Treasurer, Member at Large

I am excited to be involved with the Going Organic network and see great possibilities for this organization to grow with organics in Alberta. One of the weaknesses of our industry is the lack of communication and networking among producers. Going Organic offers a perfect opportunity for organic producers to share knowledge, experience and product availability.

My family operates Campbellton Farm near Rosalind. Our five children are all involved in the family farm, some taking a more active role than others. We produce certified organic pasture pork, lamb, turkey, chicken and duck. The land base is planted to forages and organic feed grains are purchased from other producers. This tends to make for a pretty labour intensive lifestyle year round.

Southern Alberta Rep

My name is Sarah Green and I reside in southern Alberta west of Nanton. My husband, Harley, and I are taking over the reins of my parents ranching business that is coming into its 14th year of organic certification. I am the 4th generation to come back to the land after 4 years at the University of Alberta in the agriculture faculty and some world travel. I have always had a strong belief in the importance of the organic sector and want to continue to make it a strong one. Being a part of the Going Organic board would allow me to help bring awareness and give back to the industry. I look forward to helping organics thrive in Alberta!

Northern Alberta Rep

Northern Alberta Rep

Soames Smith is a farmer in the Central Peace area close to Dunvegan Valley. His children Christopher, Rachel and Laura all work off the farm but are still committed to the farm and help out as much as they can. They run an 80 head cow to finish all grass farm. Their herd is predominately Galloway which was introduced into the herd in 2004 and the land is all certified organic.

Originally from a small farm in SE England Soames immigrated to Canada with his family in the late 1970s. He helped his family build a small dairy in Central Alberta, then after a short bout in the oil patch, decided to head back to the farm and built a modern 60 cow dairy producing low cost milk from grass.

In late 1995 they sold the dairy and moved to Central Peace where they presently farm. He was looking for a challenge and got one! After a few years of struggling including a late seeding (June 21st), half his crop still under snow, calving in minus forty, three wet years followed by drought, and getting into hogs when the price was seventy cents per pound below cost, they decided to switch gears. Realizing that this was not sustainable, they decided to switch to a simpler way of doing things that had a low carbon footprint and worked with nature. They now calve in May, bale graze in winter, and in 2008 raised their first crop of 100% organic grass fed beef.

Soames has experience being on a board of directors from the years he spent with the Rural Electrification Association (REA) in Spirit River. He is now looking forward to the opportunity to represent Peace farmers at the provincial level through the Going Organic board of directors and to be a part of shaping where the industry goes over the next two years.

Southern Alberta Rep

Don Bogen and his wife Ellen farm in Consort Alberta. They have a mixed cattle and grain farm and have been certified organic since 1997. They also use biological inputs on their crops and hay. Don’s philosophy is to enhance the soil and to protect the land.

In the early 2000s Don was on the board of directors for the Biological Food Producers Association. He now looks forward to contributing to advancing the organic industry through being on the board of directors of Organic Alberta.

Consumer Representative

Frank Sarro has worked with Community Natural Foods in Calgary since 1998. He is currently the Purchasing Manger for the company. Frank was on the board of directors with the Sustainable Agriculture Association which provided organic certification services in Alberta in the early years. Frank then became involved in the forming of the Alberta Organic Association which eventually evolved into the Going Organic Network and then into Organic Alberta. After a hiatus of a number of years, Frank is now back on the Organic Alberta board of directors. He has also participated in various national meetings on organics. Frank received the Organics Achievement Award given out by the Canadian Health Food Association at their Western Conference in 2009. Frank spends time each year on farm visits and continues to works directly with producers and industry from near and far to facilitate goods from field to market.

Alberta Rep at the Federal Level

Ron Hamilton and wife Sheila own Sunworks farm near Camrose. Sunworks raises or provides certified organic specialty meats that are celiac safe and allergy free. Ron has been involved with the GO network since the beginning. He believes in local, sustainable agriculture and putting good food back on the family dinner table. Most of Sunworks’ food is sold directly through farmers markets. Sunworks farm is a family enterprise-the Hamiltons’ children are involved in organics too, including Blush Lane Organics.

Interim Executive Director

Becky Lipton has been working with the organic industry in Alberta since 2008. Originally brought on to coordinate the Alberta Organic Harmonization Project, she is now the Interim Executive Director of Organic Alberta. Becky brings her experience in organizing, strategic planning, facilitation, and program coordination to the position. She also brings her expertise from past work including from her Masters’ degree (women and agriculture), her work with the New Rural Economy research group, and her experience on farms, with farmers’ markets, and agriculture education. Becky is a high energy person who is full of determination and passion for a form of agriculture that she believes has the potential to transform and cultivate a healthy food system – a system that is sustainable for our farmers, our eaters, and everyone in between.