AgNow | June 2024

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JUNE 20, 2024

FEATURE STORY Gibson Farm providing perfect seasonal jobs See story on page 2

WES KEATING THE CARILLON

Everett Gibson can expect the first wave of pickers to visit their berry farm to be arriving any day now.

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WES KEATING THE CARILLON

Many of the fruit growers touring the Gibson Farm were envious of Everett’s irrigation system, pumping water from a deep well rather than a dugout. Gibson Farm provides a perfect seasonal job

by WES KEATING E verett Gibson lives in Winni- peg, but spends most of his summers taking care of busi- ness at Gibson Farm, three miles west of Ladywood, Manitoba. Everett’s father Brian works in Winnipeg, and he and his wife Patrice live on Gibson Farm, three miles west of Ladywood. It’s the best of both worlds for fa- ther and son in this joint enterprise. Brian Gibson grew up on a farm and always wanted to return to the rural life, so he went farm shopping with his son when Everett was looking for a change after a career in the mili- tary. When the owners of Fedora Farm decided to sell their berry farm in 2017, the Gibsons’ were more than ready to become the new owners. Today, Everett manages the farm, which has five acres of saskatoons, raspberries and haskap, along with a number of apple trees, acres of hay fields that produce bales for neigh- boring horse owners, and pastured poultry, which lay eggs to be sold to berry pickers. Everett says his egg production is on a “very small scale.” When berry pickers notice the hens, they some- times ask the Gibsons for fresh eggs. “We certainly are not in competi- tion with the egg-producers,” Gib- son chuckles. The most popular berry at Gibson Farm is the haskap. Years ago, this Japanese berry was not suitable to be grown in the Manitoba climate. Then the University of Saskatche- wan developed a few good, hardy varieties, growing alongside blue- berries, Gibson explains. The haskap, which is also known as the honey berry, looks like an elongated blueberry and its flavour is described as being a combination of raspberry and blueberry. It certainly has gained populari- ty with the pickers visiting Gibson Farm since Pine Ridge Hollow start- ed featuring the berry on its menu, Gibson says. “Five years ago, nobody had heard of haskap, and now everybody wants to pick it.” The variety of berries and apples at Gibson Farm spreads out the pick- ing season from June until Septem- ber. Fortunately, not all berries are ripe for picking at the same time, ac- cording to Everett. Haskaps are first, then saskatoons, then raspberries, and finally apples.

WES KEATING THE CARILLON It will be a few months yet before the store-bought apples in the bowl in Patrice Gibson’s kitchen can be replaced by apples from the trees on Gibson Farm.

WES KEATING THE CARILLON Romy Pamplona arrives from the Philippines every spring to help Everett take care of the berry bushes at Gibson Farm.

used in herbal teas, juices, wines and medicines. The higher water content of fresh goji berries dilutes the tart- ness, making it less like a cranberry in flavor, and more tomato-like. Everett told a recent group of Manitoba fruit growers touring his farm, that this was an ongoing learn- ing experience for him, but he was thoroughly enjoying his new career. When he left the military, he had the opportunity to return to universi- ty under a Veterans Affairs funding program. Gibson graduated from the University of Manitoba in 2022 with a Diploma in Agriculture. Now 47, Everett Gibson says he really enjoyed his university expe- rience and was comfortable going back to school, even though he was more than 20 years older than most of his classmates. In March, Everett again returned to the classroom, although this time it was to an elementary school, as a volunteer for Agriculture in the Classroom during Canadian Agricul- ture Literacy Month. Gibson shared his on-the-farm experience with a group of Grade 3 and 4 elementary students at Gimli, and shared stories about what farm- ers do to keep our water clean and the importance of taking care of the watershed by the agriculture indus- try and others for the benefit of all Manitobans.

shrubs and bushes. Labour at the farm includes fami- ly members and the welcome arrival of Romy Pamplona from the Philip- pines every spring. Romy goes back to his mixed farm in the Philippines for winter, when Everett returns to his off-season job with Rural Mani- toba Animal Control. Romy is a tremendous asset to Gibson Farm, and in spite of a bit of a language barrier, the two of them manage to handle maintenance chores efficiently, Everett says. “Romy knows more about tending berry bushes than I do, and he even brings along his buddies to help with new plantings in spring.” The seasonal change in occupa- tions suits them both very well, Ev- erett adds. The raspberries were es- tablished when the Gibsons moved to the farm, but all the other variet- ies of berries have been added since. And there is always something new on the horizon at Gibson Farm. In addition to constantly expand- ing the popular favorites, like the raspberry and haskap, new varieties are also being tried. The latest, just planted, are Aronea and Goji berries. Aronia berries, or chokeberries, are small, dark fruits that grow on shrubs. They are native to North America and traditionally were used by Native Americans as a cold reme- dy. The goji berry, which some brand a “super food”, can be eaten raw, cooked, or dried (like raisins) and is

