Cariboo Meat Up: Strengthening Local Food Systems and Climate Resilience

The BC Climate Agri-Solutions Fund (CAF) provides funding to help farmers tackle climate change by adopting beneficial managing practices (BMPs) in three specific areas: Nitrogen Management, Cover Cropping and Rotational Grazing. CAF is funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the On-Farm Climate Action Fund and delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.

Climate Agri-Solutions Fund via IAF

Learn about rotational grazing, emergency preparedness, climate resilience and more!

1250 Western Ave

The <a href="https://h" title="https://h" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Small-Scale Meat Producers Association </a>and <a href="https://www.wlspc.ca/community-food-hub.html" title="https://www.wlspc.ca/community-food-hub.html" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Central Cariboo Community Food Hub </a>invites TRU students, faculty, and local livestock producers to a fun and informative day of presentations, discussions and Q&amp;As on a range of timely topics including rotational grazing, farmgate licences, emergency preparedness and climate resilience. There will also be demonstrations and opportunties for hands-on learning with new technologies and tools that can help you reach your goals for your operation. <a href="https://store.am.gallagher.com/am/ca/en_CA/animal-management/electric-fencing/c/electric-fencing" title="https://store.am.gallagher.com/am/ca/en_CA/animal-management/electric-fencing/c/electric-fencing" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Gallagher Fencing Systems</a> will be on hand to show you some of the latest and greatest in electric fencing technologies. We'll have electric <a href="https://ubco.com/" title="https://ubco.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">UBCO utility bikes</a> for you to test ride. And we'll be touring one of the new SSMPA Slaughter Trailers.Browse the information and trade tables and visit with folks from the <a href="https://bcforagecouncil.wordpress.com/" title="https://bcforagecouncil.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">BC Forage Council</a>, <a href="https://youngagrarians.org/" title="https://youngagrarians.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Young Agrarians</a>' Land Matcher &amp; Coop Programs, Ministry of Agriculture &amp; Food, <a href="https://www.cfdccariboo.com/" title="https://www.cfdccariboo.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Community Futures</a>- Lauren Bedford: Agriculture Business Liaison, Matt Henderson- UNBC, Cariboo Cattlemen’s Association, <a href="https://bcinvasives.ca/" title="https://bcinvasives.ca/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Invasive Species BC</a>, Gallagher Fencing, Timeless T-posts/Timeless Brace Systems, SSMPA, <a href="https://www.tru.ca/williamslake/programs/regenerative-agriculture.html" title="https://www.tru.ca/williamslake/programs/regenerative-agriculture.html" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">TRU Regenerative Ag</a>, and the Central Cariboo Community Food Hub. The day will be followed by the opportunity to network at a casual pub night at Boston Pizza (please <a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/cariboo-happy-hour-meat-up-tickets-861259840367" title="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/cariboo-happy-hour-meat-up-tickets-861259840367" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">click here</a> to register for the pub night so we know how many tables to reserve!). The event will be held inside the campus gymnasium. A light breakfast and lunch with refreshments is included for participants. Presentations/Panels &amp; Discussion Topics Principles of Rotational Grazing Rotational grazing is a management practice that can bring benefits to your operation including improved soil health &amp; water holding capacity, reduced costs, ecosystem services and more. In this session, we will discuss the principles and benefits of rotational grazing, electric fencing and other infrastructure options, as well as funding and learning opportunities. Farmgate Licenses: A Path to Growth for Small-Scale Meat Producers New meat inspection regulation greatly expanded opportunities for on-farm slaughter in October 2021. We’ll lay out the facts, dive into lessons learned, bust some myths, talk about insurance, discuss the business and economics of Farmgate facilities and look at some exciting examples of how this opportunity is being used to help meat producers and processors scale their businesses. Emergency Preparedness: A Look Back and a Glance ForwardThis session will take a look back at what has worked to effectively safeguard agricultural workers and their enterprises, effectively ensuring ongoing operations and minimal disruption to the agricultural food chain. Climate Resilience through Livestock ProductionThe best time to prepare for challenging weather is BEFORE you find yourself and your livestock in an emergency. In this session we will discuss how beneficial management practices like rotational grazing can build