Photo Credit: Nerbas Bros. Angus
Our Vision and Mission
Vision: Vibrant grasslands and prosperous forage crops on Manitoba’s agricultural lands.
Mission: Promoting the economic prosperity and environmental benefits of forages, grasslands, cover crops and healthy soils to benefit our forage and grassland producers, local communities and society.
2026 MFGA Wall of Fame Inductees Announced
Don Campbell, Meadow Lake, SK: Category: Producer Leadership: Education and Mentorship
Don is a second-generation rancher. He was a conventional rancher. In 1985, Don attended a What’s in Stock Conference in Saskatoon. He heard Jerry Holtman speak about doubling your grass by how you graze. Don was impressed. What Jerry said made sense. This conference started Don on a lifelong journey of change and personal growth. The journey continues even today.
Don never tries to convince people to do what he is doing. He encourages people to achieve the results that he has achieved.
Don defines Holistic Management as how to care for your people, improve your land and make a profit. When you do these three things you haven’t left anything out. Success will follow.
Don has ranched with his children for 25 years. They have learned to work together in peace and harmony. Their grass production has tripled on a set land base. They have a strong profitable business. They had a smooth transfer to the next generation. The biggest benefit HM has given Don is becoming a life-long learner. He describes himself as a better person than he used to be, and not as good as he will be.
He is living his dream.
Testimonial
Don Campbell has been an amazing mentor, both formally and informally, to many ranchers in Western Canada and beyond. From his days writing monthly in Canadian Cattleman magazine and now with free Ebooks published on the Holistic Management Canada website, Don has always shared his experiences and led with humility and grace. Our farm has personally benefited, as we were fortunate to have Don as our certified holistic educator back in 2005. We didn't realize it at the time, but that course changed the direction and vision of our operation to where we are today.
Congratulations Don, a well-deserved honour!
– Arron Nerbas, Nerbas Bros Angus, Shellmouth, MB
Ian Grossart, Brandon Hills, MB: Category: Producer Leadership: Grassland Stewardship
Grasslands have always been a major part of the family farm for Ian Grossart.
Ian grew up on the family farm homesteaded in 1879 by his great grandparents, located southeast of Brandon in the Brandon Hills. Farming was always a passion. He completed his Diploma in Agriculture at the University of Manitoba in 1984 and a one-year course in Agricultural Mechanics at Assiniboine Community College the following year.
Ian and wife, Linda, have lived and operated the farm where Ian grew up since 1989, raising three kids Andrew, Avery, and Zach, and gradually took over management and ownership of the farm from his parents. Over the years many changes have been implemented, and it is now operated as the partnership, Howpark Farms. From a transition starting in the late ninety’s, the grain and cattle herd are now completely organic, with the cattle also being grass and forage finished.
Since 2020, Ian and Linda have worked with their youngest son Zach and work jointly with him as he works into the business. Zach has increased the pasture poultry operation and has some pasture pigs. This year saw Zach and his wife Annika move into the main farmhouse and Ian and Linda build a second house on the property.
Direct Marketing plays a role on the farm with a portion of beef and all pigs and chickens being direct marketed. Between 2008 and 2012 Ian attended ACRES USA conferences that focused on organic and regenerative practices. In the last 10 years the MFGA conferences have been a great source of information for us. The farm has been part of the General Mills Regenerative Ag Program since 2018, and they continue to implement many different regenerative practices on the farm. One of the highlights of this research was learning that some of the unbroken prairie stewarded and retained on our farm since our great grandparents ran the operations in 1879 still has organic matter of over 10 per cent!
The farm has also collaborated with University of Manitoba, Brandon University and Assiniboine College on various projects over the years. During the journey to organic and regenerative Ian became increasingly aware of and interested in the soil health-human health connection.
TESTIMONIAL
It has been my privilege to know and work with Ian and his family over the past 10 years. You don’t sit at Ian’s table long before the talk will turn to grass and the beautiful pristine piece of land his family has stewarded over the past 147 years.
The Howpark yard is nestled into the eastern edge of the Brandon Hills overlooking the farmland below. When you visit, you can feel this family has farming in their blood. To have successfully transitioned the farm through 5 generations and now working on the 6th is no small feat that the rest of can all learn from and admire.
