine-tuned their breeding and production to make lamb reliably available when chefs needed it. The business grew steadily from 50 ewes to today’s 300.
When Master Butcher and Red Seal Chef Alex Ross opened Harry’s Natural Meats in Calgary last year, he had a clear mission in mind. “Our concept was to only bring in product that was local, on the track to sustainable with a priority on animal welfare,” says Ross. Ross carries both Lambtastic and Bear and the Flower meat, and believes these upstart livestock producers are giving consumers what they increasingly want. “The Nolans do a great job at Lambtastic and I’ve never had better lamb. It’s in a league of its own compared to what you can get at a supermarket,” say Ross. “Bear and the Flower, they’re doing all they can to grow happy, healthy animals and you just can’t get a better product. I can translate all that to my customers.”
PROFILE 2019 13
Q &A
CHERIE COPITHORNE-BARNES
DIRECTOR, CALGARY STAMPEDE BOARD
By Honora Jackson Roe Cherie Copithorne-Barnes, Director, Calgary Stampede Board
The Agri-Food committee of the Calgary Stampede is dedicated to creating inspiring experiences and connection to agriculture. Every year, through the efforts of volunteers, these committees come up with new and exciting initiatives that build understanding between regional food producers and consumers. In late 2018, a new organizational structure was created within the Agriculture department of the Calgary Stampede. This structure involves the introduction of the Agri-Food committee, which is the lead committee under which the seven existing agricultural committees now reside. Rancher and Agvocate, Cherie Copithorne-Barnes, was recently appointed Director, Calgary Stampede Board. A champion for Canadian agriculture, for many years Cherie continues to bring knowledge and experience in the areas of sustainability, consumer communication, and strategic planning. Her roles as past chair of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, a member of the McDonald’s Sustainable Beef Project, and vice-chair of the Calgary Stampede International Agri-Food Subcommittee (IAC), will undoubtedly bring great insights and expertise to the new committee. We spoke to Cherie about the IAC regarding the committee’s vision, intentions, and goals and this is what she shared with us. 14 INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE & AGRI-FOOD SUBCOMMITTEE
WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE OF THE NEW AGRI-FOOD COMMITTEE AND WHAT ROLE WILL IT PLAY AT THE CALGARY STAMPEDE? “The Agri-Food committee is an amalgamation of the seven other main ag committees of Dairy, Beef, Swine, Sheep, Agriculture Education, Ag-tivity in the City and International Agri-Food. Each subcommittee is still responsible for its own strategic planning and program implementation, as well as what stories they wish to share with the community. The Agri-Food committee will encourage and promote communication amongst the subcommittees to create a more integrated and connected group of committees. By having the committees all under one umbrella so to speak and creating collaboration between them, it will reduce the competition for resources as well as streamline consistent messaging within the Agriculture department.”
Cherie Copithorne-Barnes gathers cattle on her family's ranch called CL Ranches located west of Calgary.
WHAT IS THE VISION OF THE AGRI-FOOD COMMITTEE? “Our main goal and vision is “to edutain.” This is a phrase coined by the Calgary Stampede from the two words educate and entertain. The idea is to create a safe and entertaining platform where consumers can learn the importance of the agriculture community and how large a part it plays in their daily lives. When the learning platforms are fun and interactive, it is much more likely for participants to remember what they have experienced and then share that message with other people. Through the seven subcommittees, the Agri-Food committee will continue to educate and inform the public while offering livestock producers the opportunity to showcase their livestock and industry.”
WHAT ROLE WILL THE AGRI-FOOD COMMITTEE PLAY IN BUILDING PUBLIC TRUST IN AGRICULTURE? “When it comes to public trust, telling the whole story, not just one side, is very important. If you are seen as hiding some parts of the truth to make your story appear more convincing, then the public will automatically distrust you. The topic of GMOs, for example, is such an important message to discuss openly with consumers. Our idea would be to showcase the technology that goes into creating GMOs and then discuss what the results of this technology are. It is critical that the consumer be allowed to decide for themselves on the message. If that message has been clear, collaborative and consistent, then the consumer will have facts, not assumptions, to base their opinion
from. By providing all available information and allowing consumers to make their own informed decisions from transparent and consistent messaging, the Agri-Food committee will continue to build trust with the public.”
WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC ROLES OF THE AGRI-FOOD COMMITTEE? “The IAC liaises directly with the Calgary Stampede Agriculture department to help the agricultural subcommittees develop work plans, increase collaboration and communication, as well as succession planning for the committees. They also involved with planning for the future of the committees by making sure they are sustainable.”
