ABOUT MCDONALD FARM
McDonald Farm is located near Cartwright, Manitoba– Treaty 2 Territory
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McDonald Farm is owned and operated by Wayne and Maria, along with their kids Emma (8) and Ethan (5). Their goal is to use Holistic Management techniques to create a sustainable, diverse farm that can raise healthy, happy animals. McDonald Farm is a 4th generation family farm started by Wayne’s great-grandfather Alexander in the early 1900’s and continued by his grandfather Norman and his father Jim until the early 1990’s when they switched away from grain towards grass farming. They raise cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, and ducks to produce meat that they market directly to families, mainly in Winnipeg. Spring and summer is spent mainly preparing for the birth of baby calves, lambs and piglets, which happens around the middle of June.
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They rotationally graze sheep and cattle on perennial pastures without the use of chemicals. They have taken a number of steps to promote a healthy ecosystem on the farm including fencing out riparian areas, building berms to slow water runoff and allow water infiltration, and managing the farm with wildlife in mind.
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About the apprenticeship:
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The apprentice would mainly be helping out in all areas of sheep production including building and maintaining fences, rotating sheep through various pastures, preparing for and helping with shearing, and preparing for and helping with lambing. During lambing period the main duties would be helping Maria with any sheep that near extra attention in the barn, cleaning pens, bottle feeding lambs, sorting sheep, moving sheep and general checking of ewes and lambs.
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As part of the apprenticeship, you will meet with other apprentices across Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta who are part of the Young Agrarians Apprenticeship program. Field days, learning opportunities and potlucks will be planned with the Manitoba group at each hosts farm. You will also be invited to attend a regenerative or organic food conference during or following the apprenticeship.
