May 21, 2024 – The National Farmers Union in New Brunswick (NFU-NB) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new President; Women’s President; Youth President; and Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) President.
At our Annual General Meeting held March 17th at the Aberdeen Cultural Centre in Moncton, and subsequent board of directors’ meetings; Data Brainanta was elected President; Karen Ferron was elected Women’s President; Alexis Légère was elected Youth President; and Leah Sappier was elected BIPOC President. Most of the Board of Directors are returning positions and include: Geneviève Latour as Secretary; Rébeka Frazer-Chiasson as Treasurer; Aaron Shantz, Al Ferron, Dirk Groenenberg, and Bernadette Goguen as Members as Large; and Barb Amos as District representative to the National Board.
Data is a landed immigrant from Indonesia who has lived in Canada intermittently for more than a decade. In 2020, he was able to shift his attention and energy to learn temperate climate, human scale farming and permaculture. Following his learnings, Data and his friends started a food garden cooperative (TOASA Cooperative) with a mission of working with the community in a peace and friendship spirit to nurture a decolonised relationship to the land.
Leah is from Neqotkuk and currently resides in Eqpahak, she completed Hayes Farm’s Regenerative Farming Internship in 2021. Leah says she “joined the NFU-NB so that I can hopefully make some connections to like-minded individuals who are just as passionate about learning what this beautiful Wolastoqey territory has to offer us all!”
Alexis is a market gardener at Les Racines Légère, a mixed vegetable farm in Caraquet, located on the grounds of the Marguerite-Bourgeoys school. He provides the school with some of the produce, selling the rest directly or by CSA shares; he assists students in learning to grow food and uses the schools certified kitchen to produce value added products. Alexis says, “Compared to other provinces there is a lot of potential here. Young farmers should think outside of the box, and don’t try to mimic what other farmers used to do.”
Karen and her husband Al, co-operate and own Ferron Family Farms in Long Settlement, NB. They are newer to both agriculture and New Brunswick having lived in other provinces in Canada and Jamaica. They raise livestock, grass-fed and pastured cattle, sheep, pigs, and chickens, with a special focus on goat meat production. They also sell other Jamaican foods in their farm stand.
“We are excited to have a full Board of Directors, especially those new to the organization who bring unique experiences and perspectives to our organization” says Suzanne Fournier, NFU-NB Executive Director. The NFU-NB will soon be launching an updated Map of NB Farmers’ Markets, and a BIPOC event series to create networking and training opportunities.
The National Farmers Union in New Brunswick is one of two accredited general farm organizations in the
province. Our organization represents and fights for farms of all sizes and commodities. As a democratic, membership-driven organization, we promote policies brought forth by our members that resist corporate control of food. We work to create spaces for farmers to come together to learn and network.
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Media contacts –
English: Suzanne Fournier – 506 260 0087
French: Alexis Légère – 506 726 6965