Ian is very well read and had tremendous knowledge to share and has hosted countless field days and workshops on his farm over the years. He is willing to listen and try new ideas to advance regeneration.
- Blain Hjertaas, Understanding Ag, Redvers, SK
Jacques Saquet, Laurier, MB: Category: MFGA Board Leadership: Policy and Programming
The only MFGA board alumni of the 2026 Wall of Fame trio after terming off at this year’s AGM, Jacques Saquet brought an advanced acumen and understanding to the MFGA Board around the crop insurance portfolio he led. After a 27-year service with Canada's National Parks introducing the public about conservation and protection of all natural ressources, Jacques became a farmer at age 50. From 1999 to December 2026, Jacques raised plains bison on a small land base and providing year round pasture and dry hay feed to keep my grass- fed herd in very good shape.
Jacques spent a little more than six years as the Manitoba Bison Association representative on the MFGA board.
TESTIMONIAL
‘I have grown immensely in regenerative agriculture knowledge and made wonderful acquaintances in our common chosen fields. Birds have always been a special interest for me and I will now spend more time viewing and making note of the birds I see and their behaviour on our grasslands. ’
MFGA 2026 REGENERATIVE AG CONFERENCE AGENDA
November 9-10, 2026
Victoria Inn, Brandon Mb
Building Community from the Ground Up
PUBLIC AGENDA
October 9, 2026
Our MFGA 2026 agenda is presented as finalized draft weeks out from our event, speakers may change with short notice due to unforeseen events that organizers have no control over. Alternates will be publicly shared if/when this should this occur.
Day One: Monday, November 9, 2026
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: TRADESHOW SETUP & CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
1:00 PM: CONFERENCE LAUNCH: Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director: Welcome & Land Acknowledgement
1:05-1:10 PM: INTRODUCTIONS/TODAY’S AGENDA: MFGA Chair Zack Koscielny will serve as MC
1:10 – 1:50 PM: KEYNOTE 1: Alex Boersch, Elie, Manitoba: “Nutrition Farming In The Red River Valley”
How we aim to improve our farm’s resilience by focusing on properly feeding our soils via improved and expanded photosynthesis. The dos and don’ts of trying to farm regeneratively in a flood prone, “short growing season”, and heavy clay soil context.
1:50 – 2:00 PM: Q&A with Alex Boerch
2:00 - 2:30 PM: Regeneration Canada (RC) Dairy Hub Update & Producer Insights: Kristelle Harper, RC; Sean Smith, Clanman Jerseys Ltd
2:30 – 3:00 PM: TRADE SHOW & COFFEE BREAK
3:00 – 345 PM: KEYNOTE 2: Ross MacDonald, Lake Alma, Saskatchewan
“Ranching Awkwardly & Loving It!”
As the ranch has grown, so too has our perspective on our place in these grassland ecosystems. For thousands of years the grasslands of North America have been a place of movement, trade, commerce, food, seasonal rhythms and human-grazer interactions; having the opportunity to be a part of those time-tested interactions and embracing the opportunity to share these spaces and experiences with other humans has benefited us greatly. I am confident that the future holds fulfilling opportunities as we continue to learn to embrace the awkwardness.
3:45 – 3:55 PM: Q&A with Ross
4:00 – 4:45 PM: Keynote 3: Dr. Jaden Dobson, ND, Manitou, Manitoba
“The Intersection of Regenerative Agriculture and Human Health”
Dr. Jayden Dobson, ND is a Naturopathic Doctor based in Manitou, caring for patients throughout Manitoba. Her clinical practice focuses on prevention and improving health outcomes using an individualized approach. Through patient care, public speaking, and community workshops, she translates health science into practical education to help people better understand and support their well-being.
4:45 – 5:00 PM: Q&A
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM: TRADE SHOW: Free Time: Refresh & Recharge
DAY ONE: November 12 EVENING: MFGA NIGHT
5:30– 6:45 PM: ICE-BREAKER EVENT –Let MFGA buy you dinner: Mingle, mix & join us for cocktail hour before that and enjoy a casual buffet-style dinner at 6:00 pm.
6:45– 7:15 pm: MFGA NIGHT KICK OFF: MFGA WELCOME: Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director.