ing, he said. “It is nice to see the kids and grandkids coming along to help with the picking. They all leave with pur- ple faces.” Customers can bring their own containers for picking, if they like, for the price here is based on the pound. Some come equipped with a cushion to kneel on and a cell phone to chat with other pickers. Last year, one group picked 100 pounds of sas- katoons, all the while talking to each other on their cell phones. People are looking for an experi- ence and want to get out of the city. The average age of Gibson Farm cus- tomers is probably 55-plus, Gibson said. Everett’s mother says her favorite customer is a woman who comes every year to pick raspberries. She claims if she doesn’t make raspberry jam, her husband has threatened to divorce her. The Gibsons try to make appoint- ments for pickers so there won’t be too many groups at a time. Three or four groups at a time is ideal, but any more than that and things get hectic, with pickers needing to be shown to the picking areas, while others are bringing their berries to be weighed. The farm had a fair number of strawberries when the Gibsons took over in 2017, but like the owners before them, they found it was just too much work and have since con- centrated only on berry-producing

The Gibsons have four varieties of apple trees, which, in the early years of establishment, are already bearing fruit. Honeycrisp, Norkent, Good- land and Prairie Sensation trees are all doing well in the sandy soil, com- mon in the Ladywood district. The apples are there for the pick- ing, and while a ladder is offered for the more adventurous picker, Everett says most are satisfied with sticking to the lower branches and purchasing pre-picked apples, from higher up the tree. Gibson Farm is mostly “U-Pick”, with whatever that is left over at the end of the season picked by the Gib- sons, to go into the freezer to be sold in bags. The farm is not big enough yet to have a mechanical harvester, Everett says. Some of their customers include those who pick wild berries in the area and come to the Gibsons’ farm when there are not enough wild blueberries and saskatoons avail- able. For many who come from the city, berry picking at the Gibson Farm is a stress reliever, and Everett says they have been working hard to make their farm a peaceful setting. They want it to be a place to come to spend a day in a quiet, park-like set- ting, away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Tables under the trees provide a perfect spot to relax and have a pic- nic lunch after a few hours of pick-

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COG PHOTO

Hemp in rotation provides a great control for weeds in this Saskatchewan field. Canadian Organic Growers expand program to prairies

by WES KEATING W hile Vita may not be the hub of organic farming in the country, it serves as a great home base for Dorthea Gregoire, who is the program manager for Ca- nadian Organic Growers in the prai- rie provinces. Gregoire says her main focus since joining the non-profit group a year ago, is to bring people together to ex- plore the possibility of expanding re- generative organic crop production in the western part of the country. At the same time, Canadian Or- ganic Growers is working with exist- ing organizations promoting regen- erative farming practises, she said. The province currently has only 150 certified organic growers, but her organization supports not only certified growers, but also those who would like to follow organic growing practices without immediately be- coming certified. Canadian Organic Growers is a national non-profit organization supporting organic, ecological, and regenerative farming practices, Gregoire explains. The focus is advo- cacy and education. Canadian Organic Growers deals with both large and small farms, and in Eastern Canada, organic produc- ers are marketing crops from as little as one or two acres. Gregoire, who had previously worked for the Seine/Rat/Roseau Watershed District for nine years, says her own background had a huge impact on her career choice. Growing up, her parents were or- ganic market gardeners in the 1990s, though they were not always cer- tified organic growers, ecology be- came a natural study path for her. Gregoire, who has a PHD in ento- mology from the University of New Brunswick, says she was happy to have had the opportunity to move back to Manitoba in 2013, when she was looking for a job in her field. She had already been working for the watershed district when she finished her thesis in 2015 and had been going back and forth to the Maritimes while completing her doctorate. Gregoire says that one of the great things about working here was that she had the flexibility to make the job her own. Aquatic invertebrates are her thing, and that fitted into the conservation and watershed dis- trict’s mandate of water quality.

COG PHOTO

COG PHOTO Alberta producer Randy Gubersky, a participant in a COG Regenerative Organic Oats project, takes a look at a no till garden in Saskatchewan.

Field day participants closely examine soil health in a borage field.

a decade, that led to Gregoire’s deci- sion to switch gears somewhat to become involved in a national pro- gram. Living in Vita, Gregoire is able to work remotely with teams based in Saskatchewan and Alberta. While many of the 7,000 organic growers are located in Eastern Canada, the organization was looking for some- one to work with growers in the Prai- rie Provinces. “The national program drew me. With the watershed district, my fo- cus was just Southeast Manitoba, and with COG, it is prairie-wide as part of a national program.” Canadian Organic Growers started expansion to the prairie provinces three years ago with a regenerative organic oats project in Saskatch- ewan and has since expanded to Alberta, and now has a presence in Manitoba as well. While, currently the program’s major focus is regenerative organ- ic oats, hemp is another crop that lends itself to regeneration and is grown organically. It does not need as much weed control, as the plants themselves are tall and choke out weed growth. “The big challenge for organic growers is not spraying and how to control weeds without pesticides or excessive tilling.” Gregoire is responsible for the Re- generative Organic Oats program in

