YA STAFF SPOTLIGHT: KALYNN SPAIN

We’re excited to introduce Kalynn Spain, the new Apprenticeship and Manitoba Program Manager at Young Agrarians! Read on to learn more about her background, what drew her to YA, and so much more.

What is your name and pronouns? Kalynn Spain (she/her)

On what territory are you currently residing? Treaty Two, traditional territories of the Anishiniabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dene, Dakota and Assiniboine peoples and the homeland of the Métis Nation.

What is your relationship to the land and local food systems? Growing up, I fell in love with the land through canoeing, playing beside large gardens and hearing homesteading stories from my grandma. I visited the farm in southwest Manitoba where she grew up and knew in my heart that I wanted to be a farmer some day. Throughout high school I enjoyed getting out of the city to visit family in southern Manitoba, and continued to venture out to farms throughout my twenties whenever possible. My dream to work on the land and feed others came true in 2018 when I purchased a property south of Winnipeg. My partner and I started raising heritage pigs for direct marketing, dabbling in some homemade sausage-making. We now live with our two children on his family’s farmstead north of Winnipeg where we are making plans to raise pigs once again for selling to customers in the city.

Tell us about your background. I started my career working in the food security sector as an organizer of school outreach programs and neighbourhood food clubs. After finishing an undergraduate degree in Conflict Resolution, I received a small grant to visits small-scale farms across Manitoba in order to profile each one in an online directory. Through collaborating with other farm groups, the connections I made turned into a cooperative called Direct Farm Manitoba that now advocates on behalf direct marketing farmers and farmers’ markets.

Do you have any advice for new farmers? My advice to new farmers is just to keep looking for opportunities to access land, and then jump in and start off small. Focus on maintaining healthy cash flow for daily lifestyle expenses before taking on farming projects that may cost you more in the long run.

What drew you to YA? I first heard about YA when they expanded their programs into Manitoba and was intrigued about the support they were providing for new entrants to agriculture. I could relate to the challenges in farming that YA talks about and was excited to find an organization that was addressing these.

What are you most excited about in your role? I am excited to work with incredible staff who work hard to provide programming for aspiring farmers.

What inspires you? I am inspired by the growing network of first generation farmers in Manitoba who are taking risks in their small businesses and seeing small and mighty successes.

Do you have any hobbies you would like to share? I love going for walks with my dog first thing in the morning, having relaxed days with my kids and heading to my garden in the evenings.

If you were a fruit or veggie, what would you be? I would be a tomato because she is versatile.

Welcome, Kalynn! We are so excited to have you join the team!

Interested in learning more about the Apprenticeship Program or Young Agrarians work in Manitoba? You can get in touch with Kalynn at kalynn@youngagrarians.org.