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REGINA, Sask. — Saskatchewan Agriculture Week is putting the spotlight on farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses, while encouraging consumers to better understand where their food comes from and the people who produce it.
Agriculture Minister David Marit says that "Agriculture Week is an opportunity to recognize farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses for their contributions at home and globally."
While Agriculture Week is certainly an opportunity for Saskatchewan farmers to shine, it's also about consumers doing their part to learn about where their food comes from, the people who produce it and the scope of the industry.
Farm & Food Care executive director Clinton Monchuck is supportive of farmers who showcase what they do online so the general public can get a better sense of the day-to-day agricultural practices of farmers in Saskatchewan.
"When we open up our farm gates to consumers, or we post things about what farmers and ranchers are doing on their own family farms, that level of understanding of how their food gets produced just increases, not only the understanding but the pride in Saskatchewan agriculture," says Monchuck.
Josef Buttigieg, a farmer based in Lumsden, who is also a full-time professor at the University of Regina, says that whether it's Agriculture Week or not is irrelevant to farmers who are busy harvesting, but it should matter to consumers or, in other words, "the people who reap the benefits of agriculture."
Buttigieg incorporates agritourism into his farm operation, giving visitors an opportunity to learn more about agriculture and where their food comes from.
"One of the big things that we'll ask the kids when they come out — we're talking about hundreds if not thousands of kids that have come out to the farm — is, 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' And they'll say things like 'teacher, police officer, firefighter, veterinarian,' all of that type of stuff, and we ask them — specifically — 'Which one of those jobs do you think is the most important?' And nine times out of 10, they get it wrong. The most important job on the planet is farming," says Buttigieg.
Buttigieg points out that Saskatchewan's decision to proclaim Oct. 4-10 as Agriculture Week won't necessarily make a big difference for farmers, but where it does make a difference is in helping the public understand how critical the agriculture industry is to their daily lives.
"In terms of an international impact, I don't think people here in Saskatchewan — or across Canada for that matter — truly grasp how wide-ranging and impactful the agriculture industry is, and that's where I think Agriculture Week is important," says Buttigieg.