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR THE AGRI-FOOD COMMITTEE IN THE NEAR FUTURE? “Space is our biggest challenge. The Calgary Stampede is always growing and always looking for new and inspiring ways to connect to the community. As the organization grows, so will the magnitude at which it performs and the space to do that in will need to increase as well. This will come into the strategic planning as the Agri-Food committee gets started and plans for the future. These are exciting times in agriculture and I am thrilled to be a part of the Calgary Stampede and this collaborative initiative to help promote and build on the successes of our industry.”
PROFILE 2019 15
&
A COMMITMENT TO HARD WORK
PHOTO COURTESY OF RISDON FARMING LTD.
When it comes to grain production in Canada, today’s farming is high-tech with a focus on traceability and sustainability to help build credibility and confidence, not only in the global marketplace but with consumers here at home in Alberta as well. For Alberta grain farmers like Brooke Parker, this truth runs deep. After seven years at the wheel of Risdon Farming Ltd., Parker is focused on the future while staying true to her roots in the Strathmore area just outside of Calgary, where her family has been farming for generations. “Our farm is an amalgamation of my mom’s parents and my dad’s parents,” says Parker, whose maiden name is Risdon. “Now my husband Jesse and I are managing the operation.” It’s a common story of the family farm, where the traditional operation included husbands being supported by their wives in a variety of roles. “I would say that women have always worked on the farm and running an operation is sort of an extension of that,” says Parker, noting that her grandmothers made significant contributions to farm life, but their husbands were considered the farmers. “I meet people who say they want their daughters to meet me, so that I can show them it’s possible,” she adds. “But in my opinion, there is nothing stopping anybody from going into farming. If there is a barrier, just go over it.” One of the major barriers Parker says that does face young farmers today is the fact that it is very asset heavy. “That’s the hardest part of it,” she explains. “If you don’t have access to those kinds of assets, it’s very difficult to get started.” After growing up on the family farm, Parker studied Kinesiology at the University of Calgary, where she also pursued a career in speed skating. Originally a figure skater, she was once told by a coach, “‘Brooke, you’re athletic but not creative.’ So she kindly told me I needed a bigger rink and to try speed skating.” After borrowing her first pair of speed skates from the legendary (Olympic skater) Catriona Le May Doan, Parker was hooked, only retiring from the sport after sustaining a series of injuries. The legacy? A commitment to hard work and determination. “Your personality and your strengths carry over,” says Parker, explaining the connection between farming and speed skating.
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“If I’m not on a piece of equipment, I’ll pick rocks in the field. I’m not the type to sit there and watch.” This determination is key to her work at Risdon Farming, a majority grain farm with some pasture and hay land. “I like grain farming,” she explains. “There are always different obstacles getting thrown at you, especially on the marketing end. I think agriculture is all about trying to produce more, with less inputs. In general, the world is losing farm acres but we’re expected to produce more and more food as the population grows.” She notes that this past year has seen more fluctuation on grain prices—the most in recent memory. Combined with a really dry, hot season that resulted in their 2018 production being down by 30%, this uncertainty, she says, impacts her decisions on what to grow year over year. “It’s all about planning and organizing,” she says. “The seeding plan. Machinery. Labour. Inputs. It’s like every year you’re putting together a puzzle and the pieces of the puzzle are what varieties to grow, what inputs to use, where we are going to sell it and at what price.” Parker said they’ve grown yellow peas for four years now, as well as hard red wheat, some Canadian Prairie Spring wheat, malt barley, and canola. These crops are sold worldwide. “I do most of my planning through the winter, but you’re on the combine thinking about your rotation and what’s going to be next,” Parker says. These days, Canadian farming is high-tech with a focus on traceability and sustainability. For Parker, it’s about being able to provide the best product for the best price. “I love the traceability aspect,” she says. “We usually market to Rahr Malting Co., (who both produce and deliver malt to customers worldwide). We have to submit what we did to that crop before I can actually price anything to them. I like that. A lot of our wheat goes to Rogers in B.C. and we do traceability with them, too.” Parker says they are fortunate to have a large number of elevators locally, and strong relationships with buyers like Richardson Pioneer, Cargill, Viterra, Louis Dreyfus, GrainCorp and Patterson Grain.
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BY LISA SKIERKA
DETERMINATION
By providing more precise data on crop production, Parker is able to generate strong relationships with key customers. She explains that this builds credibility and confidence for buyers around the world looking to Canada for a top-quality product. “International markets mean everything to our farm,” she says. But farming is about more than profit and loss: It’s about the lifestyle and having strong rural roots. For Risdon Farming, this includes receiving the Calgary Stampede’s 2009 BMO Farm Family Award, which recognizes industry leaders’ contributions and commitment to agriculture and their communities. The award also acknowledges the demands of farming.
