What Happens When the ARA’s Get Together
There’s something reassuring about getting into a room with people who understand your work. You can compare notes, ask questions and discover that another association has already figured out a better way to do something you’ve been wrestling with. Add some homemade cheese and a little friendly competition, and you’ve got a pretty good reason to make the trip to Oyen.
On October 27–28, Maya, Carri and Suman joined fellow agricultural research and forage associations for the ARECA Fall Workshop, hosted by Chinook Applied Research Association (CARA). The two days gave us a chance to step away from our usual routines, learn from others across the province and spend time with the people behind the projects, field days and producer resources.
Much of our work centres on creating opportunities for producers to learn and connect. This time, we got to pull up a chair and do some learning ourselves.
Comparing notes across the province
The role-based breakout sessions were a highlight. Working in smaller groups with people in similar roles made for engaging conversations about what other associations are doing, what’s working well and which ideas might be worth bringing home.
There’s real value in hearing how someone else approaches a task you also do. Sometimes it introduces a completely different way of working. Other times, it’s a small idea that makes you think, “Well, that would make life easier.” These conversations gave us plenty to consider, along with a chance to share our own experiences.
That exchange continued through the association infomercials. Each group presented a tool or process they use that could be useful to the other ARAs. Carri shared how Farming Forward uses Airtable for occupational health and safety, offering a look at how we manage that part of our work.
The presentations were full of useful information, but the delivery deserves some recognition too. Some associations brought a level of entertainment that suggested they had been waiting quite some time for someone to hand them an infomercial assignment. Apparently, there are a few advertising careers quietly waiting in the wings of agricultural research.
A closer look behind the scenes
We also had the opportunity to tour Medica and CARA’s soil lab. At Medica, the clean, bright facility stood out, and it was interesting to get a closer look inside.
The soil lab offered a different kind of behind-the-scenes visit. We saw the processes involved in working with soil samples and gained a better appreciation of the work that happens between collecting a sample and receiving the results.
Dr. Yamily Zavala’s passion for her work was a highlight of the visit. Her enthusiasm made it easy to stay interested as we followed the different processes through the lab. When someone cares that much about what they do, it comes through in the way they explain it.
As it turns out, soil science is only one of her talents.
Time to visit, with a side of cheese
After a full Tuesday, we gathered for a wine-and-cheese mixer before dinner. It was a welcome opportunity to keep the conversations going in a more relaxed setting and spend time getting to know people beyond their job titles and association names.
The cheese was made by CARA’s own Dr. Yamily, and it was delicious. We had already been impressed by her work in the lab. The cheese did nothing to hurt that impression.
Those informal conversations are a valuable part of getting together. There’s time to follow up on something someone mentioned earlier, hear more about their work or simply have a good visit. Building those relationships makes it easier to reach out later when you have a question or an idea to share.
Of course, there was also time for a few games. “Cards Against the ARAs” provided plenty of laughs, while “Slip It In” ran throughout our time together. Between the games and the infomercials, the group proved that there’s plenty of personality behind Alberta’s Applied Research Associations and Forage Associations.
Bringing it home
Wednesday brought more learning before it was time to head home, with a snowy drive back from Oyen giving us a reminder that late-October travel in Alberta comes with its own plans.
We returned with ideas to consider, a better understanding of what other associations are doing and stronger connections with the people doing similar work across the province. Those connections are pivotal. Being able to share tools, ask questions and learn from one another helps us keep improving the work we do for our local producers.
A big thank you to ARECA and our hosts at CARA for bringing us together, and to our fellow associations for sharing their ideas, experiences and plenty of laughs: North Peace Applied Research Association (NPARA), Mackenzie Applied Research Association (MARA), Gateway Research Organization (GRO), Central Alberta Forage and Livestock Association (CAFLA), Foothills Forage and Grazing Association (FFGA), and Battle River Research Group (BRRG).
And to Dr. Yamily: the cheese received an excellent review from the Farming Forward delegation.