Minister Welcome
RBC Community Grant Announcement
MAW PWCP Update
Land Up Update
Wall of Fame
7:15 – 8:00 pm: feature Keynote 4: Jason Mauck, Gaston, Indiana, USA
Presentation Summary: “Farm Weird – and for Good Reason”
Jason Mauck is a farmer from Gaston, Indiana who has coined the term, “Farm Weird” - and for good reason. Jason’s passion for pushing the envelope of what is traditionally accepted in agriculture is contagious. As an early adopter of relay cropping, Jason has learned through years of experimentation. This has evolved into integrating grazing livestock to enrich the soil. Never one to stop pushing forward, Jason’s current projects include planning and creating a modern farm that combines relay cropping and livestock grazing, while continuing to push for changes in policy to allow more people to feel comfortable “farming weird”.
8:00 pm – 8:15 pm: Q&A Jason Mauck
8:15 PM: day 1 concludes.
DAY 2: Tuesday November 10, 2026
7:00 – 9:00 AM: Breakfast on your own
8:00 – 8:30 AM: TRADESHOW & REGISTRATION
8:30 AM: WELCOME: Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director: Land Acknowledgement.
8:35 AM: ZACK KOSCIELNY, MFGA CHAIR: INTRODUCTIONS/TODAY’S AGENDA: MASTER OF CEREMONIES
8:40 AM: WELCOME DIGNITARIES: To Be Determined
8:45 AM-9:30 AM: KEYNOTE 5: Antonio José Piñeros Lara, Colombia: “Flowing with Natural Power”
Antonio José Piñeros Lara is a fourth-generation Colombian cattle rancher and a leading voice in regenerative livestock systems in Latin America. As a founder of the Tamalá and Tierraleja Private Bioreserves, Antonio integrates cattle production with biodiversity conservation. A pioneer in introducing Holistic Management, Voisin Rational Grazing (PRV), and regenerative beef production to the Colombian tropics, he directs multiple Angus and Brangus genetic herds under full-cycle, animal-welfare-focused operations.
9:30 – 9:40 AM: Q&A
9:45-10:45 Am: Feature Panel: The Framework for Tracking Economic Growth
Moderator: Brenda Tjaden, Oakbank, Manitoba: Brenda Tjaden is a food and agriculture market economist, tracking structural changes and financial shifts that affect farmland management decisions. She's also building a pastured-meat wholesale business with her son, and a brand-new sheep, goat and chicken operation at Stony Hill Farm, her property near Oakbank. She joined the board of MFGA last fall.
Panelist: Karel Stroebel, Saskatchewan: Born in South Africa and having spent most of his adult life in the United Kingdom, Karel brings a unique blend of international experience and strategic thinking to agriculture. With a background in economics and investment banking, he was introduced to farming by his Canadian better half — transforming what was once a “city boy” perspective into a passion for agricultural innovation.
Approaching farming differently from traditional models, Karel focuses on developing practical solutions that strengthen and protect farming operations. This thinking led to the introduction of Captive Insurance solutions for agriculture, designed to help farmers better manage risk and build long-term resilience.
Panelist: Anna Hunter, Eastern Manitoba, Treaty One Territory: Anna Hunter is a first - generation sheep farmer and wool mill owner in Eastern Manitoba, Treaty One Territory. She is passionate about building community and connecting rural fibre farmers with urban consumers, fibre artists, and crafters. Anna believes that regenerative agriculture and climate-beneficial food and clothing are integral to moving forward as farmers fibre artists and Manitobans, and she is passionate about growing a vibrant Canadian wool industry. Her first book Sheep, Shepherd and Land, came out in 2023. And her Bestselling book The True Cost of Wool released in June 2025.
Panelist: Adam Pukalo, Winnipeg, MB: Adam Pukalo is the lead Portfolio Manager with Pukalo Prairie Wealth Group at Harbourfront Wealth Management. Since 2010, Adam and his team have specialized in working with grain and livestock operations across the Prairies on financial planning strategies. Their focus is to shield wealth from taxes, create an investment portfolio to meet client goals, and ensure a proper farm estate plan is in place.