That involved taking all the tech- nical info and using it on the ground to assist farmers, local governments and landowners in general. In her new position with Canadi- an Organic Growers, her expertise as an entomologist, will again prove to be most helpful, as the organization works on a social media campaign dispelling some of the myths about insects and arachnids that are so prevalent in this age of social media. It is important to have specific knowledge on insects and how they can be a benefit for gardeners, for they are not just pests to be eradicat- ed. Spiders, though not an insect, were always seen as an unwanted pest and were sprayed relentlessly. In the past, the rule of thumb was to spray everything, Gregoire said. That included the spider, which is helpful in destroying unwanted insects, was killed along with other good insects that aid in the growing process. People are not aware that wild bees nest in the ground and are con- stantly being killed by the spraying of crops, Gregoire added. Gregoire says she will be working with the COG team on the social me- dia campaign, offering her expertise as an entomologist. “Everything in my experience overlaps.” And it was her experience, working with the watershed district for nearly

WES KEATING THE CARILLON Dorthea Gregoire is able to work remotely from her home in Vita, as prairie provinces program director for Canadian Organic Growers.

nadian Organic Growers program are growing oats, but the program is open to other crop growers as well, Gregoire said. “There are lots of links between production, nutrient diversity, nu- trient density and health. People are interested in what they are eat- ing and the overlap between human health and animal health is becom- ing bigger and bigger.”

all of the prairie provinces. Organic oat growers are producing the cereal crop both for livestock feed as well as human consumption. It started as a pilot project, supported in part by one miller and two organic food brands in response to the growing trend of consumers wanting to know more about how their food is pro- duced. There is certainly more interest across the country, and currently all participants in the western Ca-

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WES KEATING THE CARILLON The guardian dog with Randy checks the driveway for unwanted visitors while Opus, the border collie, has an eye on the flock, as he waits for Mitch to give him the signal to begin herding the sheep.

Seine River Shepherds expands along with the growing market

and Solange, approached him, hav- ing decided to sell to sell their place. Mitch and his wife moved in in April of 2022. Mitch now has increased his flock to 330 ewes and would like to con- tinue expansion to 400. To that end, he has been holding back more ewe lambs and renting more land from the neighbors as Seine River Shep- herds keeps expanding. The flock being pasture-raised this summer numbers approximately 850, including 550 lambs. A 20-acre pasture is divided into a number of five to seven-acre parcels, fenced in with portable electric fences, to uti- lize rotational grazing. The rest of the land is put into hay or seeded to other crops. Seine River Shepherds is located on the long and narrow configura- tion of the traditional Manitoba river lot, which is not the best for mod- ern farming’s large crop production equipment. It is a comfortable set- up for the family-run sheep opera- tion, with the shared-use arrange- ment with a neighbor nearby. Land is rented from their neighbor for hay production, and after four or five years it is turned back to be seeded to crops. The neighbor is a grain farmer who grows cereal crops and oilseeds, and that makes it per- fect. In the paddock, along the drive- way where the flock is grazing, huge guardian dogs are ready to take care of any predators that may manage to elude the electric fence.

by WES KEATING A fter more than 35 years of rais- ing sheep, it may have become time to turn the page for Seine River Shepherds’ Randy Eros. Like most family agricultural enterprises, there comes a time when it becomes a matter of expanding with the next generation taking over, and retiring. Today, under the watchful eye of Mitch Eros, and a number of guard- ian dogs of course, the Ste Anne flock has indeed grown by the hundreds, but the senior Eros hasn’t exactly re- tired. Since his son Mitch decided to be- come a full-time sheep farmer and was able to buy the property right next door, Randy says he has be- come “cheap labour” at Seine River Shepherds. His still busy schedule includes time to pursue his other interests, like publishing and editing Sheep Canada magazine and serving as deputy reeve for the Rural Munic- ipality of Ste Anne. Mitch and his wife Anna, who teaches at a Steinbach elementary school, bought the farm from Rob- ert and Patricia Brisebois in April of 2022. Before that the Eros had been renting everything but the barn for years. Mitch says moving to the yard and the addition of the availability of the barn during lambing season makes it that much more feasible to grow the flock. First-time lambing ewes do so much better when they are separated from the rest of the ewes during lambing season, he ex- plained.

WES KEATING THE CARILLON Randy and Mitch Eros look over the latest issue of Sheep Canada, a magazine edited and published by Randy, which he purchased in July of 2022.

at the farm east of Ste Anne came in the fall of 2021 when the neighbors, who shared a driveway with Randy

the year. Now he devotes his energy to the farm year-round. The opportunity to live and work

Mitch had been working full-time at the farm from April to October and at an off farm job for the rest of

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SUPPLIED While Randy Eros is no longer modeling vests at St Norbert Farmers’ Market, a wide range of value added wool products are still available to be ordered on-line from the Seine River Shepherds website.

