The idea for the Conference was born in 1986 when two Portage Farm Women separately approached the local Home Economist with questions about technical knowledge of farm life and farm family situations. With the support of Home Economists, from what was then “Manitoba Agriculture”, an idea for a conference covering both issues was born. A committee of farm women and some Home Economists met and came up with an agenda that would offer a number of subjects that would be of interest to farm women of all ages and stages of farm life. The first conference was held in Portage la Prairie and had 250 registered participants with another approximately 300 on a waiting list.
The conference has become a popular event as it continues to provide the opportunity to network, gather information and knowledge which can be taken home and used to improve family relationships, farms and the community of the participants. For those attending over the years, from all areas of Manitoba deriving from diverse farming operations, the information gained has been tremendous: from learning about farm transfers, how to deal with stress, nutrition, health, farm diversification, entrepreneurship, sewing and quilting, retirement and personal development. Adding knowledge to the mix heightens the camaraderie with discovery of new friends and companions.
The Manitoba Farm Women's Conference is a non-profit organization run by volunteer farm women. Ongoing support for the group and conference includes Manitoba, Agriculture, Food, and Rural Initiatives and many provincial and local agri-business partners.
The Manitoba Farm Women's Conference has been the only conference of it's kind that has continued for more than 20 years under the same concept; For farm and rural women - by farm and rural women.