10:45 – 11:15 AM: Coffee and trade show
11:15-12:00 PM: KEYNOTE 6: Harold Perry, Alberta: “Our Journey: Soils, Crops, and Practices”
Harold has been attending soil health conferences with a network of likeminded agriculture enthusiasts he met through his Nuffield scholarship travel. Harold’s Nuffield scholarship was like a sabbatical from the day-to-day farming routine and a breath of fresh farm air. His Nuffield topic is “Healthy soils for Healthy crops for a healthier population.” This invigorated Harold on his journey to create resilience and health in his soils through diversity in cover crops, crop rotation, tillage intelligence, and soil amendments.
12 noon – 12:10: Q&A with Harold Perry
12:15 – 1:30 PM: LUNCH, TRADE SHOW, NETWORKING
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Keynote Korner: Everything you wanted to ask but didn’t: Bringing back the keynote experts for a free for all session with your questions and their expertise.
Roving microphones, moderator…
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM: conference ending session & discussion: What we heard: Zack Koscielny: WRAP-UP , silent auction.
Our early bird ends Oct 20, 2026!! Register now!!
Last Call: Top Ten Reasons to Attend the 2026 MFGA Conference
The MFGA 2026 Regen Ag Conference is next week, November 9-10, 2026, at the Victoria Inn and Conference Centre in Brandon. Still deciding? Our latest e-blast shares ten reasons to join us, including unchanged registration rates, free on-site day care, an impressive keynote lineup and financial panel, and grass-fed tenderloin steak for supper Monday night.
Read the full list: View the e-blast
Register now: mfga.net
Meet potato grower Harold Perry at the MFGA Regen Ag Conference
For decades, the Perry family has grown potatoes for some of the snacks consumers know and love. Their focus on innovation and regenerative agriculture shows how technology and long-term collaboration can build resilience and sustainability across the food system.
In the latest episode of PepsiCo’s Made Possible series, the Perry brothers share their story and talk about how technology can help farmers shape a more resilient future.
Harold Perry will be speaking in person at the MFGA Regen Ag Conference, November 9-10, 2026, at the Victoria Inn in Brandon.
View our latest e-blast: here
Water, Soil, Grasslands and Grazing Focus of National Climate Change Assessment
Water, Soil, Grasslands and Grazing Focus of National Climate Change Assessment
MFGA will lead a one-year Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada project to better understand how climate change will affect water, soil and grassland productivity across eight Canadian watersheds. Using the MFGA Aquanty Model, the project will measure drought, flood and water-stress risks and turn the results into practical decision-support tools for producers. Project partners include the Canadian Cattle Association, Aquanty, the Centre for Land Conservation and the Food Water Wellness Foundation. Read the full media release: here
October 2026 MFGA eBulletin is now available.
This month features a message from Executive Director Duncan Morrison on putting farmers at the front of the resilience conversation, the MFGA Bird Report 2023-25 receiving the national Henry Heald award from the Canadian Farm Writers Federation, a new Jonathan Lundgren study on soil carbon, biodiversity and profit, Manitoba’s new livestock investigation unit, Agriculture in the Classroom - Manitoba’s new Executive Director, KAP district meetings, a call for dairy farmers to join regenerative economics research, early bird for our Regen Ag Conference extended to October 20, and more. Read the full bulletin: here
BLOG: Larry Wegner - On Field Thoughts
After a dry summer followed by weeks of heavy rain, Larry looks at what this erratic season means for producers. He covers rising input costs, fuel and freight concerns, talk of bringing back M-COOL, and the coming shift as a large share of Canadian farmland changes hands over the next decade. He also shares lessons from a pasture tour in Towner, North Dakota, explains why education matters for regenerative agriculture, and closes with some happy news from the Wegner family.
Six Manitoba grassroots producer groups unify on interests, hopes and ambitions for national agriculture soil health strategy
Direct Farm Manitoba, Holistic Management Canada, MFGA, Manitoba Organic Alliance, Regeneration Canada, and Young Agrarians have released a joint response to the potential National Agricultural Soil Health Strategy from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Soil Conservation Council of Canada, ensuring Manitoba's grassroots producer voices are represented and unified.
Learn more: Read the full response
MFGA Aquanty Model Study
New MFGA Aquanty Model study forecasts climate impacts to 2050 and 2100 across three Manitoba watersheds: rising temps, declining snowpack, and dropping groundwater storage. Healthy grasslands are a key adaptation strategy. Read more here
