Sometimes uncomfortable topic coming to light

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Change can be an uncomfortable aspect of life and business to address, especially when talking about one’s family livelihood. That’s why Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF) regional offices, along with several community and industry partners, created the new “Power of Change” courses and workshops being piloted across Saskatchewan in 2007.

Don Perrault, an SAF Agri-Business Development Specialist in Prince Albert, has been watching the trend toward change in agriculture and its related industries rise to a fever pitch.

“Rapid change, the likes of which we've seldom seen, is occurring in agriculture right now,” said Perrault. “And that puts producers under a lot of economic distress, from weather-related and global pressures on pricing, to the high cost of fertilizer and fuels. It’s all impacting farmers and adding to financial pressures.”

Perrault helped to develop the new “Power of Change” courses, along with colleague Brenda Stefanson in the North Battleford Regional Office. The hope is that producers will take the course and be able to see the positives in possibly changing their course.

“What we sense is farmers struggling with change,” said Stefanson. “We recognize that change is not easy to deal with, and some people may have negative feelings about it.”

The courses are designed to help participants learn about their own attitudes and beliefs, as well as offering techniques to cope with, take on, and feel good about the process of change. Four pilot sessions are being offered in early 2007 in the North Battleford, Prince Albert, Yorkton and Outlook regions.

The course is divided into three sections: a Power of Change course, developed by the Pacific Institute of Training; a session on Exploring the Opportunities; and One-on-One Consultation with Specialists – your chance to discuss programs, agencies and ideas to help carry the farm into the future.

Perrault said Saskatchewan producers who feel they need to change but aren’t sure how to go about it should take part, particularly those who may be at a crossroads in their farm finances or succession planning.

“We’re asking farmers to express their interest, and we’ll set dates and times from there,” said Stefanson. “The locations are flexible, and we’ll be asking the groups we get where the best place is for them to meet.”

If you would like to participate in one of the pilot “Power of Change” courses, call your SAF regional office at North Battleford (306) 446-7964, Outlook (306) 867-5575, Prince Albert (306) 953-2363 or Yorkton (306) 786-1531 directly to register. Each course location will be limited to a small number of registrants in order to provide one-to-one counselling and business planning services. Interested participants are encouraged to sign up for the course as early as possible. The registration deadline is December 31, 2006. Stefanson advises telephoning to register your interest. The cost to attend the course is $430 per person, and it is a Canadian Agricultural Skills Service (CASS) approved course.

For more information, contact:

Brenda Stefanson, Business Planning Specialist
North Battleford Regional Office
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 446-7479
E-mail: bstefanson@agr.gov.sk.ca

Don Perrault, P.Ag., Agri-Business Development Specialist
Prince Albert Regional Office
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 953-2361
E-mail: dperrault@agr.gov.sk.ca