FARMING IN CANADA DID YOU KNOW? There are over 200,000 farms in Canada and over 70,000 farms in Alberta. Women comprise 28.7% of the farm operators in Canada. Women make up 30.8% of the farm operators in Alberta. Alberta is Canada’s second largest agriculture producer, making up 22% of Canada’s farm cash receipts.
“I never actually look at the clock—I’m not punching a time clock,” says Parker. “I’m always trying to figure out where we can move forward.”
The average age of farm operators in Alberta is 55.7 years.
Parker says she is happiest being outside with her hands in the dirt. Although she appreciates technical advances in agriculture—for example, the ability to check grain bins from a smart phone app—for her, it’s about good communication and working with good people while taking care of the land.
Only 8.5% of farmers in Alberta are under 35 years old.
“On my smart phone, I can access the markets anytime I want and make decisions over the phone. Even with my machinery and equipment, I can sign in right now and see where all of my machinery is. This is big for me in terms of data.” And although technology is improving efficiencies on her operation, the day-to-day work is still what’s most important to Parker.
“We are stewards of the land. We will only do what’s best for our land long-term. We want to pass it down through the generations and want it to be sustainable for years and years to come.” What keeps her up at night? Knowing that a lot of people don’t know where their food comes from. “As generations go by and as the percentage of the population actually involved in agriculture becomes less and less, people need to be able to trust where their food comes from,” she says. “It’s about helping people understand that food doesn’t come from the grocery store, and we need to keep that connection going. As farmers, we are making the best decisions we can for the health of the land—and for everybody.”
Crop production and beef ranching are the backbone of Canada’s agriculture industry. GDP for Alberta’s agriculture industry increased 13.6% to $3.7 billion in 2016, due in large part to increased crop production to 24.6 million tonnes. Just under half of farm operators in Alberta reported having an off-farm job in 2015, the second highest rate of off-farm work following British Columbia. Field crops make up 83% of the cropland in Alberta; hay makes up the other 17%. Canola is the leading field crop by area reported in Alberta, followed by spring wheat and barley.
With data from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca https://albertawater.com and https://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca Brooke Parker and husband Jesse Parker, along with their young children capture a photo moment in their canola field at Risdon Farming Ltd., Strathmore, Alberta.
PROFILE 2019 17
Photo by: Ebbie Hansen's Rocken Zen Rodeo
SIDESADDLE AT THE CALGARY STAMPEDE intro by Laura Laing
In a brought to life display of history, education and the role that women played in ranching in the West, for the first time ever, the 2018 Calgary Stampede entertained crowds in the Grandstand with women’s sidesaddle races. A form of riding where both legs are on one side of the horse, sidesaddle can be risky and a test of the rider’s balance and strength. Invented in the 1300s, sidesaddle was developed as a way to give women more freedom. With a sidesaddle, women were able to ride horses without a male companion. Before that, women needed to be escorted by a man—either behind him on a horse, or pulled in a carriage. Below is sidesaddle rider and ranch-raised Albertan, Cait Bascom’s personal account of the experience.
RISING TO THE OCCASION WITH GRACE AND GRIT by Cait Bascom
On April 17, 2018, I received an email asking, “Are you willing to join us racing sidesaddle down the track, after the chuckwagons during the Calgary Stampede?” My legs instantly started to shake. Was I excited, scared or in between? I called my Mother, Lee McLean, a seasoned and skilled rider who taught me the grace and grit skills needed to ride sidesaddle at a very young age.
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“You can do it! I’m in it too,” she said to me. From that April to July, I had very little sleep and a lot of horse racing dreams. Which horse? Which saddle? What would I wear? My husband and I took choosing my mount very seriously. Would we go for fast or safe? This is a hard call when you’re a competitive horsewoman, as winning is much more fun. I had to be honest with myself though. At sixteen, I was bringing in a sick cow with my grandpa when his young horse exploded. It ended his life as he knew it, and he has been bedridden ever since. Then, just a few years ago, my husband got bucked off. With broken ribs and a collapsed lung, he ended up in the hospital. I learned that it is way harder witnessing accidents than being the one in them, especially as these men have always guided me and kept me safe. What I knew for sure was that I needed to be brave and that I needed an honest horse. We all knew it was Jack. No race horse, Jack was born nineteen years ago in the Pregnant Mare Urine (PMU) Industry barn in Carnduff, Saskatchewan. He wasn’t eagerly awaited because of his pedigree, but rather for the urine his mother provided while in foal. He was purchased, along with two other herd mates by Raymond White of Eastend. He told us that Jack “was the most difficult of the bunch.” He said the other two were fast favourites, but one died of colic and the other, West Nile. Such is life on the ranch. Jack was a reactive colt, highly sensitive and he bucked. Raymond Photo by: Ebbie Hansen's Rocken Zen Rodeo
Photo by: Holly Nicoll had noticed while driving out to the horses that a young moose was hanging out with the group for a week. One day, Jack had his rear wedged into the corner of the fence, head way up, shaking, not willing to go into the brush. There must have been an incident, as to this day, he is not a fan of thick brush or trees or of moose, for that matter. Jack was a handful. He regularly sent one of the stickiest cowboys who started him into the dirt. Linda said, “Jack really liked Raymond, so I would make sure those two went out and loped circles, every night.” As a young man, my husband Lee worked on this ranch. He rode some of their horses and he and Raymond exchanged Jack for wages one summer. The rest is history. Jack wasn’t easy, he’d buck or run away as a youngster, but thousands of miles later, he became the go-to guy. Reliable, honest, fantastic with cattle and on the rope, he seemed the one to become a ladies’ sidesaddle horse. Now to figure out our tack. I had a custom sidesaddle tree but it was unfinished. The thought of adding the task of making my first saddle, along with training a horse to sidesaddle in three months, was too daunting. I had two other options: a new saddle from a world-renowned maker, or a saddle from 1885. Guess which one fit? I prayed the S.C. Gallup from Pueblo, Colorado, built the same year as the Riel Rebellion, would hold together. We had the rigging redone to be absolutely sure.
