Saskatoon (Rural Roots Canada) – Saskatchewan’s agricultural landscape will be front and centre as Saskatoon hosts the upcoming Canadian Beef Industry Conference (CBIC) in August.
“It’s an opportunity for Saskatchewan, and a real opportunity to showcase Prairie-wide, some of the knowledge, expertise, and excellence that can contribute to moving the livestock industry forward,” says Dr. Scott Wright, conference chair and Director of the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) at the University of Saskatchewan.
The conference kicks off with a tour designed to immerse attendees in the province’s rich agricultural scene. Those taking part will have the chance to explore the University of Saskatchewan’s research facilities to see its ag research capacity on full display. There will also be stops at local ranches and farms, including Black Fox Farm and Distillery, renowned for its ingenuity and innovation in combining agriculture and distilling to create a variety of tasty spirits.
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Wright says one of the unique highlights of this year’s conference is an Ask the Experts session, allowing attendees to engage directly with industry leaders and academics to get answers to some of their most pressing questions.
“There are four parallel sessions that are going on with different groups of those experts to allow the attendees to really step up, ask the questions that they haven’t gotten answers to,” he emphasized. “The calibre of those panels is world-class. They’re some of the best speakers and the most knowledgeable people in the country.”
The conference also features a hands-on boot camp, offering the chance to test their skills and learn applicable techniques for the beef industry. On the entertainment side, there’s a bullfighter presentation that organizers promise will be memorable while continuing a tradition of standout performances from previous conferences.
Reflecting on those previous conferences, Wright underscored the importance of embracing youth and innovation as part of the agenda for this year’s event.
“One of the early CBIC sessions that I was at targeted the need for this industry to build on the youth side of it, to capture what the young folks are bringing forward,” says Wright. “We need to make sure that some of us old grey heads are stepping out of the way and not being in the way of those innovations moving forward.”
He shared advice from a producer who emphasized the need to listen to the new generation’s entrepreneurial spirit. “Double the time you’re listening to these ideas, double the time you’re listening to people coming in, spend the time to understand what you can take away.”
The conference takes place August 19 – 22 in Saskatoon.
The conference’s agenda is packed with opportunities to learn and contribute, covering topics from policy and economics to technology to animal management & welfare. Registration for the CBIC is open. You can visit the website for more information.
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July 29, 2024 - 4:00 am[…] Canadian Beef Industry Conference Will Focus On Saskatchewan’s Agricultural Landscape […]
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