As wildfires continue to burn across northern and eastern Manitoba, the Province has extended the state of emergency until August 22. Originally declared on July 10 for 30 days, the extension allows the province to continue mobilizing resources for firefighting efforts and to support evacuees from northern communities.

While Neepawa itself is not directly threatened by the fires, the town has become home to some evacuation sites and has been under recurring air quality warnings for weeks, as smoke from more than 150 active wildfires drifts south. Residents are urged to monitor advisories and take precautions when needed, including limiting time outdoors.

The smoke has dampened—but not cancelled—many outdoor events across the region, including fairs and festivals. One such event is the annual Manitoba Youth Beef Roundup, held this weekend at Neepawa’s Stride Exhibition Place. The roundup attracts junior cattle producers aged 6 to 25 from across Manitoba and Saskatchewan for both educational sessions and competitive events. Highlights included a workshop on photographing cattle for sale brochures, as well as a life skills team challenge testing knowledge of pen building, insemination, grain identification, and more.

Also this week, we spoke with musician and mental health advocate Jeff Desender about his recent nominations for the Manitoba Loud Music Awards and his work running a music studio in Neepawa, away from the bustle of the city. Desender’s studio also hosts the Light The Flame For Mental Health Initiative, which organizes an annual Sober Social event in town.

Meanwhile, NACTV has been running a summer-long television and news production course for youth aged 10–15. This week, students practiced interviewing skills with seasoned broadcaster Don Walmsley. We dropped in on their in-studio session, where they learned the fundamentals of conducting a strong interview.

0:00 Introduction
3:32 Jeff Desender - Frozen Fire Studios
21:51 Manitoba Youth Beef Roundup
25:04 Interview Training Workshop