I had to become the cowboy when Lee was recovering from his accident. I’d be in tears, scared and exhausted, a bit lost on the pasture, and Jack would politely say in his own quiet way, “Mmm, Miss? The trailer is this way.” He’d swing his butt around and take me home. At the sidesaddle event, he became fondly known as “Middle of the Pack Jack,” because of his sheer try and consistent will to not finish last in the race. The surprise in this experience of being the first sidesaddle racers at the Calgary Stampede? It is the relationship I’ve built with the other ladies running. We had to dig very deep. The bravery, the grit, the constant media attention, along with the horsemanship and personal feelings we had to sit on or share. My whole life, I’ve dreamed of being a Stampede Queen or Princess. While that childhood dream was not to come true for me, I got the chance to represent western women in a whole new way. The Calgary Stampede will be hosting Sidesaddle Races again in 2019 on July 5 and 6, immediately following the chuckwagon races. Photo by: Ebbie Hansen's Rocken Zen Rodeo
Then, Jack and I got to work. We started training slowly, walking, trotting and strengthening our bodies. I worked on keeping him straight, building up my right leg, keeping my right shoulder back. We worked up to running on the pasture roads at night, against his little Welsh pony friend, to build confidence. Until one night, two weeks before our first race. Jack was dripping head-to-toe in sweat, a weird yellow soup draining from his nostrils, a wracking, heavy cough developing the next day. This was not good. We quickly hauled our horse to the vet. The verdict? A bacterial infection of the lungs. Two doses of strong antibiotic and at least two weeks’ rest was called for. This was really hard and I did a fair bit of crying. Do I back out? Do I tell anyone? Do I quickly need to train another horse? I was given an all-clear to start riding Jack four days before the first race on the circuit. “Don’t push him, let him run his chosen speed,” emphasized our vet. Then, while waiting in the parking lot at the busy clinic in town, two young moose trotted up the road and straight past Jack and I. If I’d have reached out with my hand, I would have touched them. Jack and I were both scared stiff, especially with his past history. We surely weren’t in moose country, but on the bald, dry prairie. I later researched the spiritual significance of the moose totem and read that a peaceful encounter gives calm, silent strength to female energy. It was exactly what I needed and later on, this strength became who we were in the group. It was magical. When asked by the media, what made me most proud of this Calgary Stampede experience, I replied in tears, “My horse!” Until that experience in the sidesaddle race, Jack has never gone to a parade, or a horse show, or a rodeo, let alone a big city. He went above and beyond for me, just as he did in the past when Photo by: Lorraine Hjalte Visual Communications
ABOUT CAIT BASCOM Cait started riding horses at the age of two with her family on their ranch just southwest of High River, Alberta. She learned the form of sidesaddle from her mother Lee McLean, as a little girl. Today, Cait still embraces the western lifestyle, living with her husband near Eastend, Saskatchewan. Cait also owns and operates her company Cattle Cait where she makes western fashion out of leather, metal, beads, fabric and paint, which she sells online and at markets throughout Western Canada. PROFILE 2019 19
MOTHER-DAUGHTER DUO BRIDGE THE GAP By Robin Galey
Debbie Lee and Danielle Lee work tirelessly to raise healthy animals and build public trust in agriculture and agri-food. Debbie Lee and Danielle Lee, mother-daughter farming duo from Springbank, are the third and fourth generation raising animals on the 300-acre farm west of Calgary. You might say farming is in their blood. Yet farm work is only part of what keeps this pair busy. They also spend many hours volunteering at events to educate non-farming folks about the life they were born into. Debbie’s grandfather started farming here in 1912, principally raising dairy cows. Her father, Eric Longeway and mother continued. “I grew up showing dairy cattle and 4H-ing at the Stampede, and I’ve always loved being around animals,” says Debbie. Only a true farmer turns 4-H into a verb. The family stopped milking jersey cows in the 90s, now focusing on a mixed operation: a small herd of commercial beef, a small flock of sheep, and an assortment of other animals. “We have mini-horses, goats, donkeys, chickens and such,” says Danielle, a dog barking in the background. Danielle grew up in