Submitted by:
Prairie Mountain Health for Parkland Residency Unit |
The Parkland Family Medicine program hit the road and had the opportunity to visit three local farms on September 25, 2015.
Family Medicine residents, in both the first and second years of the Parkland Residency Program, visited farms in the rural communities of Sifton, Pine River, and Ashville.
The tour included a grain farming production, a cattle ranch, and a bee farm. The group also stopped in the Village of Ethelbert and enjoyed a Ukrainian lunch and toured the Ethelbert clinic, where many residents will spend time with Parkland family medicine preceptors.
Pictured Above – Left to Right: Natasha Chadha, Taran Boparai, Regan Gray, Edward Keeper, Jonathan Brown, Tyler Burnside, Travis Grexton, Sara McKenzie (guest), Jim Rae, Shannon Telfer (Community Mental Health Worker), Satwant Singh (International Medical Student), Savanna McKay, Mike Nichol. Behind is Peter Prokopowich and James Stoesz (Grain Farm Hosts).
The Prokopowich farm located near Sifton was the group’s first stop of the day. The group met with farmers Peter Prokopowich and James Stoesz and reviewed many topics including, the cost of farming in the Parkland area, the stressors that farm families face, and the imminent dangers of farming. Residents had the opportunity to observe the functioning of several pieces of machinery such as an auger, swather, combine, and anhydrous applicator. As per the 1995 Canadian Family Physician article: ‘Agriculture-related injuries in the Parkland region of Manitoba’-greater than 60% of farming injuries seen in the Dauphin Hospital from January 1981 to December 1991 were due to agricultural machinery.
The group proceeded to the Ketel Ranch outside of Pine River. Ralph and Gwynn Ketel have been ranching in this area for 20 years and specialize in cow calf production. As Gwynn noted, cow calf operations includes the full spectrum from breeding to prenatal to calving and marketing cows. The group was able to review the equipment used for managing feed, the realities of a rancher’s life during calving season, and the tools used in obstetrical deliveries. The group was able to learn hands on the dangers of working with large animals, and the potential injuries that a rancher can sustain in our variable climate (such as animal kicks, frost bite and hypothermia).
The final stop on the day was at Oaknook Honey Productions located outside of Ashville. Bee farmer Ryan Yakimishen notes the family has been commercially operating a family owned apiary for over 40 years. The group toured the honey harvesting facility, which includes the honey extracting plant and the honey barrel warehouse. The group was able to look at bee farming equipment, including honey extractors. Medical issues such as heat stroke and bee stings were reviewed. The group also had the opportunity to try on protective bee suits and sample the honey produced by the farm.
Overall, the Residency Program feels that Rural Day 2015 was another great success. The family medicine residents were able to connect with the farming community in a way that cannot be taught in a teaching seminar. The farm families were welcoming and provided excellent insight to their respective careers.
The Department of Family Medicine, looks forward to returning to local farms in the years ahead.