Each farmer, food producer has a responsibility – And ours do it well
The week of September 21 to 26 was Farm and Food Awareness Week in Canada. A great time for various institutions, farms and others involved in the production of food to highlight this very basic industry.
For nigh on 43 years, my goal has, and still is today to create an awareness of agricultural and food production, but not only how we produce food, but that Canadian farmers, and farmers around the world create healthy, safe and cost effective food.
Also, that our farmers here in Canada are the best environmentalists, take care of the land they love, and contribute greatly to our communities and our economies.
In my preparation to our recent trip to Paraguay, I interviewed a lot of younger farmers, all of which warmed my innards because of how they love farming, how they take seriously what and how they grow, and of course manage that farm economically, production wise, and look after their families and employees.
When I sat down with Richard Heide of Hespler Farms Ltd. south of Winkler, MB who farms over 7,000 acres, potatoes, and other crops, one thing stuck out in my mind when I told his story in Paraguay. I asked Richard how he and his partner manage that many acres, intensive farming to boot. Every morning we sit down in our office for 30 minutes about, every employee and partner attends, to find out what the other person is doing.
While sometimes, a person or two may think it is boring, so often they’d flush out something that had happened affecting another person the next day, but this was a good time to make everyone aware. Not necessarily a big thing, but nevertheless, making a huge difference to several people that day.
Eldon Klippenstein at Altona, MB says it’s no secret that a farmer wants to make as much profit as possible, but not unruly, but so the land, environment, and family can sustain itself.
There are those who like to farm many acres and do so quite well, while others are happy to make the most of what they have, without going overboard and stressing out. It never ceases to amaze me how one family farm does so well on a smaller acreage, and another does well on a larger acreage, both having the same goal and principles making sure the land keeps improving, and people around the world keep getting their food.
There are those who believe we can keep teaching children agriculture in schools, keep spending advertising dollars to attempt at educating the masses where the food comes from. I’m all for it, if it works and we don’t spend time and money aimlessly. On the other hand, as I once said about two separate entities when I attended the University of Manitoba from 1969 – 1971, one has the dollar to spend widely attracting people, while the other could only do it by word of mouth and how good it really tastes.
The first year, I’d like to stop at Paul’s Hamburgers on Pembina highway, as I left my day of classes, and two hamburgers for a buck wasn’t all that bad. I never suffered food poisoning and survived nicely. Along comes the Golden Arch, not far from Paul’s, whether the food was any better or not, they took over the market from Paul’s, and I was proof of it. It didn’t take long, Paul’s for whatever reason, discouraged by the advertising blitz, a lack of loyal customers, soon hung up a for-sale sign. And the rest they say is history.
My point is this – farmers and farms, whether poultry, cattle ranches, dairy, hog farms, or grain and special crops, must do their work in such a way, that should anyone stop by wanting to see it, should have nothing to hide, making sure they follow good principles and stewardship they and others can be proud of.
While Farm and Food Awareness passed, you may not be able to take in some planned event, but should you want to take a tour of a farm, let me know, I will arrange it real quick.
Case in point, John Unger of Paraguay, who attended one of our seminars in his home country, asked me whether he could visit a dairy farm in Manitoba. On Labor Day Monday, he and I spent two hours with David Wiens of Skyline Dairies near Grunthal, MB.  As we left, he says, “Harry, that was an awesome tour. The dairy is clean and managed properly.” I know David knew we were coming, but he changed nothing from his day-to-day operations. That’s what I’m talking about.  •