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See the Market. Seize the Opportunity.
Wednesday February 10, 2010
Capri Centre Hotel, Convention & Trade Centre
Red Deer, Alberta
AgChoices 2010 brings you global perspectives, grassroots strategies and a range of information tools, all in a convenient single-day format.
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After you attend AgChoices 2010, you’ll be better prepared to capture the opportunities and meet the challenges of a fast-moving future. That’s because AgChoices offers three levels of essential information.
- global insights from agribusiness pros who’ve searched the world for new opportunity
- practical wisdom from Alberta producers who’ve successfully steered their business in a new direction
- your complete toolkit of programs and resources available within Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.
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AgChoices 2010 Agenda
8:00 – 8:30 am
Registration, coffee in the Mediterranean Ballroom
8:30 – 8:45 am
Introductions and Greetings:
Jodi Murphy, Growing Forward
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Masters of Ceremonies:
Kim Kay, News Director, Sunny 94.1 FM
Gloria Evans, Sunrise Show, Sunny 94.1 FM
8:45 - 9:30 am
Bringing The Big Picture Into Focus
Ted Bilyea, Food Industry Consultant, Toronto, ON
Ted Bilyea is an agri-food consultant specializing in innovation with clients in both the private and public sectors. Formerly President of Maple Leaf Foods International, he helped establish it as Canada’s largest food exporter by growing market share in more than 80 countries and entering Europe’s specialized bakery business. Ted continues to bring a wealth of knowledge to many boards and agencies, including C.V. Technologies Inc. (Cold FX). Ted also serves on the board of the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA).
9:30 – 10:15 am
Turning Opportunity Into Strategy: It Starts Here
Ron Witherspoon, Farm Business Consultant, Regina, SK
Currently an owner/mentor with nine different companies, many of them startups, Ron Witherspoon is a leading venture capitalist for the agriculture industry. An expert on emerging markets in China, he’ll share his views on the greatest opportunities and biggest challenges facing Alberta producers in the years to come. Ron is a former senior executive with Farm Credit Corporation and a key architect of FCC’s growth as a major North American agricultural lender.
10:15 – 10:30 am
Coffee Break
10:30 – 11:45 am
Farm Panel
Last year’s Farm Panel was one of the highlights of the day. For 2010, we’re bringing it back stronger than ever. This is an interactive discussion with four producers who will explore how they turned a great idea into a successful business, and how you can, too.
Tamara Taylor
Ravenwood Farm Fresh Meats, Caroline, AB
Tamara and Mark Taylor run Ravenwood Ranch with their family. In addition to naturally raising livestock, they also operate a butcher shop, home-style café, bakery and caterer. Don’t miss Tamara’s story of how the Taylors started their business, built a brand and forged a relationship with food lovers willing to drive for hours just to visit them in Caroline.
Christoph Weder
Spirit View Ranch, Raycroft, AB
Christoph and Erika Weder, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2006, are founding members of the Prairie Heritage Beef Producers. Along with the group’s 16 other ranch families, their beef is known as eco-committed: raised without antibiotics, growth promotants and animal byproducts and tied to sustainable ranching and land use practices. Prairie Heritage beef is marketed across Canada.
Eric Chen
Peas on Earth, St. Albert, AB
(details to come)
Colin Felstad
Dapp, AB
(details to come)
11:45 - 12:00 pm
Greetings from Honourable George Groeneveld, Alberta’s Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development
12:00 – 12: 45 pm
Lunch: enjoy our buffet of Alberta-grown foods
12:45 – 2:45 pm
Ag Info Market – Concurrent Session
In just two hours at the AgChoices 2010 Ag Info Market, you can take in five rotating sessions from a choice of 20 programs and resources that can help take your business in new directions. This could be the most profitable two hours you’ll ever invest!
2:45 – 3:00 pm
Coffee Break
3:00 – 4:00 pm
Enhancing Your Business One Conversation at a Time
Kay Olsen, Leadership Consultant, Medicine Hat, Alta.
Kay Olsen was raised on a farm in Duchess, Alta. and has worked extensively with agriculture and rural organizations to develop superior leadership capacity. This interactive session will show how the questions we ask can turn challenges into opportunities and influence our long-term business success.
4:00 – 4:15 pm
Questions and Answers
Closing Comments
AgChoices is sponsored by Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
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AgChoices 2009
AgChoices 2008
AgChoices 2007
AgChoices 2006
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