Event Speaker 2020

BIO: Michael Swidersky

Grey Dufferin Community Pasture

Michael Swidersky graduated with an agriculture diploma from the University of Guelph in 1998. He farms with his wife Amber and two teenage children in Melancthon Township in north Dufferin County. Their farm business consists of a commercial flock of annual pasture lambing ewes, custom grazing groups of steers and heifers and a cut flower business which is operated by Amber. 100% of their farm is perennial pasture with no hay or crops grown. A particular interest of Mike’s is intensive grazing and extensive pasture management. He has managed the local community pasture (Grey Dufferin Community Pasture) for the past 8 years. In 2019 a total of 800 steers and heifers as well as 300 ewes and their lambs were grazed.

BIO: Dairy Panel 2025 (farmers to TBC)

The 2-3 farmers on the producers panel speaking on their where they see themselves operationally in 5 years time, compared to where they are today is yet to be finalized. Check back to see who’ll be on the panel.

BIO: Michael Thiele

https://soilhealthacademy.org/manitoba

Michael Thiele was born and raised on a mixed farm at Dauphin, Manitoba. He continued his agricultural education with a degree in plant science from the University of Manitoba.

Over the past 30+ years, he has worked in conservation and agriculture with a focus on resource management – soil, water and wildlife habitat. Michael and Gabe Brown have co-presented at numerous Canadian conferences and both are involved at the Soil Health Academy (https://soilhealthacademy.org/manitoba). Michael also works closely with producers to regenerate soils, increase profitability and grow good food.

He lives in Shoal Lake, Manitoba with his wife Joanne.

BIO: Steve Kell

Steve Kell has been in the grain and feed business in Ontario for 28 years. During this time, he has experienced a variety of market situations and seen numerous changes in feed and grain prices. Through Steve’s experiences he will share his opinions on what’s coming up in 2020 and beyond.

In addition to working in the grain industry. Steve operates 1,200 acres, partially as a cash crop operation south of Barrie, and also in share-cropping arrangements in Elm Creek Manitoba, and Temiskaming, Ontario.

Steve is a graduate of both the University of Guelph, (BA), and the Ontario Agricultural College, but most importantly, from the school of hard knocks.

BIO: Jillian Craig

Small Ruminant Specialist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Jillian.craig@ontario.ca

Jillian was raised on a commercial sheep farm near Fenelon Falls, and received her Bachelor of Science (Animal Science) from the University of Guelph. Jillian joined OMAFRA in 2015 and is based out of the Lindsay OMAFRA office.

Prior to her current role, Jillian worked for the Ontario Sheep Farmers for five years and completed the Master Shepherd’s Course in 2015.

Her current areas of focus include sheep production and management, young animal care and predation.