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Conservation Caravan premiere + RGE RD Outdoor Dinner

September 18th was a cold and rainy day in the Handhills of Alberta—the only one, it seemed, in the entire month. So what better day to have an outdoor dinner to launch the Conservation Caravan film? But……at least it wasn’t snowing!

Afternoon Demonstration Activities

Despite the chill in the air and occasional rain drops, guests from around the province braved the weather to join Operation Grassland Community, MultiSAR and Cows & Fish for demonstration activities on Top Grass Beef Ranch. Topics included prairie species at risk, learning about the importance of left-over grass litter on range health, and talking about the general climate and natural history of the region. And as if on cue, a western meadowlark decided to give a vocal production to the group. (A bit of encouragement in spite of the weather, perhaps?)

Dinner Is Served!

Back in the (heated) tent, Chef Blair Lebsack and his RGE RD team were already busy preparing the evening’s meal. Hor d’oeuvres of antipasto on ciabatta wafers and baby potatoes with beet, bacon, and crème fraîche set the stage for what promised to be an incredible spread. From the first course of sweet squash and pork confit to the final dessert of a Saskatoon berry and maple verrine, the 5-course meal featured local Alberta produce as well as chicken, lamb, pork, and beef from OGC members TK Ranch and Top Grass Beef.

There was something incredibly amazing and humbling to feast on beef striploin in the middle of the ranch from where it came, surrounded by the producers who provided the meal.

Conservation Caravan

While relishing in the deliciousness of the food and wine, it was finally time to screen the first public viewing of the Conservation Caravan. All of the film’s featured ranchers were in attendance, which added greatly to the dinner-table conversations. The Conservation Caravan showed the audience a bit of the “real life” on the prairie, and urged consumers to connect with ranchers to better understand not only where their food comes from, but what it leaves behind in terms of the health of the environment and the wildlife the landscape supports.

The film was met with a common accord that the message of stewardship in ranching needs to be shared and understood within the consumer community. We at OGC hope the Conservation Caravan is a step in the right direction.

Stay tuned for the wide launch of the Caravan film—available very soon on our website!