her mother’s footsteps. She studied agriculture at the University of Alberta, and says she always wanted to farm. “It’s nice when we’re calving or lambing and you get to see a new life come into the world and know you’ve helped raise it,” says Danielle. “I really enjoy being with the animals and outside, working on the land.” Not everyone does. Danielle’s father Pat helps out, but has chosen a different career path. Debbie says she married “a city boy.” Danielle’s brother Jeffrey, helps on the farm as well. The mother-daughter team has mostly run the farm independently these past 10 years. “It’s a passion, not an occupation,” Debbie clarifies. Gender makes no difference, anyway. “There were always women farmers; my mother and grandmother worked in both the house and barn and they were just as much farmers as their husbands. I think you’ll see more women playing a major role. It’s great that we can all work together as equals,” says Debbie. For most families, running a farm would be enough, but Debbie and Danielle also volunteer many hours to support ag education. Debbie started young: “My dad was on the Dairy Committee and he was very outgoing. If he was milking a cow or working with animals, he always had a crowd of people around and was chatting with everyone. I grew up listening and watching and being proud to be able to talk to people one-on-one like my dad did.” Debbie was the first woman asked to join the Dairy Committee and also the first to chair it. Danielle grew up at the Stampede helping her mom, and is current chair. “We have a passion for the dairy industry and we think helping to keep it alive is important,” Danielle says.
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“ We’re proud to be involved in the Stampede and to be part of agriculture in Alberta,” says Debbie Lee. They are involved in the Calgary Stampede each summer, they support both the Dairy Classic and Aggie Days—events designed to provide Stampede visitors with a chance to interact with farm life; farm animals, and farm families. Dairy Classic is a project of the Dairy Subcommittee, where dairy producers from across Western Canada showcase their top quality dairy cattle. Aggie Days is a free program that connects farmers with city people, especially school children who want to learn more about how and by whom their food is produced. Danielle says she enjoys supporting this learning for others. Many of their friendly, personable animals travel to shows with them. Since they no longer have dairy cows, other farmers loan their animals for milking demonstrations. “The kids are impressed when they see the milk going into the milking machines, seeing that it comes from the cow and that it’s the same milk they drink at home—it always makes me smile,” Danielle says. Danielle Lee educates the crowds about agriculture at Aggie Days Debbie adds, “Millennials come up to me and say: ‘When we were kids, we used to come see you at Aggie Days, and now we’re bringing our kids to visit.’ It makes me feel good when people come and thank us for what we do.” Debbie and Danielle support other education activities, including Agtivity in the City and Giddy Up—an event that allows children with special needs to get up close and personal with the animals at the Stampede. Danielle was also the first woman chair of the Canadian Young Farmers Forum. “I’ve had some amazing opportunities, but pretty much all of it comes back to the Stampede. I wasn’t afraid to volunteer, to stick my hand up, to be involved in the industry,” Danielle says. She recognizes that she is surrounded by examples of strong women in agriculture. “Growing up at the Stampede, there were a lot of other influential women who stepped in to give their time and share their agriculture knowledge.” But she doesn’t have to go that far for a good example of what it takes to be a successful woman in agriculture. Her mom is usually just down the hall.
Supporting a Connection Through Animal Care and Experience By Bryn Lukowiak
Animals are the heartbeat of the Calgary Stampede. Every year, visitors swarm to the grounds from all corners of the world to see the menagerie of animals featured in both exhibition and competition. For a growing number of these visitors, it is often their first opportunity to see and visit firsthand with farm animals and livestock.
Animal Care Specialist Jennifer Woods, of Blackie, Alberta works closely with the Calgary Stampede to ensure that all animals in competition or exhibit have the highest level of care and wellbeing.
“We’re proud of our connection with animals,” says Kristina Barnes,
for team penning, I’m at the Nutrien Western Event Centre for unloading.
