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Cultivating Trust Conference 2024

February 8, 2024 @ 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Location: Saskatoon, SK

Assessing the Opportunities

Each year, Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan brings people together from across the agricultural spectrum to connect with other leaders and discuss how to move our industry forward.

This year’s conference was about assessing the opportunities for our industry. We were pleased to welcome a slate of fantastic speakers for 2024:

  • Joel Peru, Director of Irrigation Development for Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency, gave an overview of irrigation development in Saskatchewan
  • A panel of producers and policy makers discussed the implications of irrigation development for different ag sectors and communities in our province:
    • Jillian Brown, Executive Director of Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Association
    • Dan Erlandson, Farmer at Spring Creek Gardens
    • Julie-Anne Howe, Rancher and Beekeeper at Bar Over HC Livestock and Howe Coulee Charolais
  • Communications professional Lauren Sergy provided a keynote presentation on how we can work collaboratively to connect with consumers and build trust in our industry
  • Stephanie Clovechok from Discover Saskatoon presented a perspective from the tourism sector—how agriculture has so much to share to inform people’s view of our province and our country.

The Cultivating Trust Conference also offered inspiring updates from Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan:

  • Presentation of the 2023 Farm & Food Care Champion Award to Shawn Colborn
  • Annual Year in Review: Building Trust with Saskatchewan Consumers and Beyond
  • Launch of Our New Project: Saskatchewan Open Farm Days

No other event convenes this many leaders from crops to horticulture, livestock and poultry production, large and small-scale farms, agribusinesses, researchers, and government.

CEUs

The 2024 Cultivating Trust Conference was approved by Certified Crop Advisers for the following Continuing Education Credits (CEUs):

  • Professional Development CEUs: 2
  • Soil & Water Management CEUs: 1
  • Crop Management CEUs: 0.5
Agenda
8:00AM – Breakfast
9:00AM – Conference Opening
Clinton Monchuk: Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan’s Year in Review

Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan is engaging with consumers to address questions and concerns. We continue to explore new ways to connect with consumers.

Presented by Clinton Monchuk, Executive Director of Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan

Greetings from the Ministry of Agriculture

Presented by Angela Hall, Executive Director, Ministry of Agriculture

9:30AM – Joel Peru: Advancing Irrigation Development in Saskatchewan

The Government of Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan aims to support development for the addition of 85,000 new irrigated acres in the province. This includes several projects; the largest of which is the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project, which as been incubating for 50 years. The current 10-year multi-project is the continuation of the vision that first created Lake Diefenbaker. It has the potential to transform a semi-arid region of 500,000 acres into more fertile land and in the process, activate new developments in Saskatchewan’s economy. Joel discussed the status of the Lake Diefenbaker project and spoke to the overall growth of irrigation in the province and the role of irrigation in global food security and climate change resiliency.

Presented by Joel Peru, Director of Irrigation Development, Saskatchewan Water Security Agency

10:30AM – Networking Break
11:00AM – Irrigation in Saskatchewan Agriculture: Panel Discussion

A panel of producers and policy makers discussed the implications for irrigation development for different ag sectors and communities in our province. What are the anticipated advantages and considerations for the crops, horticulture and livestock sectors? What kinds of changes in Saskatchewan agriculture are foreseen as irrigation becomes more widespread in the province?

Moderated by Clinton Monchuk

Presented by panel guests:
– Jillian Brown, Executive Director of Saskatchewan Irrigation Project Association
– Dan Erlandson, Farmer at Spring Creek Garden
– Julie-Anne Howe, Rancher and Beekeeper at Bar Over HC Livestock and Howe Coulee Charolais

12:00PM – Luncheon
1:00PM – Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan’s Champion Award

Each year, the Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan Champion Award recognizes a recipient who has engaged consumers about agriculture and worked to build public trust in farming and food in our province and beyond. Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan was very pleased to present the 2023 Champion Award to Shawn Colborn.

Presented by Clinton Monchuk, Executive Director of Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan

Kelly Daynard: Real Dirt on Farming

Kelly Daynard spoke about the release of the new Real Dirt on Farming publication.

Presented by Kelly Daynard, Executive Director of Farm & Food Care Ontario

1:30PM – Lauren Sergy: Communication Strategies For a Skeptical World

Public trust is key to our communication efforts, but fostering it isn’t always easy. In this session, communications professional Lauren Sergy explored how we cultivate and strengthen public trust through our communication activities. Attendees discovered critical principles of building trust, strategies for collaborative communication with partners and outside organizations, and how to avoid common pitfalls that can stymie your efforts.

