February 28th – March 1st, 2025
Access Event Centre, Morden, Manitoba
The annual Direct Farm Marketing Conference attracts farmers from across the food system for one and a half days of workshops, round tables, and networking. Celebrating its 30th year, it is the only conference of its kind in Manitoba, providing opportunities to connect with farmers from the direct-farm-marketing sector.
Program
Printable program: Click here
Friday, February 28th
A Network of Know-how: Justin Girard, Young Agrarians
Join Justin Girard from Young Agrarians for a session that is about connecting with your peers, building a community of support and finding your place in the network. After some introductions participants will be led in a solution mill exercise that will leverage the collective knowledge and experience on hand to our shared benefit. Expect to leave with some tried and true tips and a few more contacts.
Dig In: Soil Health and Fertility: Marla Riekman, Soil Management Specialist (Manitoba Agriculture); Jeff Veenstra, Wild Earth Farms, Ian Grossart, Howpark Farms
The first half of this two-part session will feature a panel discussion with rancher Ian Grossart, vegetable producer Jeff Veenstra, and soil management specialist Marla Riekman, discussing soil health, management and soil sample results. Participants will be encouraged to join in the conversation.
Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch: The True Cost of Production: Katheryn Loewen, Young Agrarians; Katie McInnes, Dogs Run Farm
In this practical session, Katheryn Loewen (Young Agrarians) and Katie McInnes (The Dogs Run Farm) will dig into the process of calculating cost of production for your farm products, crops, and/or enterprises. Real life examples from The Dogs Run Farm will cast light on this crucial but sometimes intimidating process, giving you the tools to reveal which of your popular products may not be profitable, or help you make decisions about how to invest your time and money on improving production. This session will expand your cost-of-production toolbox, and offer a chance to connect with other farmers working through similar issues.
Dig In: Hands on Soil Sampling: Marla Reikman, Soil Management Specialst (Manitoba Agriculture); Jeff Veenstra, Wild Earth Farms, Ian Grossart, Howpark Farms
In the second half of this two-part session, participants will have an opportunity to get their hands dirty while learning how to assess the health of their soils and exploring how test results can be used to benefit their farms. Soil samples collected at Howpark Farm and Wild Earth Farms will offer participants a chance to try their hands at assessing samples for characteristics such as texture and structure.
Hands on Farm Photography: Christel Lanthier, Ferme Fiola Farm
Session description coming soon.
Dinner featuring local farmers.
Stay and hang out with old and new farm friends. Bring your game skills and an instrument. Snacks provided- cash bar!
Saturday, March 1st
Session description coming soon.
Two Farms, One Veggie: Growing Carrots in Two Contexts: Dennis Hoeppner, Oak Valley Vegetables; Graham Hnatiuk, Hnatiuk Market Gardens
In this session, experienced market gardeners Graham Hnatiuk and Dennis Hoeppner share the highs and lows of their extensive carrot growing experience, comparing challenges and successful methods in two different soil contexts.
If you’re a carrot grower, don’t miss this opportunity to build your skills in tending this crucial root vegetable!
Marketing Meat Products-Subscriptions, Bundles, By the Cut: How to Serve your Farm’s & Customers’ Needs: Michelle Schram, Fresh Roots Farm; Alicia and Brian Dyck, Evergreen Alley Farms
(Smells like) Teen Spirit on Your Farm: Angie Cormier, Cormiers Berry Patch; Danielle Mondor, Le Marché St. Norbert Farmers’ Market
Are you interested in hiring young folks to work on your farm? Join Angie and Danielle as they talk about legal requirements, possible funding opportunities and some training samples that’ll make hiring (and working with) youth on your farm a bit easier than you think!
Enjoy a lunch featuring local farmers and check out the tradeshow.
Bees: Phil Veldhuis, Phil’s Honey
Session description coming soon.
The Power of a Good Newsletter: Tell your Story to Build Connection and Generate Revenue– Cate Friesen, The Story Source; Katie McInnes, Dogs Run Farm; Anna Hunter, Long Way Homestead
You probably know the feeling: you’re exhausted after a long farm day, eating a too-late supper, and trying to force something creative and connective onto the computer screen to send out to your followers. Amidst the wildness of farm life, trying to build and maintain a community and customer base around your farm products can feel overwhelming.
In this session, seasoned storyteller Cate Friesen will join forces with experienced farm newsletter-writers Katie McInnes and Anna Hunter to help participants reimagine the newsletter writing process. Topics will include effective story-telling techniques, practical advice on online platforms and content calendars, and tips and tricks for collecting content during the busy season. Join this session to get creative, and explore the impact that newsletters can have on your farm business!
Brawling with your Besties: Stories and strategies for farming with those you love– Kalynn Spain
For many of us, farming with our loved ones is “the dream”! At the same time, the day to day work of navigating farm life with family members and/or friends can be messy, and at times more exhausting than moving cows or hauling compost ever could be.
This closing conference session offers a gentle opportunity for honest discussion about the tension points in our co-farming relationships. Together, we’ll explore the different hats that co-farmers wear (whether deliberate or default), how those hats came to be assigned, and the dynamics that emerge from these roles. We’ll ask: What tensions crop up with our co-farmers? What are the impacts of these tensions on our mental health, relationships, and operations? What strategies can we share with each other for working through the sticky parts of our co-farming relationships, and finding greater connection, communication, and capacity in our shared work?
Closing remarks.
MANY THANKS TO OUR CONFERENCE SUPPORTERS AND SPONSORS
Additional Conference Details
Best Western Plus Morden: DFM Group rates available until Jan. 27, 2025 (Double Queen rooms – $190; Double Queen with pullout – $195) Call (204) 822-6116 to book.
Morden Motor Inn: DFM Group rates available until Feb. 20, 2025 (Standard Double – $95) Call (204) 822-6272 to book.
Childcare is available for participants during workshops: Friday 1-4:30, Saturday 9-12 and 1-4. Adults will retrieve their kids from the childcare space for meals. If you have questions, please reach out to [email protected]
In an effort to make the conference accessible to all attendees, we will do our best to provide support. If conference registration cost is a barrier to participation, please reach out to [email protected]
