This season, Henry dove into a full-immersion farming experience at Dunrea Farming Company as part of the Young Agrarians Apprenticeship Program.

Living in a cabin on the farm, Henry has been rolling up his sleeves in the market garden and helping with animal chores. His journey began back in April—through snow and chilly days—and adjusting to rustic country life has come with its challenges. Still, Henry is grateful for the chance to learn, to be surrounded by the beauty of nature, and to connect with a way of life his ancestors once lived. He’s also been eager to join YA farm tours, meet other farmers, and make the most of his time on the land at Dunrea. Thank you, Henry, for all your hard work!

Recently, Manitoba Apprenticeship Coordinator, Sara Yagelniski caught up with Henry to hear about his life on the farm this season.

Farming Highlights & Funny Moments
Life on the farm is full of surprises especially with animals around. For Henry, the goats are a constant source of entertainment with their quirky, unpredictable behavior. Even the wild visitors make things interesting. One late afternoon, he stumbled upon a wild turkey taking a dust bath right between the garlic rows. Creeping closer, he quietly watched for a while, grateful for the simple, unexpected joys of life on the land.

Favorite Tools
When asked about his favorite tools, Henry lit up. At the top of his list is the axe he uses to split firewood for heating and cooking in the cabin where he lives. One memorable moment was splitting all of the wood needed for a farm pizza party that fueled the oven for seven hours straight, baking 50 pizzas. Beyond that, he enjoys the precision of clippers for harvesting and trimming vegetables, and finds it especially satisfying to rake garden beds, preparing the soil for planting.

Skills Gained
Over the course of the season, Henry has gained confidence in some key farming skills. He’s come to accept that weeds are an ever-present challenge, but discovered the D-hoe (with its open middle) is a game-changer for running through rows when weeds are small and the soil is dry. He’s also learned the importance of starting seeds indoors early, setting the stage for a strong and timely harvest.

Challenging Days
Not every day on the farm is easy. Henry recalled hauling and stacking 400 bales of hay in the heat, hard work that demanded both endurance and plenty of snacks tucked in his pocket for energy. He also described the challenge of leading a full harvest day with WWOOFers. Organizing tasks, staying focused, and keeping everyone on track tested his leadership skills, but step by step the work got done. The garlic harvest, too, was a big undertaking, one that highlighted the power of teamwork as everyone pitched in. Henry says the reward at the end of a long day is always the same: a deep sense of accomplishment.

Looking Ahead
As he looks to the future, Henry imagines himself as a small-scale, part-time farmer or gardener, perhaps managing a plot smaller than the one he works now so he can handle it mostly on his own. While farming is demanding, he’s excited to grow food for himself, sell produce locally, and experiment with permaculture and natural design. At the same time, he wants to balance farming with his other passions, like studying and teaching. With new skills, confidence, and inspiration from his time at Dunrea Farming Company, Henry is eager to see where the journey will take him.