Guardians of the Grasslands Tour in Honour of International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists: Stop #3— Manitoba

Public and Stakeholder Engagement hosted the third leg of the Guardians of the Grasslands Tour celebrating the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists in conjunction with the Canadian Beef Industry Conference field tour from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Ranchers, policymakers, influencers, media, conservation organizations, and industry leaders toured two Manitoba beef cattle farms, highlighting the critical role Canadian beef cattle farmers play in food security and environmental stewardship.

Hosted in partnership with Manitoba Beef Producers, the event brought participants onto the landscape to see first hand how farmers are stewarding lands that support food production, wildlife habitat, biodiversity and rural communities. Sponsorship for the event was provided by the Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association and Ducks Unlimited Canada.

The tour introduced participants to Scott and Janine Duguid and family of Loch Wood Farm near Arnes, as well as Laura and Ryan Plett of Sawmill Creek Livestock at Stead. Participants learned about both families' thoughtful and multi-generational stewardship of the land in their care as modern day pastoralists in two unique Manitoba ecosystems. Between farm stops, the tour also visited the Ducks Unlimited Interpretive Centre at Oak Hammock Marsh, hearing how conservation organizations partner with local ranchers to preserve critical wildlife habitat.

The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists was declared by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness of the economic, environmental and social importance of rangelands and the people who steward them. In Canada, the initiative serves as a platform to educate the public, celebrate stewardship successes and advance policies that support both ranchers and the landscapes they manage.