MFGA’s 7th Annual Regenerative Ag Conference

Our 7th Annual MFGA Conference - a 1.5 day event is being held November 12-13, 2024, Victoria Inn, Brandon, Mb. Our conference will feature national and international keynote speakers, an outstanding trade show with many opportunities to engage with vendors and a silent auction. As well, thanks to an exciting agreement with Holistic Management Canada, a free kids program will be offered to families attending the MFGA conference.

Agenda

MFGA 2024 REGENERATIVE AG CONFERENCE AGENDA
November 12-13, 2024
Victoria Inn, Brandon Mb

Updated Agenda: November 10, 2024

“OPEN MINDS - OPEN OPPORTUNITIES”

TUESDAY, November 12, 2024

10:00 AM – 1:00 PM: TRADESHOW SETUP & REGISTRATION

1:00 PM: CONFERENCE LAUNCH: Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director: Welcome & Land Acknowledgement

1:05-1:10 PM: Introductions/Today’s Agenda: MFGA Chair Mike Duguid

1:10 – 1:55 PM: John & Deanne Chuiko, CJ Ranching, NW Saskatchewan: Ranch Management: Open Minds and Open Fences

John & Deanne Chuiko ranch in Northwest Saskatchewan, along with their two children Matt & Rylee. They run a cow-calf and long yearling operation along a Provincial Forest, working as close to Mother Nature as they can. They manage their business using the Holistic Management framework to make financially, environmentally & socially sound decisions with a strong emphasis on forage management and Planned Grazing. The Chuikos are currently hosting a virtual fencing project for Saskatchewan Stock Growers and other partners that will finish the first year of two over the summer of 2024.They are always open to learning and finding new ways to make their lives and business better.

1:55 – 2:10 PM: Q&A KEYNOTES 1: John & Deanne Chuiko

2:10– 2:30 PM: BIODIVERSITY & REGEN AG: 2024 MFGA Bird Surveys on Nine MFGA Regen Ag Farms: Tim Poole, Habitat and Endangered Species, Wildlife Branch, Natural Resources and Northern Development, Manitoba Wildlife

2:30 – 3:00 PM: TRADE SHOW & COFFEE BREAK

3:00 – 3:45 PM: KEYNOTE 2: Holistic Management Canada Session: David Irvine

Presentation: THE NATURAL EVOLUTION OF FAMILIES LIVING ON THE LAND
How To Ensure Successful Farm and Ranch Transfers 

David Irvine’s presentation promises to be an inspiring and practical session that will focus on how to build trust within families; three critical tasks for successful succession; how to create open communication to ensure successful succession on the farm or ranch; the missing link to negotiating with your family; and how to talk about finances in the family. You will leave with a renewed perspective on life and what it means to truly come together as a family.

3:45 – 4:00 PM: Q&A Keynote 2: David Irvine

4:00 – 4:30 PM: Holistic Management Canada PRODUCER PANEL: How To Work Together and Make Effective Financial Decisions

Moderator: Bluesette Campbell, Holistic Management Canada Educator
Panelists:

Terry Keen farms with her family at Keen Seeds and Livestock near Kaleida, Manitoba. Their mission is to work in harmony with Mother Nature in a regenerative and symbiotic relationship, cultivating healthier soils and livestock for generations to come.

Kristelle Harper brings her passion for pasture improvement through grazing management to her family’s farm Circle H Farms near Brandon, MB. The farm is a regenerative, family run, beef seed stock operation focused on soil, plant and animal health.

Kris Egilson manages a 1600-acre ranch east of Langruth, Manitoba on the edge of beautiful Lake Manitoba. They run a regenerative cattle ranch with an intentional focus on soil health.

4:30 – 5:00 PM: Free Time: Refresh & Recharge

5:00 – 6:00 PM: ICE-BREAKER & NETWORKING EVENT –Mingle, mix & join other delegates for refreshments (cash bar) and a casual buffet-style dinner provided by MFGA (5:30 pm).

6:00 – 6:45 PM: KEYNOTE 3: Jenni Harris, White Oak Pastures, Bluffton, Georgia,

Virtual Presentation: “A Bold Return to Giving a Damn?” November 12, 2024.

Jenni Harris, Will's middle daughter, is a member of the fifth generation of the Harris family to tend cattle at White Oak Pastures. After living on the farm her entire life, Jenni went to Valdosta State University and earned a degree in Business Marketing, graduating in 2009. She remained intimately involved in the family business throughout her studies.

After graduating, Jenni set out to learn the industry. She moved to Atlanta where she interned at Buckhead Beef, a SYSCO company. She put in time in every department, from shipping and receiving to the cut shop, and was later hired to work as a sales associate.

