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.”