Domestic demand continues to grow Continued from page 4A

The price may be better in the eastern Ca- nadian market, especially at holiday times, but producers have to consider that the price has to be $30 to $40 a hundredweight better, just to cover shipping costs. When the father and son team is asked about their future plans for Seine River Shepherds, the answer is, “More of the same, only bigger.” For Mitch, that means more ewes, lambs and pasture land. For Randy that means more pages, more advertisers, and more subscribers for the next issue of Sheep Canada magazine.

is a much more practical way for them to direct market their products. Attending the farmers’ market every week meant someone had to stay at the farm to take care of things there. By providing value-added lamb and wool products direct to the customer, the Eros say they are better able to maintain their farm op- eration. At the same time, delivering small loads of lambs every week to the local auction marts is usually a more desirable marketing method than putting together semi-trailer loads with other producers to be shipped east.

the Grunthal or Winnipeg auctions. The ewes at Seine River are a good commer- cial cross of two breeds. There is the purebred Ile de France and the Canadian developed breed Rideau Arcott. The Ile de France is a terminal breed, with fast growing market lambs with good carcass- es and confirmation. The Rideau Arcott, on the other hand is a maternal breed, producing a lot of lambs. That makes Rideau Arcott espe- cially popular with shepherds, who often say the first lamb covers the cost of keeping the ewe. It’s the second lamb that puts money in the pocket of the shepherd. In addition to auction mart sales of lambs for both the meat and the finishers’ market Seine River Shepherds offers direct sales of cuts of lamb and whole lambs for the freezer. Their website has an order form and prices for whole lamb and all the favorite cuts like rack of lamb and leg of lamb. Lambs are ready from October to March, and Seine River will make arrangements to have whole lambs delivered to a butcher or have it cut and wrapped for customers While the Eros no longer market added-val- ue wool products at St Norbert Farmers’ Mar- ket during the summer months, Randy, Mitch and Solange still create a variety of items that are available to be ordered on-line from their website. Parkas, vests, mitts, hats, men’s and ladies’ slippers, and even infant booties, are displayed at seinerivershepherds.com. Randy says wholesale sales and on-line sales

Both Randy and Mitch say they haven’t had any predators in the last decade and so the dogs haven’t had much to do, beyond keeping watch. That’s probably a good thing, for most of the Eros’ dogs are young and still learning their role in guarding the sheep and warning of impending dangers. Randy says it takes three years before guard- ian dogs are mature enough to be worth any- thing. Before that, they don’t know what to bark at and just bark at everything. But the Eros suggest, just to be safe, photos should be taken from the other side of the fence. In addition to the guardian dogs, there are two border collies, one each for Randy and Mitch, to herd the sheep from pasture to pas- ture. Randy agrees it could be said the dogs are the other half of the farm’s cheap labor. Seine River lambs are mostly sold at the Grunthal Auction Mart or at a weekly auction in Winnipeg. Most are destined for an east- ern market, like Toronto, where lamb is most popular with restaurant goers and a favorite with newcomers to Canada. But even with an increase in production, Canadian producers cannot come close to meeting the domestic demand. Only 40 percent of lamb consumed in Can- ada is grown here, and that fact alone, augers well for the continued expansion of Seine Riv- er Shepherds and other Canadian sheep pro- ducers. In the past, close to 300 market lambs would go to a buyer in Western Manitoba. Now, that buyer still buys Seine River lambs, but from

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WES KEATING THE CARILLON Any predator that manages to get past the electric fence surrounding the pasture, will receive a rude welcome from these two.

n THE CARILLON STEINBACH, MAN. C6 n www.thecarillon.com THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2024 No place like home: A farm girl’s journey to resilience L ast November’s Manitoba Farm

ers that are going to restrict opportu- nities ahead of me. Never hesitate to stomp out your own path. As it was with my career, there are many times when you need to tap into your in- ner Fleetwood Mac, and “go your own way”. You must find your own method. Trust your instincts. Keep your values close, and most impor- tantly, believe in the unlimited po- tential of you.” In The Wizard of Oz , even Dorothy strayed from the path occasionally. She found herself in a field of pop- pies and fell asleep, leaving her and her friends exposed to an attack of the Wicked Witch of the West. “When you venture out on your own, you may stumble or find your- self in a slump, or even just stuck,” Ulmer said, quoting another chil- dren’s author, Dr. Suess, who wrote, “Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.” “I also subscribe to what Winston Churchill said, ‘When you find your- self going through hell, just keep go- ing.’ Trusting in the idea that your own personal capacity may be lim- itless is the key to keep thriving and prospering.” In her concluding remarks, Ulmer offered five guiding principles, re- flecting her journey and the wisdom she gleaned along the way. 1. Continue to find meaning in everything you do. Reflect on your higher purpose and let it guide you each, and every day. 2. Be prepared to stomp out your own yellow brick road. 3. See relevance in your life, through continuous learning with an open heart, and courage that will always help lead you forward. Re- member to find rewards for efforts within you, and not from things or people around you. 4. Avoid looking to wizards to fix your problems and stop listening to the witches in your brain, who seek to discourage you with their noise. Listen to these wise words of the wonderful Wizard of Oz, who said to Dorothy, “Always believe in who you are, and let no one stand in your way.” Let that be your “somewhere over the rainbow”. 5. When you get home, click your heels together three times, and think of the footprints that you contin- ue to leave in this world, and think about the people you care about ev- ery day, to help you remember there is no place like home.

