Conference Sessions
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The conference sessions at the Islands Agriculture Show provide producers with the opportunity to get the latest information on research, farming practices, and market opportunities from some of the industry’s most knowledgeable experts.
The theme for the 2026 Islands Agriculture Show: Growing Resilience: Cultivating the Future of Island Agriculture - Soils, Seeds, People, and Place Here's a look at the 2026 Conference Sessions (Please note the agenda below is subject to change) ONLINE REGISTRATION is opening soon - keep checking back! FRIDAY, JANUARY 30th, 2026 8 AM to 9 AM - Registration, Main Entrance, Mellor Hall 9 AM - 10 AM – MNP Room Cultivating Change: Alternative Crop Opportunities in BC This session will review the findings from the recent report on alternative crop potential, and will explore the process of evaluating new crops, and the challenges related to climate, agronomy, harvesting and processing, marketing, and more. Speakers: • Jonathan Snoek - Cascadia Partners • Michael Livingston - Cascadia Partners • Stuart Basset - Peninsula Kiwi • Moderated by Thom O’Dell - Regional Agrologist, Producer 9 AM - 10 AM – BMO Room Seed Production: No seeds, No Farms: How seed production knowledge will make your farm more sustainable This session explores how a deeper understanding of seed production can benefit your farm in multiple ways. Topics include producing seeds for sale, identifying the best varieties to save for replanting, making informed seed purchasing decisions, communicating more effectively with customers, and navigating government seed policy. Attendees will gain practical insights to integrate seed knowledge into their farm planning and business strategy. Speaker • David Catzel - BC Seed Security Program Manager, Farmfolk, Cityfolk ----------------------------------------------- 10 AM – 10:30 AM Morning Break ---------------------------------------------- 11 AM to 12 PM– MNP Room KEYNOTE SESSION - Keeping Agriculture on the Agenda Speakers: • Jennifer Woike - BCAC President and Farmer Ben’s Eggs • Dylan Sherlock - Ministry of Agriculture and Food Jennifer Woike will explore the key policy and advocacy areas the BC Agriculture Council advances on behalf of its membership, with a particular focus on the sector’s priorities for 2026. This will include an overview of the work completed with the Premier’s Task Force. Dylan Sherlock's presentation will provide an overview of the state of the agricultural economy (provincially and in the Islands region), key threats and opportunities, and highlight key provincial initiatives to support the sector. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 PM – 1 PM – Lunch Break – Food available for purchase from the venue concession -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM – MNP Room Kidding and Lambing 101: Preparing for a Successful Birthing Season This workshop offers clear, real-world guidance to help local producers prepare for a smooth and successful birthing season. Speaker • Dr. Melodie Ares Monast - Agwest Veterinary Group 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM – BMO Room Cover Crops: Practical Lessons from the Field Join a panel of experienced farmers who will share insights from successfully integrating cover cropping into their operations. Panelists • Dr. DeLisa Lewis - PhD LLAg, Green Fire Farm, UBC • Chrystal Bryson - Square Root Farm • Arzeena Hamir - Amara Farm • Matthew Kyriakides - PAg • Moderated by David Catzel - BC Seed Security Program Manager, Farmfolk Cityfolk. -------------------------------------------------- 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM Afternoon Break -------------------------------------------------- 3 PM – 4 PM – MNP Room Preparing Your Farm for Emergencies Speakers • Ken Nickel - BCAC • Amy Norgaard - PAg, MSc, Climate Extenstion Specialist Part One - Amy Norgaard: Knowing where to start with wildfire preparedness can be overwhelming. This short, interactive workshop supports farmers and ranchers in taking practical steps, from quick wins to longer-term planning. Participants will leave feeling more confident, informed, and ready to take action before and during wildfire season. Part Two - Ken Nickel: Your farm is more likely to make it through an emergency event if you have a plan in place and you are ready to use it! BC Agriculture Council is leading a provincial emergency preparedness project for the agriculture sector. In this session we'll look at how emergencies are handled in BC, and how that impacts farmers. We'll also point you to the tools and resources available to help you get your farm ready for the next emergency event. 