Communications Manager for Agriculture & Western Events at the
You’ll often see me riding my bike in the middle of the night in a ballcap,” she
Calgary Stampede. “Treating them with care and respect is part of how we
laughs.
celebrate our western heritage and values.” Animals at the Calgary Stampede are subject to diligent observation, In order to provide the best care possible, the Calgary Stampede is
monitoring and check-ups. “Just as their owners are dedicated to providing
fortunate to have the expertise of Jennifer Woods—a specialist in livestock
care and nourishment for their animals,” says Barnes, “we are committed to,
and animal care. Woods’ role is to oversee and audit activities throughout
and take pride in, providing the best and safest conditions possible.”
the Stampede to help ensure optimal animal care and safety. “We have the opportunity to continually review and evolve,” says Barnes. Hailing originally from Montana, Woods has been consulting for the
“We’re lucky to have a great relationship with the University of Calgary that
Stampede since 2010. Now a resident of Blackie, Alberta, Woods attended
brings researchers to Stampede Park and allows us to make science-based
Colorado State University where she obtained an undergrad in Animal
decisions on animal care, as well as an animal care advisory panel made up
Science before receiving her Masters in Veterinary Preventative Medicine
of independent industry experts to help guide our decisions.”
through Iowa State University Veterinary School. In her role at the Stampede, she works closely with the Stampede’s veterinary team to support a safe environment for all animals participating in exhibition and competition. “At the start of the year, we begin reviewing recommendations from what we observed in the prior year, changing or adjusting any policies that need it,” explains Woods. “The Stampede is always evolving and we make sure we customize policies and plans for every single animal event or exhibit. A lot of what I do is audit and assess the welfare of the animals. These assessments are based off of the Stampede’s own code of care, relevant codes of practice for the care and handling of animals and industry audit standards.” Part of Woods’ on-site support leading up to the 10 days of the Stampede includes meeting with barn bosses to review programming, and checking facilities as they are being set up—including the layout of pens and stalls in the barns. She stays on-park from the Wednesday before Sneak-a-Peek to the final Sunday of the Stampede. Every day you can be sure to find her checking facilities, assessing competitions, conducting walk-throughs, monitoring water and feed and overseeing animal arrivals and departures. “We receive animals around-the-clock during the Stampede,” explains Woods. “That means that if there’s a load of cattle coming in at 2 a.m.
“The Stampede has done a fantastic job of implementing recommendations,” says Woods. “They’ve really gone above and beyond with their care of animals and establishing themselves as accountable for animal health on the grounds. All animals coming into town, whether in competition or exhibit, are in the best shape they could be in.” As an industry leader in animal care, the Stampede sees the value in sharing information and learnings with the industry. For example, the Stampede has an animal care toolkit that is shared with other fairs and exhibitions, as well as modified rodeo rules that have been adopted by other large rodeos across North America. “Animal care at the Stampede is a team endeavour,” says Barnes, adding, “Having our volunteers, exhibitors, contestants and employees all work together alongside experts such as Woods ensures everything possible is done for the safety and wellbeing of the animals.”
PROFILE 2019 21
Ranching in Alberta A Legacy of Strong Pioneering Women By Rachel Herbert Photo C ourtesy
of the L oree fam
ily
Trail’s End Beef, a family-run ranch in the Porcupine Hills near Nanton, Alberta, continues its success under the leadership and legacy of woman rancher, Rachel Herbert. In the ranch’s fourth generation, Rachel shares the story of her ranch—it’s history and the inspiration of her ranching roots.
Living and Leading a Legacy of Ranching in Alberta “Crocuses!” My eight-year-old daughter and I exclaim together. Tucked inside on a -30° Celcius day, warming up after feeding the cows, we can sense each other’s longing for spring. We have just read the first line in the tattered Trail’s End Ranch Visitors Log and Guest Book that we have dug out of our special box of family papers: “April 7th, 1931—Opened House at Trail’s End. Constance and E.H. I took calves to Sunset Ranch, carried bed rolls and food. Stayed until the 9th. Most enjoyable trip, found the first crocuses.” In this land of dramatic seasons and lingering winters, crocuses are a sign of spring, proclaiming renewal, and optimism. They hold the same significance to the two of us girls today, as they did to my Granny and Great-Granny on that April day they rode to the hills in 1931. For today’s ranching families, like the generations before us, one thing we hold in common is that our lives are shaped and
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defined by the seasons and the land where we live and work. Another commonality is that women ranchers have often been the ones to pass on that deep sense of place. Women have been active players in the cattle industry since the first beef herds were introduced in Western Canada in the early 1880s. As comfortable on a horse as they were in the kitchen, independent and capable women have played a role in maintaining and sustaining our family ranch, and I know the same is true on neighbouring outfits. While family ranches survive, and indeed thrive on partnership, on our place, each generation of women has taken a turn at stewarding the Trail’s End Ranch house, the summer cabin that is the symbolic heart of our cattle ranch in the Porcupine Hills west of Nanton, Alberta. Our family’s ranching roots were put down when Fred Ings came west to play cowboy in 1881. After starting the wellknown OH Ranch (now owned by the Calgary Stampede) near Longview, Alberta, Ings moved to the Nanton area in 1903, where he established Sunset Ranch (sold in the late 30s), the Midway Ranch and Trail’s End, both still in the family today. Fred’s wife, Edith Ings, and their two daughters, Con and Mary, continued ranching after his death in 1936. Edith is celebrated in our family for her commitment to keeping the ranch intact after the devastating economic Depression. She ran a guest ranch at Trail’s End from the mid-30s to the mid50s. Many of the “dudes” were young British Commonwealth pilots who trained in southern Alberta during WWII. They spent their leave at Trail’s End, finding peace, respite, and fun. That same spirit is felt at the ranch today. My Granny wrote that her mother “made each day seem like a fairy tale. Her wonder and delight in nature and the beauty of the hills was a celebration of life.”