defeat.” Transitioning from the literary realm, Ulmer reflected on her own journey of self-discovery and pro- fessional growth, drawing parallels between her own experiences and Dorothy’s journey, and how each challenge and milestone shaped who she is today. “I was that farm girl growing up in rural Saskatchewan with dreams of being in far off places and learned the importance of my meaning through my own personal journey,” she said. When the time came to go to col- lege, the anxiety set in. “There were huge expectations. I did what I always do, I stopped, I re- flected, took stock of what is around and within me. My mother instilled in me a very strong sense of values, compassion for others, and a survi- vor’s instinct. Growing up in a rural setting provided me with several role models on what it means to live a life that’s authentic, one with humility and one with transparency.” And the education she gained from life experience and formal ed- ucation granted her the knowledge and the skills to proceed. While her placements with RBC provided her with experience in the world of work, the tornado of change kept spinning. When that twister touched down on her own personal Oz, she set out on a journey where she learned many lessons that were comparable to Dorothy’s journey. “The very first of these lessons came early in Dorothy’s life when she decided to be open to the advice of others, which was to follow the yellow brick road. Opening yourself up to advice is important on any- one’s journey. Vibrancy is truly born out of collaboration.” Unexpected growth can be found in seeking the mentorship of others, she says. “As well as dealing with the unknown. I was someone who early on said, ‘I’m a prairie kid. I’m a farm kid. I’m not going to Toronto.’ Until one day, it actually happened, and we moved to Toronto as a family.” It was through that difficult fam- ily decision that she found an un- expected road to follow, a road that would lead her home again, and to opportunities that wouldn’t have been possible had she not taken that journey. “I find that by remaining open, I ensure that I am not wearing blind-

Women’s Conference welcomed keynote speaker, Kim Ulmer, RBC Regional President for Mani- toba, Saskatchewan, Nunavut, and Western Ontario. Amid her responsibilities of cu- rating positive experiences for both business and personal banking cli- ents, Ulmer’s heart remains rooted in the vast expanse of Manitoba’s fields and boundless skies, where she makes her home alongside her hus- band and son. Ulmer’s presentation, reflecting on her journey from the rolling hills of Saskatchewan to the vibrant city- scape of Sudbury and the awe-inspir- ing tundra of Canada’s north, echoed the sentiment that indeed, there is no place like home. Hailing from the farming land- scapes of Melville, Saskatchewan, Ul- mer said her upbringing instilled in her the values of family, friendship, and the profound connection to the land. Like Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz,” she embarked on a transfor- mative journey that began amidst the golden wheat fields of her youth, ultimately leading her down her own metaphorical yellow brick road. When Kim Ulmer looks back on her days of growing up in rural Sas- katchewan, she realizes her most important lessons were learned at home. “There really is no place like home. When Dorothy from The Wiz- ard of Oz whispered those immor- tal words, she knew what she was talking about,” Ulmer said, during a presentation that included listeners from all walks of life and agricultural backgrounds. “All it took was a perilous adven- ture filled with witches and wizards and flying monkeys for Dorothy to realize that. There’s a reason why a book that was written just over 125 years ago, and a film that followed 39 years later still resonates deeply within the world. And if you are like me, I watch it every Christmas and drive my husband absolutely banan- as.” Drawing inspiration from the L. Frank Baum classic, she explained the symbolic and historical depth within the beloved tale. ” The Wizard of Oz isn’t just a chil- dren’s story, but more of a reflection of the political themes of its time. Embedded within the book are alle- gorical representations of real-world

LORI PENNER THE CARILLON Kim Ulmer, RBC Regional President for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nunavut, and Western Ontario.

