Courtesy
Isabelle Fortier (President, UPA–Granit), Claude Roy (Mayor of Marston, Chair of the PDZA), Serge Lapointe (President, UPA–Frontenac), Marie-Ange Richard (Project Lead), Monique Phérivong Lenoir (Prefect, MRC du Granit), Michel Brien (President, UPA–Estrie), and Alexe Côté (MRC du Granit) gathered to launch the inaugural Fièrement agricole event promoting local agriculture and forestry

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

With a focus on education, cohabitation, and pride in agricultural identity, the MRC du Granit and local UPA syndicates are launching the first-ever “Fièrement agricole” event on May 24 at the Lambton Arena. Organizers hope the full-day gathering will attract upwards of 3,000 people, offering residents a hands-on, family-friendly immersion into the region’s farming and forestry sectors.

According to project lead Marie-Ange Richard, a dairy, maple syrup, and beef producer from Lambton, the event is built “by farmers, for farmers”—but with the public in mind. “We wanted to create something inclusive, accessible, and educational,” she said in an interview following a media announcement. “Some productions—like pigs and chickens—can’t be included in farm open houses anymore due to biosecurity. So this is a new way to show people where their food comes from, even with modern restrictions.”

“Fièrement agricole” is a collaborative initiative from the MRC du Granit, UPA-Estrie, the local UPA unions of Granit and Frontenac, and the Municipality of Lambton. The main objectives, according to the organizers, are to better inform the public about contemporary farming practices, reduce tensions around rural-urban coexistence, and celebrate the region’s diverse producers—from pork and beef to maple syrup and forestry.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature exhibitions of actual farming equipment from local producers, an interactive rain simulator from MAPAQ, drone demonstrations from SIARC, food trucks, educational booths, and family-friendly entertainment including inflatable games and a woodcarving artist. “We’ll even have chocolate milk and coffee free on site,” Richard said. “Everything is designed to make this welcoming and approachable.”

The Lambton Arena will also house a market with over two dozen local producers offering fresh goods and samples, while education booths will showcase organizations such as Valacta, the Cégep de Saint-Georges, the ITAQ, and the Maison familiale rurale du Granit. A highlight of the day will be a 1 p.m. talk by horticulturist Marthe Laverdière, known for her lively gardening advice.

In the evening, a five-course meal featuring local ingredients will be served, followed by a presentation on agricultural economics from Jacques Deblois of Farm Credit Canada. A virtual auction of antique farming tools from local producers will also take place, with part of the proceeds supporting regional groups such as the Estrie Young Farmers’ Union, Estrie Women in Agriculture, and Au cœur des familles agricoles.

For MRC du Granit Prefect Monique Phérivong Lenoir, the event is an extension of long-term strategic planning. “We are the second-largest agricultural zone in Estrie by land area, but it’s not well known,” she said in an interview. “We have 600 maple syrup operations alone, with over 7.5 million taps. Agriculture is central to our identity.”

Phérivong Lenoir noted that this is the second such gathering supported by the MRC. A previous agricultural day held two years ago was highly successful and motivated local leaders to expand the format. She emphasized that the event serves not just as public outreach, but also as a resource for farmers, who will have access to expert information on issues like agricultural taxation. “It’s not just about showcasing our region—it’s also about empowering our producers,” she said.

The MRC is also engaged in several broader initiatives to support agriculture, including mapping abandoned farmland for potential reuse and developing biofood infrastructure. A second event, “Déguster Mégantic,” is planned for October, offering a self-guided gourmet circuit through the MRC’s food producers.

Richard said one of the main goals is to strengthen the public’s understanding of today’s farming realities and challenges. “We want to show that producers are warm, community-oriented, and proud,” she said. “It’s a chance to see what modern agriculture really looks like.”

Admission is free, and a shuttle service will run from Lambton village. For more information or to purchase tickets for the evening meal and conference, visit www.fierementagricole.com.