Presented by Lauren Sergy, Communications Professional with Up Front Communications

2:30PM – Networking Break
3:00PM – Stephanie Clovechok: Lessons in Building Trust from the Tourism Sector

Stephanie Clovechok from Discover Saskatoon discussed how important it is for the agriculture sector to be part of tourism experiences in Saskatchewan. Farming and food production is part of our collective history and identity–we need to authentically tell our story to people in our province and beyond to build trust and support. What opportunities for tourism might be available to agriculture businesses?

Presented by Stephanie Clovechok, CEO of Discover Saskatoon

3:45PM – Ashley Stone: Open Farm Days Saskatchewan

Ashley Stone discussed the launch of our new project: Saskatchewan Open Farm Days

Presented by Ashley Stone, Open Farm Days Coordinator of Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan

4:00PM – Observations on Cultivating Trust

Scott Shiels offered some thoughts on the day’s learnings.

Presented by Scott Shiels, Procurement Manager with Grain Millers Canada and Director on FFC SK Board

4:05PM – Wrap-Up & Adjournment

Presented by Clinton Monchuk, Executive Director of Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan

Registration Information

We’re pleased to offer a conference that brings people together from across the agricultural spectrum and provides excellent opportunities for ag leaders to learn and share strategies for communicating with non-farming consumers.

The cost to register is $150 per person.

Bring a group! 5 registrations for the price of 4. Contact office@farmfoodcaresk.org for details.

Event Venue: Delta Hotels Bessborough Saskatoon – 601 Spadina Crescent East

Speaker Biographies
Clinton-Monchuk1

Clinton Monchuk

Farmer/Executive Director, Farm& Food Care Saskatchewan
Presentations: 2023 Champion Award and 2023: Year in Review
Moderator: Irrigation in Saskatchewan Agriculture Panel Discussion

Clinton Monchuk grew up on a mixed dairy, beef and grain family farm outside of Lanigan, Saskatchewan. He received his Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Saskatchewan and a Masters of Business Administration in Agriculture from the University of Guelph. Clinton has enjoyed numerous roles across North America as a researcher, educator, manager, economist and director of trade policy.
Since 2016, Clinton has served as Executive Director with Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan to promote farming and ranching to consumers. Clinton understands the value of increasing public trust in agriculture and actively promotes engagement between the agriculture industry and consumers.
Clinton, Laura and their children Jackson and Katelyn, continue to be active partners on their family grain and egg farm in Saskatchewan and cattle ranch in Oklahoma.
    joel-peru2

    Joel Peru

    Director of Irrigation Development, Saskatchewan Water Security Agency
    Presentation: Overview of the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project

    Joel Peru serves as the Term Director of the Irrigation Development Unit at the Water Security Agency. With 9 years of experience in the public sector, he has worked with both the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and Water Security Agency as an Irrigation Agrologist. Prior to this, Joel worked on his family farm in southwest Saskatchewan. Joel is a passionate advocate for expanding irrigation in Saskatchewan, recognizing the benefits it brings to producers, communities, and the overall economy.
      Lauren-Sergy2

      Lauren Sergy

      Communications Professional, Up Front Communications
      Presentation: Communication Strategies For a Skeptical World

      Communications professional Lauren Sergy has helped thousands of people become more effective leaders by developing critical interpersonal communication skills. She has worked with clients and audiences in Canada, the US, the UK, and Europe including 3M, Cargill, KPMG, Imperial Oil, and many more. Lauren has taught business communication courses at the University of Alberta and Concordia University of Edmonton, and she guest-lectures at other post-secondary institutions. Her first book, The Handy Communication Answer Book, was featured on Library Journal’s Best Reference Books of 2017 list. Her latest book, Unmute! How to Master Virtual Meetings and Reclaim Your Sanity is now available via all major online booksellers.
      Her presentation at Cultivating Trust explored how we cultivate and strengthen public trust through our communication activities. When you send out a message to consumers, do they trust what you say? Are they even listening? Trust is a critical factor in communication; it boosts attention, drives engagement, and helps people understand your message the way you intended. But fostering that trust is not always easy. It’s a long game, one that needs persistence, empathy, and collaboration. In Lauren’s session, attendees discovered critical principles of building trust, strategies for collaborative communication with partners and outside organizations, and how to avoid common pitfalls that can stymie our efforts.
        Stephanie-Clovechok