yellow brick road - representing the gold standard - the book critiques the promises and shortcomings of political leadership. “Ultimately, Dorothy’s uninten- tional defeat of the Wicked Witch of the West with water, reflects re- al-world issues such as drought and the struggles of farmers. The Wizard’s departure in a hot air balloon signi- fies the “hot air” of political rhetoric, leaving the Scarecrow - representing farmers - to govern Oz, while the Tin Woodsman assumes control in the East, mirroring a shift away from Wall Street’s influence. Meanwhile, the Cowardly Lion’s return to the forest symbolizes Bryan’s electoral

figures and movements, particularly Populism, a political ideology preva- lent in the 1890s Midwest. This movement was led by William Jennings Bryan, who accused the bankers of the time and the railroad barons of oppressing farmers and industrial workers.” “Oz” is a nod to the abbreviation for ounce, symbolizing gold, a stan- dard of wealth. Dorothy, hailing from populist Kansas, represents the common person. Her compan- ions - the Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman, and Cowardly Lion - symbolize the agricultural, industrial, and political classes, respectively. Through their journey along the

August 2, 2012

Well-rounded pilot is kept busy in ag industry

There is no question the system works, and works well. Fifty-five units have been produced by Kornelson’s crew and are out doing the job on large farms. Hutterite col- onies have tested the auger in live work and their feedback has resulted in modifications to a more ergonomic, efficient, and safer fi- nal model. In spite of his enthusiastic endorsement of the new auger, Kornelson says he is not in- volved in sales. He’s leaving that up to Sprin- gland’s marketing team. Kornelson will continue to operate his crop sprayer out of the Steinbach airport, which is also his home base for water-bombing oper- ations, shifting northward as the need arises. Kornelson points out that his role in fight- ing forest fires comes in the dropping of 800-gallon loads of fire-retardant. He works on the same fires as the water bombers, usu- ally in teams of four airplanes, he says. While fighting the fire in the Sandilands earlier this year, the three water-bombers got their water from White Mud Lake, but had to return to Gimli to refuel. Kornelson operated out of the Steinbach airport. Parking his plane at the Steinbach airport has given Kornelson the rare treat of meeting face-to-face a few of the people he helped this spring. Airplanes were included in the exhibits at the annual car show on the muse- um grounds in June and a couple came up to look at Kornelson’s plane. He said they shook his hand and thanked him for saving their home. “That’s something we seldom get to see, for usually our fire fighting is on remote north- ern Crown lands.”

by WES KEATING W hen Rick Kornelson quit build- ing airplanes a few of years ago, it seemed perfectly logical to him that manufacturing grain augers could be a per- fect substitute use for a converted hangar at his Ridge Road acreage southwest of Stein- bach. Kornelson flies water bombers to fight for- est fires, does crop spraying, and even ferries shipments of jet fuel up north for the me- di-vac unit, when winter roads are delayed and supplies run short. It’s not like the man needs to look for things to fill in his spare time. But, he says, he likes to keep busy and starting a new enterprise at 56 doesn’t worry him at all. “I’ve still got a few years left on my best-be- fore date.” It struck him as a rare opportunity when John Lepp, who owns the water bomber Kor- nelson flies, brought up the subject of man- ufacturing a 40-foot truck-loading auger to work in conjunction with a grain loading sys- tem his other company manufactures. Springland Manufacturing needed an au- ger that would be able to keep up with its un- der-floor sweep system in their bins. Sprin- gland developed a prototype of a portable truck-loading auger six or seven years ago, but dropped it, choosing to continue to spe- cialize in the under-floor bin units. Kornelson suggested to Lepp that because he was no longer building airplanes, Spring- land should let him manufacture the auger. Kornelson hired an engineer and spent the next two-and-a-half years in research and

SUBMITTED When Kornelson is not using this 800-gallon water bomber for dropping fire retardant on forest fires, he says his 1,400 horsepower turbo-prop airplane becomes the largest crop spraying plane in the world.

tested, tweaked, adjusted, tweaked some more, adjusted some more, and was finally put on display at Western Canada’s largest agricultural trade show in Regina, in June.

development to come up with a marketable product. This portable extension for Springland’s unique loading system has been prototyped,

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vesting done? You’re in control of your response, but you’re not in control of the weather.” Sanders calls stress physiologi- cal disharmony. “The gas pedal is the sympa- thetic nervous system. The para- sympathetic nervous system is the brake. And your heart is the gauge. That’s what HeartMath is all about. The greater medical com- munity thought that to become healthy, you want your heart rate to be like a metronome. Very con- sistent. Now we know that is not true. We do not want that. We want natural variation. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, your heart rate should be varied.” The heart and the brain are in constant communication, she adds. “The heart does most of the talking, and it speaks in rhythms. The info from the heart goes to the brain, which affects the way the brain functions: your memo- ry, choices, creativity, emotions, and relationships. Better brains become people who make wiser decisions.” The primary driver of all of this, she says. “This is something you can con- trol. But when you experience a negative emotion - fear, anger, worry, sadness, loneliness or wor- ry - the brain goes offline. You can’t think clearly. You can’t make decisions. You can’t solve prob- lems on your farm or in business. It’s like driving your internal car with one foot on each pedal. You’ll cause mechanical wear and tear, and breakdown in your systems. And your ride through life will not be fun.” But there is hope. “When we experience positive, renewing emotions, such as ap- preciation, care, love, peace, calm, excitement, we create a complete- ly different rhythm in our heart, and that rhythm gets sent to our brain. It optimizes brain function. You make wiser decisions. You can plan. We get to choose what’s hap- pening in our brains, by choosing our emotions,” Sanders asserts. “At the core of it all lies under- standing what stress truly is, its origins, and how it impacts us. Armed with this knowledge, farm- ers can reclaim control over their emotional well-being.”