y of the Loree Photo courtes
Family
My own mother, Linda Loree, spent her youth at Trail’s End at her Granny, Edith’s, side. She saddled horses, led the dudes on rides, and tended the garden, all the while developing a deep love of the land. The cabin, where I spent idyllic summers as a child, is the same house that I now open up every spring to use as the base for our grass-fed beef operation while we graze the cattle in the hills.
One astute, American rancher, Gretel Ehrich, reflected: “Ranch work is a physical, and these days, economic strain. Being ‘at home on the range’ is a matter of vigor, self-reliance, and common sense. A person’s life is not a series of dramatic events for which he or she is applauded or exiled, but a slow accumulation of days, seasons, years, fleshed out by the generational weight of one’s family and anchored by a landbound sense of place.” I feel this “weight” myself, but there is no other burden I would want to bear. It is this connection to place that in our family, and in so many other ranching families in the West, keeps us resolved to pass along healthy land and our heritage to our children. Each generation does their part in holding the ranch together, for a similar purpose—to preserve and sustain the ranch for the future. I am proud to be a part of this living, working culture in the authentic heart of Alberta ranching country.
The latest incarnation of the ranch, our grass-fed beef business Trail’s End Beef, came to be as a collaboration between the third and fourth generations in the early 2000s. After raising her children in the city, Linda inherited her treasured piece of the ranch at the same time that I decided to return to my roots, spend a summer in the hills, and marry a handsome cowboy, Tyler Herbert. Our two young children are now the fifth generation to help run cattle at Trail’s End. We are teaching them that together we live, work, and play on the ranch. Just as we are devoted to nurturing a family with a deep connection to place, we are proud that our beef is raised as naturally now as when our children’s great-great grandfather ran cows on the open range in the late 1800s. We finish our cattle on the thriving grasslands that make up the ranch, and we sell that beef directly to customers who are looking for a connection to the land and family raising their food.
Photo by: Bri
This spring, when Avery and I head to the hills, we will shake out the old wool blankets and put them on the line to air, pick ourselves a bouquet of crocuses for the table, and then make a few notes in the guest book: “April 2019—Opened the House.”
Vos
Photo by: Jaimie Nelson
Photo by: Rachel Herbert
About Rachel Herbert With a legacy of strong women behind her, Rachel Herbert is the fourth generation of women to help lead their family-run ranch in the Porcupine Hills, near Nanton, Alberta—and she is hoping that her young daughter Avery, will be amongst the fifth. Rachel and her husband Tyler partner in the management of Trail’s End Beef, a “grass-fed and finished” approach to ranching that serves local customers in Calgary and the surrounding area. Together, along with their two young children, they carefully raise Red and Black Angus cattle on pasture until “the grass turns green” and they reach mature weight (roughly two years old, a year older than conventional feedlot beef). They butcher their beef product between July and October. Herbert is also the author of Ranching Women in Southern Alberta (2017), which Photo by: Lori Loree of Loree Photography
is based on her master’s thesis which uncovered the forgotten stories of women ranchers in Alberta’s history.