resilience into your operation and help to reverse the impacts of climate change. We’ll dive into the carbon cycle and how well-managed grazing can actually be a valuable carbon sink. We will also discuss systems you can implement to care for your livestock during heat, wildfires, drought, cold and other extreme weather events. Speakers and Panelists Tristan Banwell, PresenterTristan manages Spray Creek Ranch, a regenerative, organic, diversified farm in the Northern St'at'imc Territory near Lillooet, BC. Together with his wife Aubyn and their team, he rotates cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry across irrigated pastures and rugged rangelands along the mighty Fraser River in a resilient agroecological system. He has a Farmgate Plus poultry abattoir and is also developing Maverick Meats, which will be an on-farm Provincially Inspected abattoir, to shorten his supply chain and serve other producers as they build their own direct marketing enterprises. Tristan is a founding member and President of the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association and a grazing mentor with the Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association and Farmers for Climate Solutions Mentorship Programs. From rotational grazing webinars to hands-on fencing training, virtual field days to on-farm events, Tristan has a gift for sharing his expertise in a relatable way.Brent Smith, PresenterBrent has been the Team Lead for the Agri-Food Compliance and Enforcement Program since it's inception in 2022, having joined the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in 2013. Prior to joining MAF, he was a Conservation Officer in various posts in British Columbia for over 20 years and also a Federal Fisheries Officer on the Central Coast of BC. He lives in Armstrong BC, enjoy many outdoor pursuits in BC and Alberta, and run 2 crazy springer spaniels while chasing birds in the prairies.Agri-Food Compliance and Enforcement Program (ACEP) is the licensing and inspection lead for the BC Farmgate slaughter program. ACEP handles licensing applications, works with producers to assist in licensing, conducts the initial Farmgate licensing inspection, and conducts annual Farmgate licensing inspections on all Farmgate slaughter licensees.Julia Smith, PresenterJulia has 14 years of farming experience including raising hogs, cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese and has owned and operated a butcher shop where she processed and direct-marketed meat from her own farm and from other local producers. She now owns Blue Sky Ranch in Nlaka'pamux territory near Merritt where she practices rotational grazing completely off-grid in a challenging, brittle environment. She is a founding member and past President of the Small-Scale Meat Producers where she now serves as Executive Director. She is a grazing mentor with the Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association and Farmers for Climate Solutions Mentorship Programs. In addition to her work with SSMPA, Julia is a director with Farmers for Climate Solutions and past Vice-President of Policy for the National Farmers Union where she now chairs the Livestock Committee.Reg Steward, PresenterReg will be joining us with his wealth of experience to talk more on emergency preparedness, taking us through his session at what has worked to effectively safeguard agricultural workers and their enterprises, and in turn effectively ensuring ongoing operations and minimal disruption to the agricultural food chain.Reg is the Owner/Operator of Buffalo Creek Consulting, a BC provincial ranching consultant, specialist for FARSHA/AgSafe BC, a regional safety consultant for the Cariboo/Chilcotin/Peace River area, instructor for FarmMedic, Farm rescue instructor for fire rescue and response personnel and a working day and contract cowboy/range rider. Reg was also the rancher liaison for the CRD emergency operations in the 2017 fire season.Joseph Moilliet, PanelistJoseph is a fourth generation rancher, born and raised on his family’s ranch, Aveley Ranch, in the Upper North Thompson Valley, he has a wealth of experience producing dual purpose sheep in a pasture based system.Joseph has worked with sheep for the majority of his 34 years and has a focused passion for the land, enhancing its natural ecosystems, and is a self described “Regenerative Rancher”. He has also brought diversification to Aveley Ranch in the form of beef cattle, pastured pork, market gardens, and agro-forestry programs. Joseph comes with in depth experience from direct to consumer marketing of meat and products grown on farm, as well as sales to commodity markets.David Zirnhelt, PanelistDavid will be sitting on our panels for Climate Resilience and Regenerative Agriculture with his wealth of experience running his ranch for the past 50 years, working as the Minister of Agriculture, currently standing as the president for the Cariboo Cattlemen’s Association, Director for the BC Forage Council, Director at the BC Farm Industry Board, member at the Cariboo Agriculture Advisory Committee for the CRD, and Instructor for TRU’s regenerative Agriculture