by PAUL RAYNER

Hopes are that the most recent addition to the Farm Focus Weekend will help spark debate and discussion on rural depopulation.

The small farms conference planned for Boissevain School on February 24 is aptly named – Reversing the Trend. According to David M. Neufeld of the Turtle Mountain Community Development Corporation’s Agriculture Committee, the purpose of the endeavour is to get a few voices involved in taking a look at an issue on every small community’s mind.

“This is to step up discussion on how we as a community can inspire the re-population of rural areas,” Neufeld explained. “We wanted to get as many voices as possible.”

To this end, organizers have planned a day of speakers and workshops on the issues of re-population and farm profitability. The first speaker up is Laura Rance. The associate editor of Farmers Independent Weekly, and new editor of the Cooperator, has been involved in such conferences in Brandon. As Neufeld stated, she is passionate about re-populating rural areas. John Finnie, a Kenton area grain and bison farmer, who has worked to keep his operation small and profitable is up next, discussing how to re-incorporate adult children in the enterprise.

Part of adding voices is having responses. Neufeld said people have been chosen to respond to presenters to spark discussion. For example, with Finnie’s presentation, his daughter Tricia will respond, as well as locals Larry and Susan Black, who are experienced in the issue, being in the process of bringing son David into the farm fold.

After a lunch, the day will break into workshops. Different topics will be covered in hour and a half sessions. For example, there will be one with families already working on successful small farms. A second will be with community workers discussing inspiring communities and making agriculture more community friendly. Those, like Scott Struthers of MAFRI, who are involved in one side or the other of government policy, will be there to discuss barriers to rural development. A workshop will be held dealing with younger voices – how to keep the young in the community, and one on food security.

Those participating in the event have to choose one workshop, as they will run simultaneously in different classrooms in the school.

When the workshops are finished, keynote speaker Tom Henry, the editor of Small Farm Canada magazine will get the floor to talk about the state of small farms worldwide. The day will end with the major speakers joining Neufeld to discuss what will be of the biggest benefit to Boissevain and Morton in their re-population efforts.

Neufeld said they are trying to have some fun along with heavy discussion. In fact, part of that starts the night before with the dinner. Called Rural Flavours, it starts with a Mennonite theme supper by the Country Corner Café in Ninga, and continues on with the Boissevain School Choir, the comedy of first James Warnez and then Janet LaCroix, and performances by the Prairie Blend Trio and the Gum Boot Slap Dancers.

“I was inspired by the Homecoming Weekend on this,” Neufeld stated. “We had all of the local performers come back, and I was impressed. We have lots of talent here.”

The small farms conference is day two of an agricultural symposium at the school. Traditional Farm Focus precedes it on February 23.  It includes a trade fair of agriculturally related businesses, seminars on such topics as innovations in grazing, alternative land use services and understanding GPS.

As well, the winners of the Ag Committee’s Small Farms Challenge will be announced. A contest to come up with a viable small farm plan, the challenge has been a major effort of the committee, and the announcement is eagerly awaited. Neufeld said there were a number of good entries, with a total of around thirty participating. The winners have been chosen, with the grand prize winner being awarded $2,000 and four runners-up receiving $750 each. Each winner has received an all-expense paid trip to the small farm conference, and he hopes as many as possible make it to Farm Focus as well.

They will also have a new book, with a summary of the contest entrants, hot off the presses for the event.

“We’re putting on the final touches and it should be ready,” Neufeld stated. “There are great stories and dreams in it.”

He added he hopes registrations keep coming in for the conference and for the supper on Friday night.

Whether or not another conference is held on the topic in 2008 remains to be seen. Part of it will depend on people becoming enthused by the first one, and coming forward with ideas and a willingness to help out with another edition.

“Every committee needs new people and ideas. We’ll see how the community responds.”

In the end, Neufeld hopes Reversing the Trend will help spark discussion on smaller farms and rural re-population. Ideas exist on helping the situation, and more are needed.

“We need to see what’s possible,” he said, “and we won’t find out what that is without some crazy ideas.”