Workshop on creating a farmers’ co-op Feb. 2

The vast majority of agricultural producers are willing to drop whatever they are doing if a neighbour, friend or family member needs a hand.

There are also producers in Alberta who have found it beneficial to take things one step further by creating a cooperative with other producers.

Rural Routes to Climate Solutions has partnered up with the Alberta Community and Co-operative Association (ACCA) to host a full day workshop Feb. 2 at the Stettler Learning Centre (5221 46 St.) for agricultural producers to learn how to form their very own co-operative that will help producers save on costs and minimize their environmental footprint.

It starts at 9 a.m. and ends around 5 p.m.

The Alberta Community and Cooperative Association is a not-for-profit co-operative working for the education, development and promotion of cooperatives across Alberta. For more info: http://acca.coop

Co-operatives that can benefit producers come in all different shapes and sizes—consumers co-ops, producers co-ops, land management co-ops, energy generation co-ops—and we'll take you through the steps of designing the co-op that will work for you.

Alberta Community & Co-operatives Association will go through what you need to consider before forming a cooperative (also when not to form a cooperative) and how to get it done. Then we put you to work. Using the 'co-op road map' laid out by ACCA, we put you through the steps of creating a cooperative. Call it a practice run. Once the group(s) completes the first step, they then move on to the next, etc. Don't worry, we'll be there for every step of this process just in case you and your group need assistance.

They are also planning on having other producers on hand who run cooperatives of their own to share their stories. The presenting producers will be announced at a later time and date.

If you and other producers you knew have been toying with the idea of establishing a co-operative for some time now, this workshop is a perfect opportunity to test that idea. Bring yourself, bring them and find out if a cooperative is a good fit.

Your registration fee ($15) includes lunch and coffee. Limited spots are available for this workshop. Please purchase your ticket immediately so we have a better idea how many people we need to provide lunch for. If you register after January 30th, lunch is not guaranteed as organizers need to finalize their catering order by that date.

And as a bit of pre-workshop homework, be sure to listen to our 'Farmers Co-ops 101' podcast episode with Seth Leon of the Alberta Community & Co-operatives Association: https://rr2cs.ca/ep6-farmers-co-ops101/

Tickets are $15 and are available at www.eventbrite.ca