Beef farmers, college look to recruit first nations workforce: Kashechewan members get a hands-on experience in rearing cattle.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: TRAINING & EDUCATION

College Boreal and the Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) used a little prodding to sway members of Kashechewan First Nation to consider a future in agriculture.

Seven members from the fly-in James Bay community got their first taste of beef farming this summer through an introductory program offered by the francophone college in Kapuskasing.

Beginning in early July, the curriculum in the eight-week "Introduction to Beef Cattle Farming" program was designed to cover all aspects of beef production for beginners.

Michelle Lebel, director of Boreal's Kapuskasing campus, said the idea of the short program was to gauge whether there was any interest from the community in pursuing careers in agriculture.

In recent years, Kapuskasing has become a spring refuge for flood evacuees from the community on the Albany River, 320 kilometres north of the town.

"Since we had Kashechewan First Nation evacuees in town for the last three or four years, we thought maybe it would be a good fit to see if some were interested in farming," said Lebel.

The 13-module program provided classroom and hands-on practical training in covering farm health and safety training, herd health and management, genetic improvement, crop production, pasture and feedlot management, farm equipment maintenance and business planning.

"The participants are really enjoying the course," said Lebel in an early August interview.

The proof was in the volume of photos and short videos the participants posted daily on social media showing the new skills they were learning.

The instruction took place at the municipally owned Kapuskasing Demonstration Farm.

The expansive 900-acre facility is rented out to Andrew Gordanier, who raises cattle, sheep, chickens and pigs. It allowed the group to experience a wide variety of agricultural practices in one place. Retirees of the former federal research farm also helped with instruction.

The Beef Farmers of Ontario have identified Northern Ontario and the Kapuskasing-Highway 11 : corridor as being ideal for the expansion of the province's cow-calf herd. The abundance of affordable land, the soil conditions, and climate are suitable for pasture-raised livestock.

It might not be in the cards to envision flood-prone Kashechewan as being the perfect breeding ground for beef production. But Lebel said the program's intent is to open a door and leave a lasting impression with the participants of agriculture as a way of life.

We do realize it would be hard to have...