Where producers gather, grow, and ground their future.
Gather with us on Saturday, November 7, for Farming Forward’s biggest event of the year. Gathering Ground – A Producer Development Day is more than a conference, it’s a full day to connect, learn, and take home ideas that work for your operation.
Whether you run cattle, crops, or other farm enterprises, you’ll find inspiration, hands-on learning, and a community of peers.
Ticket sales closed? No tickets will be available at the door.
If you’d like to check for cancellations or last-minute openings, contact us at 780-785-2222 or info@farmingforward.ca
✨ Program Highlights
Keynote Presentation Featuring Jay Fuhrer
Breakout Sessions Featuring Heifer Select Team, Blue Rock Nutrition and Dr. Derek MacKenzie!
Networking & Mini Tradeshow
Connect with peers, industry partners, and service providers throughout the day.
Spots are limited — save your spot early.
Tickets & Registration
Included in Your Ticket:
Lunch, plus coffee & snacks
Keynote presentation
Four hands-on breakout sessions
Event materials – program booklet, session handouts & resources
Mini-Tradeshow
🎟️ All this for only $75!
Join producers from across the region for this full day of learning, networking, and good food.
Join a growing network of local producers — enjoy member discounts, event perks, and resources year-round.
What Our Members Say
“In my opinion one of the greatest aspects of being involved with Farming Forward is the ability to be able to tap into the extensive knowledge base that exists within the organization. It is all so useful when applied to our own farming operation, and gives us a real edge in today’s competitive marketplace.”
Duane, Breton (AB)
“You don’t know what you don’t know”. With all the information that is available, there is still no substitute for meeting with peers and industry leaders. Farming Forward is dedicated to facilitating the transfer of knowledge by hosting events and by aggregating current and accurate information for producers like myself. These knowledge sharing opportunities have been invaluable to my operation."
Rod, Barrhead (AB)
“What I enjoy about the association is going to all the workshops and networking with fellow producers. They often give me plenty of ideas about new things to try to make my operation more profitable and enjoyable”
Tom, Mayerthorpe (AB)
“We have gone to several courses and information sessions in the last 10 years and I’ve tried to implement at least one thing from everywhere we have been on our operation.”
Ian, Tomahawk (AB)
Event News
Keynote speaker, breakout sessions and more coming soon!
At-a-Glance Schedule
8:30 AM – Registration & Coffee
9:00 AM – Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:15 AM – Keynote Presentation
Late Morning – First 45-minute Breakout Session
12:00 PM – Lunch, Sponsor Highlights, Networking & Tradeshow
Afternoon – 45-minute Breakout Sessions
4:30 PM- Day over!
A detailed schedule with session topics and speakers will be announced closer to the event.
Meet the Speakers
Keynote Speaker - Jay Fuhrer
As a long time Conservationist growing up in the Dakotas on a small grain and livestock farm, Jay Fuhrer built a career taking care of the soil. Working at the Natural Resources Conservation Service/USDA from 1980 – 2020 out of Bismarck, North Dakota, Jay particularly enjoyed working from the pickup end gate on the field edge, with a spade and the client. Conservation planning one field at a time. Staying grounded with a personal goal of: I want to farm forever!
Currently, Jay spends his time supporting soil health efforts through the Menoken Farm, which is a conservation demonstration farm, along with the North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition. Both are Jay’s favorite places to work; applying and monitoring the soil health principles as they relate to soil, water, air, plants, animals, and people.
Energy, Farming & Lessons Learned with Jay Fuhrer
Jay Fuhrer will follow the flow of energy from the sun through plants, livestock and soil, exploring how we can capture more of it within our farming systems. His keynote will look at soil as a living system, the role of ruminants in feeding the soil food web, and how plant diversity and longer periods of green growth help store energy as biomass and carbon.
Along the way, Jay will share stories about trying new things, making mistakes and the values that shape his approach to farming. He’ll reflect on what those experiences have taught him, why it’s okay to get things wrong and how a willingness to experiment can help us learn and move forward.
Hands-On Sessions
Step out of the hall and into the action. Throughout the day, you’ll rotate through four interactive breakout sessions designed to get you learning by doing. These small-group workshops, demos, and discussions are your chance to roll up your sleeves, ask questions, and explore practical tools and techniques that work on real operations.
Featured Sessions:
The Heifer Select Team! Choosing replacement heifers means thinking about the future of your herd. Get hands-on with tissue sampling units (TSUs) and learn how to collect DNA samples, then explore how Heifer Select can help inform those decisions.
The team will walk you through the producer dashboard, showing you how to navigate it, interpret results, understand breed makeup, and compare heifers for retention. Bring your questions and learn how to put that information to work on your own farm.
Heifer Select is funded by Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).
Turning Forage Tests into Feeding Decisions with Blue Rock Animal Nutrition! This hands-on session will help producers turn forage test results into practical feeding decisions. Participants will work through a forage analysis and feeding scenario to identify key numbers, recognize potential concerns, assess supplementation needs, and determine how they would adjust their feeding program based on the results.
Let’s Talk Soil Biology with Dr. Derek Mackenzie! From microbes to soil critters, there’s a whole community beneath your boots. Join Dr. Derek Mackenzie to explore their role on your farm through the “Soil Your Undies” activity, a closer look through microscopes and a discussion about how we understand and manage soil health. Bring your questions and experiences to the table.
Know Before You Go
We want your day at Gathering Ground to be as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Here’s what you need to know before you arrive:
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Yes, advance registration is required. Spots are limited and tickets may sell out, so we encourage you to save your spot early.
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Your registration includes coffee breaks, lunch, and evening supper. A cash bar will be available during the evening program.
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Yes! Gathering Ground is a great opportunity to learn and grow together. Many producers bring along a spouse, sibling, parent, or even an employee or farm partner. We also offer a two-person bundle ticket to make it easier (& cheaper!) for you to attend as a team.
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Yes. The schedule includes dedicated networking breaks, plus opportunities to connect during meals and in our small tradeshow area. The breakout sessions are also designed to be interactive, giving you plenty of chances to exchange ideas with fellow producers throughout the day.
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Gathering Ground takes place at the Brightwood Ranch, near Evansburg, Alberta.
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Free parking is available on-site, with plenty of room.
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The main hall is fully heated and comfortable, but breakout sessions will also take place in the arena and roundcabin, a short walk from the hall. The arena is heated, though cooler than the hall, and the roundcabin is a rustic space with a woodstove. Dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes for walking between buildings.
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Yes. Gathering Ground will feature a small tradeshow with select industry partners, service providers, and local organizations. It’s a chance to connect one-on-one, ask questions, and discover resources that support your operation.
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The program is designed for adults, but youth involved in farming operations are welcome to attend with a ticket.
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The Community Hall is fully wheelchair accessible. The Arena, where several breakout sessions will take place, has a packed dirt floor typical of equestrian facilities. While the arena is heated and generally easy to navigate, mobility may be more challenging for wheelchairs or walkers. Please reach out to us in advance with any accessibility needs so we can work with you to make your day as comfortable as possible.
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Yes. When you purchase your ticket, you’ll have the option to let us know about any dietary restrictions or food allergies. We’ll do our best to make sure your meals meet your needs.
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We welcome sponsorship partners who want to support Gathering Ground and connect with producers in our region. Please contact Farming Forward at info@farmingforward.ca or 780-785-2222 to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
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If you have any questions about the event, tickets, or program, please reach out to Farming Forward at info@farmingforward.ca or call us at 780-785-2222. We’ll be happy to help.
