Young Farmers Share Ideas at Conference

Nova Scotia's young farmers are helping each other become successful entrepreneurs by sharing ideas on what works and what doesn't in an era of change, global competitiveness and increasing consumer demands.

About 60 farmers, ages 35-and-under, will meet for three days for the 26th annual Young Farmers Conference. Beginning today, they will discuss common issues, share ideas and network.

The theme of this year's conference is Future Farmers...Differing Perspectives. It will focus on how young farmers are changing the way they farm to be successful in the 21st century. This year's conference, Feb. 29-March 2, is being held at the Wandlyn Inn in Amherst.

"The future of farming hinges on the innovative ideas, agricultural skills and business sense of our young farmers," said Ernest Fage, Minister of Agriculture and Marketing. "We are fortunate in Nova Scotia to have excellent young farmers, and part of the reason for that is their openness to share new ideas and successes with each other."

"The information learned and contacts made at the conference are invaluable to the future careers of many participants," said Sandra Fisher, chair of this year's conference and an agricultural representative with the Department of Agriculture and Marketing.

A panel on the future of farming in Nova Scotia, tours of local farms and seminars on topics such as agricultural farm practices and resource management issues will be held during the conference.

This year's conference host couples are Jason and Fiona Bacon and Nick and Elaine van Vulpen, operators of dairy farms in the Amherst area. Host couples are involved in organizing the conference and finding sponsors.

The Young Farmers Conference was started in 1974 and is sponsored by various businesses, farm organizations and the Department of Agriculture and Marketing.