        Stephanie Clovechok

        Chief Executive Officer of Discover Saskatoon
        Presentation: Lessons in Building Trust from the Tourism Sector

        Stephanie Clovechok, the Chief Executive Officer at Discover Saskatoon, is passionately dedicated to promoting Saskatoon’s dynamic identity on the international forefront, seamlessly blending its rich history with modern innovations while honouring the spirit of the Treaty that we are bound to by our ancestors.
        In her role as CEO, Stephanie excels in fostering deep, trust-based partnerships with key community organizations. Her collaborations extend to the Saskatoon Tribal Council, Saskatoon Destination Marketing Hotels, the City of Saskatoon, and Tourism Saskatchewan, among others.
        Stephanie has dedicated over two decades to the tourism sector, including seven years in Alberta developing unique tourism experiences, and shaping new tourism ventures both provincially and internationally. Her academic background, with a degree in Leisure & Tourism from the University of Calgary, combined with her certification as a Holistic Health Practitioner, has equipped her with a unique perspective on tourism’s role in fostering human connections.
        Additionally, Stephanie actively contributes to the community through her involvement with the Boards of the Sanctum Care Group and the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce.
          Jillian-Brown

          Jillian Brown

          Executive Director, Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Association
          Presentation: Irrigation Panel Discussion

          Jillian Brown is the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Association (SIPA), a producer-led industry group. Jillian has worked throughout Saskatchewan’s agricultural industry for more than ten years. Her previous roles at the University of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Trade and Export Development gave her experience in developing and evaluating agricultural business and industry health, agribusiness efficiency and risk management. She has extensive experience in extensions, collaboration and policy advocacy with producers and various levels of the Saskatchewan and Canadian governments. Jillian is a current PhD candidate at Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Saskatchewan with a research focus on water allocation policy and its relationship to producer governance and profit.
          At SIPA, Jillian focuses on strengthening membership engagement, advocating for irrigating producer needs and building public trust and knowledge to support the development and expansion of the irrigation industry.

            Dan Erlandson

            Farmer and Owner of Spring Creek Garden
            Presentation: Irrigation Panel Discussion

            Dan Erlandson grew up in the market gardening business. His mother and grandmother first had the idea of vegetable gardening, which grew to be a family business.
            Dan used the garden to fund his university degree in Agriculture Business and successfully turned his summer job into his post-university career. He married in 2010 and gradually began to introduce his new wife, Chelsea, into his market gardening business. Dan and Chelsea eventually went on to win the Saskatchewan Outstanding Young Farmers Award in 2016.
            Spring Creek Garden began as one greenhouse and a small garden patch 35 kilometres north of Outlook, Saskatchewan. It has grown exponentially since its formation in the late 1980s, now encompassing more than 400 acres. In 2013, Spring Creek Garden expanded into commercial wholesaling which enabled them to provide local produce to a larger client base through commercial retailers.
            Dan and Chelsea Erlandson are committed to sustainable agriculture and are passionate about helping people find local products.
              Julie-Anne-Howe

              Julie-Anne Howe

              Rancher and Beekeeper at Bar Over HC Livestock and Howe Coulee Charolais
              Presentation: Irrigation Panel Discussion

              Julie-Anne is a rancher and beekeeper from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. She is proud to be a third-generation farmer with her husband and three children as well as a consultant in the livestock industry though her company Bar Over HC Livestock. The Howes raise purebred Charolais cattle. They irrigate 480 acres of land in the Baildon Irrigation district, sourcing their water from the City of Moose Jaw’s effluent water. Julie-Anne also runs a small-scale apiary (bee farm) which began with four hives in the spring of 2016 and has since expanded to 50 hives.
              Julie-Anne has Master’s Degree in Ruminant Nutrition & Microbiology from the University of Saskatchewan, along with twenty years of industry experience in cattle management, nutrition and grassland assessments.
                Sponsors

                Silver Sponsors

                Star Egg

                Bronze Sponsors

                SCIC
                Past Conferences

                2023 Ag Awareness Summit

                Cultivating Trust 2021

                Theme: The Future of Food

                Cultivating Trust 2020

                Theme: Managing MisInformation

                Venue

                Delta Hotels Bessborough Saskatoon

                601 Spadina Crescent East
                Saskatoon, SK S7K 3G8 Canada                 + Google Map
                306-244-5521

                Thanks for your interest in the conference that brings people together from across the agricultural spectrum and provides excellent opportunities for ag leaders to learn and share strategies for communicating with non-farming consumers.