In June of 2010, Jenni returned home to Early County to work for White Oak Pastures full time. As the Director of Marketing, Jenni spends her time focusing on the balance of ecommerce growth and wholesale relationships. Jenni is the proud mother of Jack and Lottie Harris and wife of Director of Specialty Products, Amber Harris. Jenni has appeared on many widely viewed media channels, including the Joe Rogan podcast.

6:45: Microphone questions for Jenni Harris (to be determined re: Zoom)

7:00 PM – 7:30 PM: MFGA NIGHT CONFERENCE KICK OFF:

MFGA WELCOME: Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director

MFGA Board/committee Introduction/Wall of Fame Announcement

Manitoba Association of Watersheds (MAW) In Manitoba: Learn more about MAW, PWCP: AAFC OFCAF: Lynda Nicol, Manitoba Association of Watersheds (MAW) Executive Director

University of Manitoba: LEAP Project overview: Michelle Carkner, UofM

Sponsor/Partner Video Profiles

7:30PM – 8:30 PM: - KEYNOTE 4: MFGA Fireside Chat: Jaime Elizondo, Real Wealth Ranching, Katy, Texas & Ryan Boyd, South Glanton Farms, Forrest, Manitoba.

For our 2024 MFGA Fireside Chat, we are super pleased to announce an in-person one on one conversation between Jaime Elizondo, and Ryan Boyd. The duo first connected while Boyd was on a Nuffield Scholarship journey in 2019, and the pair have stayed in touch as friends and colleagues ever since. The two colleagues will discuss Elizondo’s Total Grazing Program, highlighting key points around Adapted Genetics and Selection, Nutrition (when grazing), Optimal birthing season as well as a multitude of other topics that they drum up or freelance in the process of conversation between longtime friends with the full opportunity for audience interactions and questions as well.

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

DAY TWO: 2024 MFGA REGENERATIVE AG CONFERENCE

“OPEN MINDS-OPEN OPPORTUNITIES”

7:00 – 9:00 AM: Breakfast on your own

8:00 – 9:00 AM: TRADESHOW & REGISTRATION

9:00 AM: WELCOME: Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director: Land Acknowledgement.

9:05 am Mike Duguid, Morrison: Introductions/Today’s Agenda/Welcome Dignitaries.

9:10 – 9:20 AM: DignItary welcome

9:20 – 10:05 AM: KEYNOTE 5: Paul Overby, Wolford, North Dakota

Regenerative Crop Rotations: Passion or Profit?

Paul Overby is a leading-edge regenerative farmer, along with his wife Diane, from Wolford, ND. Field peas and sunflowers were the first crops added to a wheat/barley, flax rotation and now they plant eight crops per year and are experimenting with polycropping. Rotations are built mostly for ecological contributions along with economics. Overby began field zone management and no-till in 2005. They partnered with General Mills and ADM on regenerative ag pilot programs, helping farmers and businesses learn about regenerative ag. Stewardship and sharing with others are hallmarks of their farm. Overby is a supervisor for the Rolette County Soil Conservation District and serves on the ND SBARE New & Emerging Crops Committee, the NDSU Precision Ag and NDSU Ag Biosystems and Engineering Advisory Councils. He is a past board member of the Manitoba/North Dakota Zero-Till Farmers Association. Paul and Diane were recently selected as 2023 Rolette County Conservation Achievement Award recipients. Paul was recently selected as the National Conservation Professional of the Year by the Soil and Water Conservation Society at the International Conference this past summer of 2024.

10:05 – 10:15 AM: Q&A Keynote 5: Paul Overby

10:15 – 10:45 AM: TRADE SHOW & COFFEE BREAK

10:45 – 11:30 AM: KEYNOTE 6: Stuart Chutter, Melville, Saskatchewan

Presentation: Building Resilience in Agriculture: Manitoba Focus

Stuart Chutter works as the Senior Policy Analyst at Alberta’s Agriculture Financial Services Corporation’s Innovation Department. In this role, Stuart collaborates across various stakeholders involved in Alberta agriculture and business risk management (BRM) policy issues. This position is to act as a change agent to help deliver on AFSCs vision to build a strong, growing and diversified agriculture and agri-food sector in Alberta. Stuart will share what has been learned in Alberta with a focus on Manitoba’s potential in the same areas.

