People I meet, and some are more special than others.
I’m one who isn’t afraid to tell people to their face, or comment about them in public, if they mean something to me in my life. My wife Judith, my in laws, my parents, my children and grandson, and my extended families are very important to me, as is my mentor Orion Samuelson.
In my life as a journalist first, and farmers’ advocate second, I meet many people. In fact, that is what makes my career and mission so fulfilling, and ever changing. Yes, the technology and production techniques keep changing, and that is exciting too.
However, the people I meet, interview and work with, are the ones, at the end of the day that make it for me.
Harry Enns, a personal friend and in my opinion the best practical ag minister this province has ever had, was a favourite. Why? He wasn’t afraid to take a stand, did what was right, and wasn’t afraid to ask even this humble scribe’s opinion on some of the major changes he brought in, like freeing up the hog industry.
His philosophy was for government to get out of the way, provide the guidance, some resources, and infrastructure so that farmers, business, and people alike could excel at what they were best at and make this province flourish.
Harry would go home weekends and rest by feeding the cattle, helping little baby calves into this world, and adding his touch to feeding the masses.
On Thursday, May 22, I worked with another person who reminds me of that rare breed of knowledge, know-how, experience if you like, practicality, steadfastness and stick-to-itness, and the ability to communicate it to those who need it and want the help.
He is Dr. John Carr, of somewhere in the world, originally from England, but moves around as a worldwide consultant to the animal production industry. He consults with hog farmers in China, Taiwan, Ukraine, Australia, United States and of course Canada, and right here in Manitoba.
Carr says, “I dedicate my website, www.carrsconsulting.com to bringing you information, to help promote the welfare and wellbeing of farmed animals.”
I met John at the Manitoba Swine seminar in Winnipeg in Jan 2012. I liked his talk, asked to interview him asking him several tough questions I wasn’t really expecting an answer from. He looked at me with that distinct twinkle in his eye, and in his heavy British accent said, “I think I can answer that because I’m old enough.” Meaning of course that it didn’t matter what others thought or how others would respond, he’d tell me what he had learned and what he thought. We keep in contact via Skype and email.
I sent John a message earlier in the week asking for some new action shots. Guess what, he says I’m in Winnipeg, and can you come to a producer meeting on Thursday to take them yourself. Amazing, I thought, another chance to hear him speak, meet him, and ask some more tough questions. Thursday at 12 noon, John calls on an Alberta telephone number, asking me if I can fill in as a wrap up speaker at that meeting because another man, had some health issues and couldn’t make it. Two hours later I’m in Portage la Prairie, getting ready to listen to his talk, and preparing mine on the way.
The meeting included about 50 or 60 hog farmers, mostly from the Hutterite Colonies, and representatives from Nutrition Partners, a company Carr consults for world-wide.
Nutrition Partners sell solutions packaged in premixes, supplements and consulting services re live production knowledge, premix and products to the swine, dairy, beef and poultry industries. Dr. Carr tells these producers it isn’t about how many hogs they sell, but about what it costs them to bring those hogs to market.
The unique setup and operation of Nutrition Partners is for another day, but let me say, again thoroughly impressive as to how they serve their customers and treat their people.
As already mentioned, John told those producers it isn’t about how many weanlings your sow has, but about how much it costs you to produce that weanling and get it to market.
He says with the higher hog prices and lower feed prices combined, farmers profits are higher, but if you don’t know what it cost you to raise that pig, when those profits drop, you’ll be back losing money, sooner than you think.
I asked a hog producer through Twitter how he’s spending his newfound profits from raising hogs, his answer is, “I’m not spending it because I’m only 31, and I know there will be more tough times ahead.” Great advice, and John loves it.
For me, to interact with people who raise the food we eat, one of the most noble professions in this world, is still the highlight of my mission and work. Those guys around the tables, as we sat and ate pork together, made my day.