PROFILE 2019 23
ASK A
FARMER By Stephanie Ostermann
An informal survey of the search results for “#AskAFarmer” on Twitter shows that most of the time, the hashtag is used in posts made by agriculture advocates themselves, encouraging people to ask more questions before making statements about where food comes from. For the most part, food production is something of a mystery to the average person. In the best case scenario, people happily hold outdated, nostalgic notions of farming and never seek to learn anything more. In the worst, they easily fall prey to fake news style “facts” about large scale farming which points to faceless corporate villains who will do anything to make a buck. If the loudest voices online were to be believed, one might imagine taking up the Ask a Farmer post at
24 INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE & AGRI-FOOD SUBCOMMITTEE
Calgary Stampede’s Nutrien Ag-tivity in the City or the UFA Cattle Trail would be a task that filled the average food producer with dread. Instead, it provides insight into what the average person, far removed from the keyboard warriors on Twitter, believes about farming. For the past seven years, Blake Gamroth, lead of the Calgary Stampede Agri-Food committee’s Grain subcommittee, has been part of Nutrien Ag-tivity in the City, fielding questions from attendees who want to ask a farmer about where their food comes from. Gamroth says that often people believe that farming looks like it would have in the early 1900s. “You’ve got a dozen chickens and three milk cows, and you have a large garden to sustain your family, and you
probably have 160 acres of wheat growing in the back.” It’s also common, Gamroth says, for people to not have any idea of what to ask at all. Rarely are the questions about topics which tend to stir controversy online or in the media. “GMOs and pesticides rarely come up in conversation,” says Gamroth. “We don’t get a lot of those naysayers.” Ag-tivity in the City and the UFA Cattle Trail aren’t looking to court controversy, either. “We’re not after those people who believe they’re right and we’re wrong, because we’re never going to change their mind,” says Gamroth. Instead, these activities and exhibits seek visitors who want to become more informed.
“We want to give them the right information so that when stories in the media come out, they can say ‘Wait a minute. I don’t know if that’s necessarily true.’” What then, do people most often ask about? Gamroth says that attendees want to understand how. “How do you get from this kernel of wheat to my loaf of bread? How do oats become Cheerios™?” No particular group stands out as having the most interesting questions, either, though Gamroth says that mothers in their 30s are the most inquisitive. New Canadians are also frequent participants, having
a unique perspective on something that Western Canadians may take for granted. “New Canadians are just so proud to live in a country that can produce the food that they may have eaten in their home country,” says Gamroth. Of course, there’s more to be done. Gamroth says that in his volunteer role, there’s always a question of what more can be done to advocate for agriculture in the general population. Stampede has programs that connect people with farms, and Gamroth says it would be nice to see more participation. “People need to be able to sign up to go to a large scale farm. Because people think nostalgia, they think small, or they think of the farmer’s market, with fruits and veggies. In Alberta, we’re thousands of acres, large scale farms. We’re mostly cereals and oilseeds. We’re grain farmers.” Gamroth also sees classroom outreach programs as another opportunity. Typically aimed at elementary school children, he suggests that Ag in the Classroom initiatives for high school kids might be another way that volunteers can help spread awareness. Ultimately, the end goal for the Nutrien Ag-tivity in the City, UFA Cattle Trail, and similar programs, is straightforward. “We just want to connect people with farmers.”
PROFILE 2019 25
WE’RE GREATEST TOGETHER The volunteers of the International Agriculture & Agri-Food Subcommittee (IAC), along with six other agricultural subcommittees that reside under the Calgary Stampede Agri-Food committee; Dairy, Beef, Swine, Sheep, Ag-tivity in the City, and Agriculture Education, are proud of our efforts to provide connection and inspiring agricultural experiences. When it comes to our incredible industry of Agriculture we believe that—“We’re Greatest Together.”
Photo by: Loree Photography
26 INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE & AGRI-FOOD SUBCOMMITTEE
Photos courtesy of ShowChampions
PROFILE 2019 27
Driving you forward
Enabling our customer's success by providing practical and reliable equipment solutions and support.
cervusequipment.com
PROUD PARTNER
HATS OFF TO OUR SPONSORS! The International Agriculture & Agri-Food Subcommittee would like to recognize and thank the corporate sponsors who give their generous support. They assist us in promoting and celebrating the agriculture and agri-food industry.
2W Livestock Equipment Ltd. Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC)
Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Canadian Cattlemen The Beef Magazine
Alberta Barley Commission Cargill Alberta Beef Producers Cervus Equipment Alberta Canola Producers Commission
EnerSmart Building Systems Inc.
Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association
Feedlot Health Management Services Ltd.
Alberta Wheat Commission Fiera Capital Private Wealth BIXSco Inc. GrainsConnect Canada Bunge Loders Croklaan
Jackson Agri-Business Ltd. Lantz Farms Ltd. MLT Aikins LLP. ShowChampions Inc. Smart & Biggar Syngenta Canada Inc. T & E Ventures Inc. Truman Insurance Agency Inc. UFA Co-operative Ltd. Union Forage Ltd.
Hotel Arts Group
PROFILE 2019 29
Working with Canadian Farmers to Build a More Sustainable Future. That’s the journey we’re on at McDonald’s Canada, and why we’re working with Canadian Farmers and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) to help make it happen. Today we’re sourcing a portion of the beef* for our Angus burgers from Certified Sustainable farms/ranches, and in the future, it’ll be every burger served at McDonald’s® restaurants in Canada.
See the whole story at
McDsustainability.ca
*At least 30% of McDonald’s® Angus beef is from certified sustainable sources, according to the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) standards.
©2019 McDonald’s
Proud Sponsor of the Calgary Stampede