3 PM – 4 PM – BMO Room Unlocking Opportunity: Practical Steps for Farmers to Navigate Grants In this session you will learn how to set your business up for success with grant applications. You will learn where and when to look for grants, and what it is to have an effective grant strategy. The session will also feature local grant success stories. Speaker • Stephanie Sang- CEO Granted Consulting 4 PM – Welcome Reception (inside Mellor Hall) - Hosted by the Islands Agriculture Society SATURDAY,JANUARY 31st, 2026 8 AM to 9 AM - Registration, Main Entrance, Mellor Hall 9 AM -10 AM -MNP ROOM Soil Management: Nitrogen Management in Field Vegetables This is a session on making environmentally and agronomically responsible nitrogen input decisions in the context of an organic mixed vegetable operation. We will explore tools for calculating pre-plant nitrogen rates and discuss Cropthorne's experience this past year with mid-season side-dressing. Speaker • Dru Yates - PAg, MSc, Cropthorne Farm 9 AM -10 AM -BMO ROOM From Season to Season: How to Keep Farm Workers Coming Back - a Panel Discussion This session brings together experienced growers to explore practical strategies for retaining seasonal farm workers—both local and foreign—year after year. Panelists will share insights on building strong farm cultures, supporting diverse worker needs, and creating conditions that encourage return employment. Panelists: • Aaron Mazurek -Terra Nostra Farm • James Lockwood - Lockwood Farms • Ariella Falkowski - Rootdown Organic Farm • Moderated by Ross Springford - Springford Farm ---------------------------------------------- 10 AM – 10:30 AM Morning Break --------------------------------------------- 10:30 AM to 12 PM– MNP Room KEYNOTE SESSION: Understanding Watersheds - Power of Forests in Mitigating Flood and Drought Risk The power of forests in mitigating floods and droughts has been underestimated. The historic and ongoing default clear-cut logging of old and second growth of Coastal BC can not be ruled out as the root cause of downstream droughts and floods, which comes at a high cost to the environment and public. In the backdrop of an intensified climate by global warming, it is time for the defensible hydrology to guide forest management related policies. Speaker • Dr. Younes Alila - Professor of Hydrology, Faculty of Forestry, UBC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 PM – 1 PM – Lunch Break – Food available for purchase from the venue concession ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM – MNP Room TBA 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM – BMO Room Voices in Agritourism: Farmers Discuss Regulations, Realities, and Collective Solutions This panel brings together local farmers to explore the evolving landscape of agritourism - Regulations, Realities, and Collective Solutions Panelists • Clea Adair - Smith Lake Farm • Rebecca Papadopoulos - Keating Farm • Andrew Penn - Bilston Creek Farm • Zack Hemstreet - Bullock Lake Farm • Moderated by Melanie Penn - Bilston Creek Farm --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM Afternoon Break and Transition -------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 PM – 4 PM – MNP Room The Role of Food Hubs in Local Food Systems Local food hubs from Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands will share how they can support farmers, expand market opportunities, and strengthen connections between producers and their communities. • Beverly Street Farm and Food Hub • The Root Food Hub • SI Food Hub 3 PM – 4 PM – BMO Room Climate Change & Farming - Adapting to Climate Change for Stronger Farms This session will highlight the Farm Resilience Mentorship and Field Trials programs, and share how Farmers for Climate Solutions is bringing farmer voices into policy conversations that affect the future of agriculture. Speakers • Andrew Rushmere - Farmers for Climate Solutions • Julia Smith - Small Scale Meat Producers’ Association & Farmers for Climate Solution, BCFC participant. 3PM - Trade Show Ends 4 PM – End of Sessions Registration for the 2026 Conference sessions will be available soon!
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Conference Sessions
Includes participation in the Islands Agriculture Show and all Conference sessions.
Trade Show Only
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REGISTRATION COMING SOON!
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TICKETS: $25
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Funding for the speaker program is provided in part by the governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
