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John Kerschbaumer is a 3rd generation farmer, having started in a partnership with his brother in 1973 after their father retired at the young age of 53. In 1982, they decided to build a seed cleaning plant. In 1980 John married Heather and together they have raised a wonderful family of 2 sons and 2 daughters, all married with children, so they are grandparents 7 times. As their family grew, they also expanded their cleaning business, Golden Acre Seeds, and in 1997 John bought out his brother in order to give their children the opportunity to become involved. John has always grown cereals, grasses, and clovers, and just recently received his Long Service Certificate as a 25 year Pedigreed Seed Grower from CSGA. In 2005, Golden Acre Seeds became an organic processor of grasses and legume seeds, and by 2010, the farm side was transitioning over to organic as well. Their oldest son Trevor, is now the fourth generation farmer, along with his youngest sister, Erin. The transition process is now on the farming horizon, as John hopes to find more time to enjoy his grandchildren. Peter Lundgard, Nature’s Way Farm, located near the town of Peace River Alberta. Peter was born and raised on the family farm in the Peace region of Alberta. Peter attended Fairview college where he studied agriculture and specialized in livestock technology. After college he started farming and continued to study ecological agriculture with acres USA, attending many conferences and short courses. Peter traveled to New Zealand and studied mineral balancing soils and went on to attain accreditation with Brookside Labs in Ohio USA as a soil consultant. Along with wife Mary and family they raise certified organic grass raised beef and lamb, pastured pork, dairy cattle, leaf cutter bees, alfalfa seed, and vegetables. Nature’s Way Farm is a host for the World Wide Organization of Organic Farms (WWOOF) and has hosted many people over the years. Nature’s Way Farm also offers an internship program to teach ecological agriculture. Peter supports Holistic Management Canada, Slow Food International, Slow food Canada, Weston A Price Foundation, Food Secure Canada, and Council of Canadians. Jacob Marfo has an undergraduate degree in Agriculture Technology from the University for Development Studies, Ghana. He briefly studied Adaptive Natural Resource Management at the International Agriculture Centre-Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Jacob immigrated to Canada to pursue a Master of Science degree at Lakehead University (Thunder Bay, Ontario). Dr. Marfo returned to his homeland to work briefly with the University for Development Studies Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, and a US based organization. Jacob has been with MARA since August 2013. In addition to managerial responsibilities, Jacob is in charge of MARA’s crop and environmental research programs. He enjoys photography, gardening, web design and blogs on Canadian immigration issues. Jacob is an active member of the Alberta Institute of Agrologists. To him, staying in Fort Vermilion is priceless as he is able to watch and photograph the beautiful northern lights, sunrise and sunset on regular basis as well as the variant Fall colours. Ward Middleton and his wife Jo-Anne operate as Midmore Farms, managing 750 acres just North of Morinville, Alberta. After purchasing the family farm from Ward’s father in 1994, they became certified organic in 1999 as part of a business strategy to make agriculture the primary source of income for their family. Ward worked off the farm in oilfield and forestry until 2009. Regular crops at Midmore Farms include wheat, barley, rye, peas, canola, flax and sweet clover seed, with some less traditional crops such as borage, and milk thistle seed. Midmore Farms is also a member of the Woodlot Association of Alberta and their farm also includes a 1/4 section custom grazing silvipasture, and an 80 acre managed woodlot. Sam Raser - I grew up on a small dairy farm in Chaska, MN. I have a degree in Agriculture Education from the University of Minnesota. I am married with one beautiful little 1 year old daughter. My career started with Cargill Animal Nutrition and have worked the last 8 years with Grain Millers in both organic and specialty grains. Currently my role is based primarily around organic oats and other cereals grains as well. I enjoy working with farmers the most and like the friendships I have been able to make in the organic market. It is a fun place to work and look forward to growing the industry with all partners involved.
James Thiessen - I have been farming with my dad, Henry Thiessen in the Tomkins area for thirty years. We started with all crown land and cleared all of the 1000 acres that we now farm, and have 800 acres to go. We certified organic around 1988, that was long before organic was popular, with a small producer funded certifying body called PROPA which stands for Peace River Organic Producers Association. We are now in hemp seed production and oats. I am the local farm rep for Hemp Production Services, a buyer for hemp seed. Iris Vaisman is very excited to be joining the team at Prairie Organic Grain Initiative and jumping into the world of organic agriculture. While completing an Ecology degree at the University of Toronto, she became very interested in agroecosystems. She spent a summer at the OACC in Truro, Nova Scotia getting introduced to the world of organic agriculture before travelling to the University of Manitoba to do her Masters degree with Dr. Martin Entz, studying reducing tillage in organic systems. After finishing her masters, she continued working with Dr. Entz on the organic wheat and oat breeding programs and the participatory plant breeding program. She also worked with Dr. Yvonne Lawley, also at the U of M, on both conventional and organic agronomy research, working with a range of crops. Sabrina Westra was born in Calgary, Alberta but grew up in several cities across Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. She recently moved to Fort Vermilion, Alberta from Guelph, Ontario, where she was studying for her Master’s degree in Plant Agriculture. During Sabrina’s graduate studies, she focused on agro-ecological practices, and for her thesis, she examined the causes of spatial variability in red clover stands under seeded to winter wheat. Sabrina also has an undergraduate science degree from the University of Alberta. Before her graduate studies she worked for the Fish and Wildlife Department (Government of Alberta), the Alberta Emerald Foundation, and the Grey Wooded Forage Association (another member of ARECA). At MARA, she is the Forage program specialist. She is also interested in practices that improve soil health and fertility, particularly in the Mackenzie County. Sabrina is excited to be in Fort Vermilion as she is able to do more cross country skiing and canoeing. She also enjoys photography. She speaks English, French and Spanish. Melisa Zapisocky is the New Grower Transition Program Manager with the Prairie Organic Grain Initiative. She has worked in a variety of agricultural positions in Alberta, Yukon, Montana, and Washington State that have covered a wide spectrum of learning and living. In 2010 Melisa received a master’s degree in Sustainable Food and Agriculture Development from the University of Montana and she continues to immerse herself in the study and promotion of the local food movement. GOLD SPONSORS: SILVER SPONSORS: BRONZE SPONSORS:
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Page 3: CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS James Benki

ORGANIC GRAINS &

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