CORNER BROOK, N.L. — The College of the North Atlantic Corner Brook campus introduced a few friends from the animal kingdom as part of Canada’s Agriculture Day earlier this week.
At the campus atrium Tuesday, there were chickens, pigs and different crops on display as part of the occasion held every February to ensure the agriculture industry is kept in the front of people’s minds year-round.
The event was put on by agriculture technician instructors Kaleb Nieuwenhuis and Sharon Wright as well as the 12 students in the program.
At one with your food
As part of the occasion, Nieuwenhuis brought in two feathery friends, his chickens Salt and Pepper.
Nieuwenhuis keeps a chicken coop at home with three hens who lay eggs every day, providing meals for him and his family.
“It’s an activity I get to go do every day, I feed them every morning and night and collect eggs,” he told The Western Star. “It just puts you at one with agriculture and where your food comes from.”
Nieuwenhuis said the chickens were very friendly and not aggressive.
Pepper, in particular, made acquaintances with folks, even falling asleep in the arms of Corner Brook campus co-op coordinator Marla Riehl.
“It’s a great animal to bring in and have the staff hold and touch them,” said Nieuwenhuis.
He encourages chicken raising, advising the animal is calm, not disruptive or noisy, or very high maintenance.
Hogs and aspirations
Meanwhile, agriculture technician student Kalob Lane brought in two three-week-old pigs, Wilbur and Babe, raised by his grandfather, Roosevelt Thompson, a commercial farmer in Point Leamington.
Lane grew up surrounded by livestock and crops on his grandfather’s farm.
“I’ve always enjoyed working with animals, it’s pretty calming,” he told The Western Star.
After high school, he planned on going to Nova Scotia but, when the agriculture technician program started in Corner Brook, he jumped at the opportunity.
Lane hopes to one day run his own operation, probably with livestock or horticulture.
He felt the program was going well.
“I’ve learned a lot of new things about operating tractors and different aspects of farming,” he said.
Meanwhile, his pigs, like Nieuwenhuis’ chickens, quickly endeared themselves to students, staff and visitors alike.
Wilbur and Babe quickly made friends with agriculture technician student Lois Power and student development officer Jessica Mardel, finding a resting place snug in their arms.
Food security
Power said she joined the program in part because she loves animals and wants a job where she can work outside.
But she’s aware of the challenges the province faces with agriculture and the necessity of growing more.
“I know that Newfoundland needs more agriculture,” she told The Western Star. “If the boats don’t run, we don’t get food and vegetables are not fresh. I’m just hoping to do something to help food security in Newfoundland.”
While Power knows it’s going to take time, effort and money, the dream is to someday have a farm of her own.
It wasn’t just animals on display at the atrium Tuesday.
Agriculture technician students, such as Jasmine Gale and James Grant-Inger, were also showing off different crops that can be grown in the province, including peas, canola and corn.
The class has actually plotted a garden in the atrium where they are growing these crops.
Gale said over the summer, while the students are doing their work term as part of the program, the staff will look after the crops.
According to Gale, the class will probably grow some carrots as well. They will give away the harvest when the growth is finished.
“We’ve gotten a lot of requests to grow carrots, so we’re gonna try to grow some,” she told The Western Star. “Just getting to grow some things we can share with everybody in the school is pretty exciting.”