program.Steve Meggait, PanelistSteve is a 4th generation farmer in Armstrong, BC. He’s the owner of Fresh Valley Farms, a family run farming and direct marketing business that produces pasture raised beef, pork and chicken. Steve manages over 300 acres of crop lands and mountainside pasture where he produces pork, beef, eggs and broiler chickens in an outdoor pasture system. He has a Provincially Inspected chicken abattoir and a Farmgate Plus licence to process pork. He is passionate about working to increase meat processing capacity in his community and supporting other communities to do the same through Small-Scale Meat Producers’ projects. Steve is an SSMPA founding member and Vice-President and a grazing mentor with the Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association and Farmers for Climate Solutions Mentorship Programs.Florian and Minette Laffer, PanelistsFlorian and Minette, along with their three kids, live in Horsefly on their farm, Elska Acres. They strive to grow nutrient dense food while implementing practices to protect the land for a sustainable future. Florian was raised next door on his parent’s ranch, Sunshine Ranch, where he grew up raising cattle and working in the family butcher shop. Today, they get to work together as a family and take pride in producing ethically raised meat, pastured pork and grass fed and finished beef. They value that their Farmgate Plus license removes systemic barriers as meat producers and allows them to be part of the product process from start to finishHolley Yorston, PanelistHolley is the eldest of three, and a fourth generation farmer raised on the Australian Ranch, just south of Quesnel. The Australian Ranch is a cow/calf operation, grows forage, practices cover cropping, and hosts a yearly corn maze for their local community.As a kid, Holley could be found standing on a 5 gallon bucket picking dirt lumps off of a potato grading table, or hunched over picking roots/rocks, but mostly sprinting after or dodging cattle. Growing up in farm work and 4H, Holley spent most of her summers moving irrigation lines and driving swathers. She moved on from the farm after high school to work in the range department in the ministry of forest in Quesnel and Williams Lake for some years, while still working on the farm on weekends and some evenings, from there she went on to pursue education in Nutrition and Food Science which led to her working for a lab. Today Holley is back and fully involved on the ranch working on irrigation projects, grazing/cropping systems, and building up their raw dog food business.Michelle Schaeffer, PanelistMichelle was born and raised just outside of Kamloops, British Columbia. After completing her post-secondary education in physical geography and environmental studies, she moved to northeast BC where she has been living since 2006. Michelle is a first generation farmer and with her young family they are raising layers, turkeys, hogs, beef, and honey bees north of Fort St. John at Whiskey Creek Ranch. They are licensed to process their poultry on-farm, and their on-farm commercial kitchen and market garden supports local retail markets as a regional hub for processing soft fruits and field vegetables and value-adding goods for retail sales. Professionally, Michelle is a practicing Professional Agrologist and has been working privately and within provincial Crown corporations in the resource industry on vegetation, soils, and groundwater management for over fifteen years. Michelle is a founding member and Secretary of the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association and a grazing mentor with the Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association and Farmers for Climate Solutions Mentorship Programs. Locally, Michelle is an active member of and fills various Board positions for a number of her local community and/or agricultural organizations.---This event is supported by the <a href="https://www.wlspc.ca/community-food-hub.html" title="https://www.wlspc.ca/community-food-hub.html" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Central Cariboo Community Food Hub</a> and <a href="https://www.bccaf.ca." title="https://www.bccaf.ca." target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">BC Climate Agri-Solutions Fund (BCCAF)</a>. Funding for BCCAF has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – On-Farm Climate Action Fund. BCCAF is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation.

Agenda

8:30 am: Registration and coffee

Welcome, Food Hub,  TRU Regenerative Ag, SSMPA , and Ag Safe Introductions

Regenerative Agriculture Opportunities and Perils 

Coffee Break

Farmgate Licenses: A Path to Growth for Small-Scale Meat Producers

Lunch and networking: Round Table Discussions

Presentation Agriculture Land Reserve Policy Review, UNBC

TRU Regenerative Agriculture Program and student book report

Ag Safe - Emergency Preparedness: A Look Back and a Glance Forward

SSMPA Building Climate Resilience through Regenerative Agriculture Practices

Closing remarks, networking, browsing tables and vendors

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