Heather Little of Belwood is the winner of Farm Management Canada’s recent “Y We Farm” video contest.
“I thought it would be a fun opportunity to learn how to make a video,” said Little. “I was ecstatic when they told me I won.”
Three people were chosen from across Canada, and the winner receives an all-expenses paid trip to Edmonton, for an educational “FarmTech” conference from Jan. 27 to 31.
Little is no stranger to agriculture, as she grew up on a beef farm in Eramosa, spent time in a 4-H leadership program, was a part of Junior Farmers, and was the Fergus Fair Ambassador and the Wellington County Queen of the Furrow.
Little, 31, and her husband Kevin, 33, work with Kevin’s parents on a family farm consisting of 50 Angus cross cattle, 150 sheep and cash cropping, producing enough food for all animals, and also extra corn and soy beans to sell off the farm.
“The average person is three generations removed from a farm thus being unaware about the process of how animals and crops are produced,” said Little.
“It’s important to educate as many people as possible to try and help them understand why farmers have certain practices.”
She submitted a minute-long video, which expressed what she feels her generation brings to the farm table, including:
– opportunities of growing ethic markets;
– buy local food movements; and
– food traceability (being able to trace an individual farm animal, to ensure food safety, right back to the farm it was born on).
“Our family has truly committed to the whole process of raising animals from birth until they go to market,” said Little.
“We feed our animals crops that we have grown and know that our lamb and beef are quality meats. We care about animals and are committed to their welfare and to raising them as naturally as possible.”
Little told the Advertiser it took roughly three weeks to complete the video.
“One of my goals is to make people, both rural and urban, aware of how important our agriculture industry is in Ontario as well as in Canada,” she said.
Little is the provincial director on the Ontario Sheep Marketing Board for the Halton-Peel, Wellington and Dufferin areas, and encourages people to visit http://www.ontariosheep.org for more information on the sheep industry.
“For every lamb sold there is an economic spin off of around $950 into our local economy,” said Little.
“Farming has a huge impact on local business from buying feed and diesel fuel to fertilizer and supporting local vets. Farming is a vital part of our community and it supports many jobs, not just the primary producers.”