by LORI PENNER A s anyone in the agricultural industry will attest, farming has its fair share of chal- lenges. But according to Louise Sanders, that doesn’t mean you have to be stressed out. As a stress management train- er and coach, and the founder of, “The Stress Experts”, she helps her clients become their own ‘stress expert’ by empowering them with scientific knowledge and practical skills to handle life’s challenges, big and small. In this way, her clients enjoy re- lief from symptoms of anxiety, de- pression, phobias and Post-trau- matic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Raised on a farm near Manitou, her journey from the fields to the clinic unveiled a profound truth – the importance of addressing stress in farming communities. The agricultural industry is rid- dled with stressors, aggravated by the unpredictable financial land- scape of farming and the profound sense of identity tied to the land. The uncertainty of the industry renders farmers susceptible to the whims of nature and market fluc- tuations. From consecutive years of poor yields to livestock epidem- ics and equipment breakdowns, each unforeseen setback inflicts profound financial strain, which can lead to a cycle of despair. “Stress is a human condition, that’s felt the same with every industry. But each industry has unique stressors. It’s about man- aging the emotional dysregulation that those stressors can produce,” Sanders says. “When you understand the ba- sics of stress and have some sim- ple, powerful tools to conquer stress anywhere, at any time, you can experience the benefits of in- creased resilience including less overwhelm and anxiety, more en- ergy, better sleep, and increased efficiency.” For Sanders, the mission is clear: equip farmers with the tools to nav- igate the turbulent seas of stress. Drawing from her background in physical therapy and complemen- tary therapies, she delved into the heart of stress management, seek- ing holistic solutions. Sanders utilizes a multifaceted approach, integrating scientific

LORI PENNER THE CARILLON Stress management trainer and coach Louise Sanders demonstrates a learning tool she uses to demonstrate the relationship between the emotions, the nervous system, and the hormone system.

choice, Sanders says. “The reason it doesn’t feel like you have a choice is because it’s become your habitual pattern of response. A negative response be- comes second nature.” In farming, stressors can include weather, finances, policies, la- bour, farm transitions, succession, or even little things like sour milk or a broken dish. Anything can be- come huge. “What if you can’t get the har-

control of. It’s something that’s external to us. Stress, on the other hand, is a negative or ineffective response to the event, situation, or circumstance. This is something you do have control over.” Stress is an internal response. When traffic is moving slow, the combine breaks down, or the cows are getting stuck in the mud… you think you don’t have a choice but to be angry, worried, confused or overwhelmed. But you do have a

insights with practical techniques. Collaborating with institutions like the Institute of HeartMath, she empowers farmers to harness the innate resilience within. “There’s a lot of misconceptions about stress, which makes the top- ic of stress, stressful. Everything nowadays is called stress. But there’s a difference between the stress and the stressor. A stressor is an event, circumstance, or sit- uation that you have little or no

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WES KEATING THE CARILLON

A huge four-wheel-drive John Deere tractor on tracks and a 60-foot air-seeder make short work of seeding on a field at Henervic Farms. Versatile soybean useful in wide range of products

