The Young Agrarians Apprenticeship Program’s 2026 cohort have landed on their Host Farms in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba! In May, the prairie apprentices gathered for orientation weekends to get acquainted with the program and each other. Their time together included sharing farm-sourced meals, on-farm learning opportunities, conversations about ways to access community and mentorship opportunities, goal-setting and visioning exercises as well as bonfires and hikes. The events helped apprentices build new friendships as they prepared for the season ahead on their Host Farms.

Here’s a recap of the orientation weekends:

MANITOBA AND SASKATCHEWAN

Apprentices drove from various farms in Saskatchewan and Manitoba to meet up in Russell, MB, for a weekend together. Some of the Winnipeg crew arrived in a veggie-oil-powered van! We stayed at a hunting camp called Big Grass Lodge just outside of Russell, surrounded by beautiful forest and serenaded by the host’s guinea hens who protected us while they roamed the yard. Mosquitoes were out but that didn’t stop everyone from exploring the land together.

We lived in community for the weekend, cooking and cleaning together and enjoying meals together, including local ingredients such as tasty local meat (Dog’s Run Farm), spinach and eggs (Oak Knoll Farm), lettuce, radishes, and asparagus (Almost Urban Farm). A huge thank you to Twin Valley Co-op for the $200 food donation and Vita Health for their donation of apples, bananas, and Mitsoh pemmican strips. YA appreciates all of the donations and the delicious local food…we were well fed!

The apprentices also engaged in some deep dive activities to discuss challenges that young farmers face, share resources and ideas for building community and work on their goals for the farming season and beyond the apprenticeship. In their free time, they played games, exchanged books about farming and had some good laughs. They also took an adventure altogether to explore the town Russell and found some nice coffee beverages, visited Arthur the bull, and got some great scores at the little thrift store.

On Sunday, we visited Skinner’s Native Seeds for a farm tour with John and Michael Skinner. The father-and-son duo have been collecting wildflower and native grass seeds, propagating and cultivating them and planting native restoration projects on different sites around SW MB and SK. Apprentices Vivienne and Jake were along for the ride, and we got to see what great work they have all been up to in their apprenticeship. Apprentices were able to to see the nearly 100 different species of wildflowers and grasses that the farm grows and learn a bit about the world of growing, managing, and spreading native seeds.

Thanks for the tour, John and Michael!

In the wildflower and native grass propagation seed field at Skinner Native Seeds. Michael and John sharing their knowledge and love of Native seed production.

MB and SK Orientation was a full weekend of bonding, learning and preparing for the growing season ahead. Thanks to the land that held us and for everyone who participated and made it possible.

ALBERTA

On May 22-24, Alberta apprentices travelled from all over the province to meet in person for the Orientation Weekend. Our home base for the gathering was Camp Bar-V-Nok, a beautiful lakefront summer camp on Pigeon Lake.

The setting was beautiful: lakeside views, a spacious venue, and millions of mayflies determined to become part of every conversation and meal. By the end of the weekend, we had all accidentally eaten at least a few and learned that keeping your mouth closed while laughing outdoors is a valuable skill.

Saturday was filled with learning, planning, and dreaming. YA’s Apprenticeship Program is about much more than technical skills. We spent time exploring how we can make this season successful together. Apprentices collaborated on ideas for building a strong cohort, discussed ways to access community supports and mentorship opportunities and worked through goal-setting and visioning exercises for their farming journeys. There were conversations about farming aspirations, personal growth, challenges, opportunities, and the kinds of lives we hope to cultivate alongside farming.

We were also fortunate to have Miles Dyck from the University of Alberta lead a hands-on soil workshop, including observation and hand texturing to determine soil type.

One of the best parts of gathering together is the chance to share meals, and Camp Bar-V-Nok gave us plenty of room to cook together. Apprentices chopped vegetables, stirred pots, washed dishes, and shared stories while preparing meals side-by-side. We were incredibly well fed thanks to generous food donations from Reclaim Organics, Discovery Organics, and Community Natural Foods Old Strathcona. A huge thank you to these supporters for helping keep a hungry group of apprentices nourished throughout the weekend.

Of course, no Orientation weekend would be complete without a little recreation. Some apprentices organized impromptu tennis matches, while others explored the area, relaxed by the lake, and spent time connecting with fellow apprentices who understand the ups and downs of life in agriculture.

As the sun went down, the campfire became the gathering place. Stories were shared, friendships started to form, and s’mores were enthusiastically consumed. There is something special about spending an evening around a fire with people who are equally excited about healthy soil, good food, and building resilient farming communities.

On Sunday, we wrapped up the weekend with a visit to Reclaim Organics. The farm tour gave apprentices a chance to see a thriving 20-acre mixed vegetable market garden in action, complete with microgreen production and plenty of opportunities to ask questions and learn from Ryan Mason about how he got started, how he got to where he is today, and his dreams for the future of the farm. It was much appreciated how he was candid about his successes as well as his struggles. It was an inspiring way to close out the weekend and send everyone back to their host farms energized for the season ahead.

YA’s Apprenticeship Program Orientation is always one of our favourite gatherings of the year. It is the beginning of new friendships, new learning opportunities, and a season of growth.

Feeling inspired to apply as an apprentice next season? Or, are you a seasoned farmer or rancher who wants to train the next generation of farmers?

Young Agrarians paid apprenticeships offer an immersive experience, allowing you to dive deep into the daily operations of a farm. Our network of Host Farm mentors boast a wide range of expertise and skill sets, providing ample opportunities for learning. They are selected based on their farm philosophy, rooted in ecological and holistic values that acknowledge the interdependence between the land and people. 

While specific tasks will differ across farm types, apprentices can acquire knowledge in soil health, integrating livestock in pasture and grasslands, direct farm marketing, community building, growing vegetables and so much more.

Learn more about becoming an Apprentice or a Host Farm in the Young Agrarians Apprenticeship Program.