This introductory session will cover background information to set participants up for success in the rest of the course, as well as walk through general topics in considering keeping livestock. Participants will learn about Meeting Place Organic Farm and course instructors Fran and Katrina McQuail before discussing how to determine if keeping livestock is right for you. This will include a deep dive into the benefits and challenges of keeping livestock; what to consider around integrating livestock into your operation; assessing your location and any existing facilities; identifying resources and vets; and an introduction to grazing plans.

For folks participating in the full course, this session will provide a solid foundation. This session will also be relevant to those considering dipping a toe into keeping livestock and wanting a general overview of the benefits, challenges, and things to consider in making the decision. Future sessions will take a closer look at the kinds of livestock you may wish to keep.

About the instructors:

Fran McQuail: Fran McQuail and her husband, Tony, have run a small diversified certified organic farm ( Meeting Place Organic Farm)  near Lucknow, Ontario for 40 years. After turning the business over to their daughter, Katrina, they still live on the farm and continue to be actively involved with it.

The farm evolved over the years from a small homestead livestock style operation to a commercial enterprise but still with a wide diversity of livestock. They have raised everything from rabbits to goats to horses and most other types of livestock along the way. They were early adopters of Holistic Management’s Planned Grazing, a rotational grazing system that improves the pasture over time by considering the plants in addition to the animals.  Planned Grazing of all livestock is the foundation of the farm’s current production. This include meat chickens, layers, pigs, cattle and draft horses. The farm’s website is www.meetingplaceorganicfarm.ca

Fran, a past President of EFAO, enjoys sharing her knowledge and experiences with others and has done livestock and farm management courses for EFAO in the past.

Katrina McQuail: Katrina McQuail returned to Meeting Place Organic Farm in 2014 and took over the farm business in 2016. Born and raised in Huron County on the farm, Katrina took a round about way back to becoming a farmer. Spending over 10 years away, Katrina completed a degree in Business and Not For Profit Management and a minor in French at Earlham College in Indiana before going on to work in the culinary industry, traveling in the Caribbean, Central and South America as well as in Europe, and working for government and corporate agencies before running a wonderful social change not-for-profit in Guelph for 4 years.

Currently Katrina serves on the EFAO board, just stepped back from the Eat Local Huron Board and is the assistant clerk for Friends General Conference. Katrina is passionate about all things farmy – but especially pigs. Katrina and her partner Ben live on the farm with their two young children. Planned Grazing of all livestock is the foundation of the farm’s current production. This includes meat chickens, layers, pigs, cattle and draft horses. The farm’s website is www.meetingplaceorganicfarm.ca

You can register for the entire course or individual sessions on the EFAO Events page.