by WES KEATING L yle Peters says he decided to become a farmer when his dream of playing hockey in the NHL died. He was in Grade 5 or 6 at the time. It turned out to be the smart career choice, for today he farms over 10,000 acres of soybeans, wheat, corn and canola and rais- es 75,000 pigs a year, along with three cousins as the third genera- tion at Henervic Farms. The question about career choice was one of many Peters fielded during a question and answer session following a virtu- al tour of his farm by elementary students earlier this spring. The popular Follow the Farmer series presented by Agriculture in the Classroom this spring fea- tured soybean production and Lyle Peters, of Henervic Farms. He outlined the history of the family farm before outlining the many uses for the most versatile soy- bean in a video for elementary students. Lyle and Karlee Peters farm over 10,000 acres with three cousins on a farm started when his grandfa- ther, Henry Peters, came to Can- ada from Russia, 75 years ago. Before the third generation took over Henervic Farms, the expand- ing hog and grain farm was run by Lyle’s father, Ed, and his brothers. Today, Lyle is in charge of the cropping operation of the farm, with approximately one-quarter of the acreage seeded to four dif- ferent crops in rotation every year. Last year, Henervic seeded 8,900 acres, with Peters taking care of what was done on the grain side while his cousins, Darryl, Jerome and Craig Sawatzky, handling the 5,000-sow, farrow-to-finish hog operation, raising 75,000 pigs. Lyle says the cropping opera- tion on the farm involves growing soybeans, corn, wheat and canola in rotation, with approximately one-quarter of the acreage seeded to each crop every year. This year, they have seeded 10,500 acres and expectations are for an increase to close to 13,000 acres by next year. The soybean, seeded at the end of May, is one of the most inter- esting crops in the rotation. It has small flowers which are self-polli- nated, and in addition, produces its own nitrogen. Seeds are coated for energy protection and to cre- ate a barrier against insects and bad bacteria in the soil. The co- lour of the seed assists the farmer in making sure seeding is being properly carried out, as well. That is most important when the crop is planted 72 rows at a time. After seeding, a roller drives the seeds into the ground and pushes down any loose stones that may be present. This process is most necessary, Peters explains in the video, as soybeans must be com- bined very close to the ground. The soybean is one of the most versatile crops in the Henervic crop rotation. It is used in a vari- ety of edibles like salad dressing, mayonnaise and margarine, and non-edible products like crayons, plastics, candles and lip balm. Soybean meal, created when soybeans are crushed for oil, is high in protein and very good for livestock feed. In fact, no part of the soybean plant is wasted. Soybeans pro- duce their own nitrogen, which is the main nutrient for all plants. After harvest, a disc is used to till the empty pods and plant residue back into the soil to provide addi- tional nitrogen for the next crop in the rotation. Soybeans flourish when there is lots of water and heat during the growing season. Nitrogen fixa- tion occurs when the plant draws nitrogen from the air. During the growing process, the soybean uses the nitrogen it needs and leaves some of the extra in the dirt for next year’s crop. The Follow the Farmer video show the plant, in its early stages,

HENERVIC FARMS PHOTO An aerial view of the Henervic farmyard, which has been home for generations of the Peters family since Henry Peters began farming in the Randolph area, 75 years ago.

creating pods. These will become brown and dried out by harvest time. Soybean seeds must be dry and very hard in order to pop out of the pods during harvest, Peters explains. Harvesting is a non-stop pro- cess, with the grain cart driving beside the combine to collect the grain from the hopper and then delivering it to a waiting semi-trailer. From there, the crop either goes into storage on the Henervic farmyard, or directly to the elevator. “Last year, all our soybeans were sold, but that doesn’t happen ev- ery year. It turned out to be a good decision for the farm, because the price later dropped from the $17 per bushel it was when we sold.” During a question period, fol- lowing the presentation of the video, Peters fielded a variety of questions from students. One youngster asked why soy- bean pods were furry and if they were good to eat. Peters explained the furry pod was a protection against insects. The seeds inside can be eaten, but are not very tasty, unlike garden peas in a pod. Peters went on to say soybeans are great when they are boiled in soup or sprinkled on a salad. The soybean producer had to get out his calculator when one of the students wanted to know how many soybeans Henervic pro- duced in a year. “Let’s see. Last year we harvest- ed 52,000 bushels of soybeans. There are 160,000 seeds per bush- el, so that adds up to 8.3 billion soybean seeds.” Peters told the students they would have to do their own math to find out what that crop was worth. He explained that in Cana- da, soybeans are sold by the tonne, but in the United States producers are paid by the bushel. He did say that growing soy- beans was worth the effort and combining was his most favorite part of the job. It is the most re- warding as well, as you get to see the reward for all the work that went into the year’s crop produc- tion, he added. “Everyone who has a garden knows that picking tomatoes is much more fun that weeding to- matoes.” An added bonus during harvest time is that today’s combine has all the creative comforts, includ- ing a fridge. The Peters children enjoy going along for a ride with their dad. On the other side of the coin, the hardest part of the job is when something breaks when the sun is shining and there is field work to be done, Peters said. “Fixing things for me is the worst, because I have no pa- tience. But as far as equipment is concerned, things have certain- ly changed since my grandfather farmed with horses.” The Henervic’s John Deere air seeder is 60 feet wide and seeds 72 rows at a time. A New Holland combine operates much the same

HENERVIC FARMS PHOTO

Lyle and Karlee Peters with sons Noah, 8, and Lucas, 4, enjoy a beautiful fall day at the family farm.

WES KEATING THE CARILLON

Myron Penner takes a short break to discuss seeding operations with Lyle Peters early in May.

as the threshing process was in the past, but of course, is huge compared to the machines of an earlier generation. The seeds are shaken out of the pods through a sieve with the empty pods return- ing to the field through the back of the machine. While the princi- ple is not much different, the size of combines has increased along with the size of fields being har- vested. And very likely, the versatility of the soybean grown in Canada has also changed with the times, as more uses for the plant are found, Peters said. “I read an article about soy- beans used for plastics in car parts and turned into toys. It’s hard to imagine that we may have grown some of the soybeans in the toys my kids played with.”

AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM Lyle Peters gives elementary school students get a close-up view of a soybean plant during a Follow the Farmer video.

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