Outside of work Stuart manages 2560 acres of mostly perennial forages and has just added a 30-acre U-pick berry enterprise to his farm. Using the five principles of soil health – keeping the soil covered, minimizing disturbance, planting diversity, keeping a living root long in the season and integrating livestock – soil organic matter on his farm has increased from 2.8 per cent to 5.2 per cent over the past five years and the productivity and resilience of his farm during drought years has been apparent. For Stuart, diversity is the key to building soil health on his farm and building community in his network.

11:30 – 11:45: Q&A Keynote: Stuart Chutter

11:45 – 1:00 PM: LUNCH, TRADE SHOW, NETWORKING

1:00 – 2: 30 PM: GRAND FINALE: OPEN MINDS - OPEN OPPORTUNITIES KEYNOTE BREAKOUTS:

• John and Deanne Chuiko: topic

o MFGA Moderator: Arron Nerbas, Amber McNish

• Stuart Chutter

o MFGA Moderator: Paul Gregory, Jacques Saquet

• Paul Overby

o MFGA Moderator: Zach Grossart, Chelsi Beernaert

• Jaime Elizondo

o MFGA Moderator: Zack Koscielny, Sean Smith

2:30 PM – 3: 00 PM: Mike Duguid, Conference WRAP-UP, SILENT AUCTION

CEU Credits: Since 2018, we have applied for and received CEU credits at each conference. To learn about CEU credits, visit the Certified Crop Advisors website.

Featured Keynote Speakers

The 2024 MFGA Regen Ag Conference committee is pleased to announce our keynote speakers:

Will Harris, White Oak Pastures ; John and Deanne Chuiko, CJ Ranching ; Paul Overby, Wolford, ND, USA ; Stuart Chutter, Melville, SK; Jaime Elizondo, Real Wealth Ranching, Katy, TX, USA ; Ryan Boyd, South Glanton Farms, Forrest, MB ; Dave Irvine, Cochrane, AB

Producer Panels

1. Get registered - choose your fee and payment method

Secure your spot! This 1.5 day in-person event will be held at the Victoria Inn, Brandon, MB. All fees include a 2024 MFGA membership ($50 value). Because of limited spots, payment is non-refundable but is transferable.

REGISTRATION FEES: (plus GST, if applicable)
Single Registration: $325
Single Student Registration: $175
Farm Rate (two from same farm): $650
Tradeshow (includes Single Registration): $700

PAYMENT OPTIONS:
Payment is due at time of registration via Paypal (debit or credit) - you do not need a PayPal account! Please contact Chris if you need to pay by cheque or etransfer.

2. Reserve your hotel room

We have a block of rooms being held at:
Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre
3550 Victoria Ave. | Brandon, Manitoba | R7B 2R4

Conference Nightly Rates (plus taxes):
Single occupancy: $140.99 (no breakfast) or $150.99 (with 1 off-the-menu breakfast)
Double occupancy: $150.99 (no breakfast) or $160.99 (with 2 off-the-menu breakfasts)
Note: These rates are for Premier Double Queen (2 queen beds) and upgrades will incur fees.

Reserve by Oct 12, 2024
To get in on our block rate, call 204-725-1532 and provide the group name “MFGA Conference Attendees 2024” by October 12, 2024. Cancellation Policy: 48 hours prior to arrival. Check with Vic Inn for further cancelation details.

call here

Sponsorship & Tradeshow Opportunities

Conference Sponsorship Levels

Choose your MFGA Conference Support Level or CONSIDER BUNDLING (Annual Sponsor + Regen Ag Conference Sponsor) and save! BUNDLE BENEFITS OUTLINED HERE.

Platinum: $5,000 (BUNDLE $7,500)
• Profile via short video provided by you each day of the Conference
• Plus Gold Level Benefits
***BONUS: for funders and supporters above $10,000 per year:
MFGA led Media Release announcement of funding support; Opportunity for MFGA to reserve a table for your group when conference banquet held or provide waived attendance for up to three representatives when there is no banquet

Gold: $2,500 (BUNDLE $4,000)
• Trade Show Booth (includes 1 Conference Registration)
• Mentions and Extra recognition by Master of Ceremonies
• Plus Bronze Benefits

Silver: $2,000 (BUNDLE $2,500)
• 1 Conference Registration
• Plus Bronze Benefits

Bronze: $1,000 (BUNDLE $1,250)
• Logo on all pre-conference communications
• Logo on Regen Ag Conference and Resource* pages
• Logo on rotating PPT & signage

Sponsorship Payment

Please email chris@mfga.net to be invoiced.
By cheque (mail to/made out to):
Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association
c/o 145 Edstan Place, Selkirk, MB R1A 2E8
By debit or credit (through PayPal - you do NOT need a PayPal Account):
Fees reflected and vary by payment method.