Presented by
FIFTY
the top most influential people in Canadian ag!
U PSTARTS M ENTORS I NNOVATORS D EAL M AKERS D ESIGNATED H ITTERS Category sponsors:
Welcome to the Agriculture Network
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Our world-leading, fully integrated agriculture network connects producers to consumers around the world.
Viterra is proud to support the CWA Top 50, and congratulates this year’s winners!
2021-01-21 17:11
Find out more at viterra.ca
Contents 05 welcome
06 judges 07 upstarts 18 mentors 30 innovators 41 deal makers 52 designated hitters
hances are, if you asked anyone in agriculture what they enjoyed most about their work, they’d tell you “it’s the people”. It’s sure true in my case, and at Canadian Western Agribition, we are blessed to welcome more than 120,000 of them to our event every year. But we’re unique that way; for most of the people in our industry the hours can be long, the distances can be far, and the opportunities to connect can be few. When we started thinking about creating a search for Canada’s Top 50 most influential people in agriculture, it was clear right away that we wanted to make sure we celebrated, connected, and welcomed people from across the country and across the industry. From aquaculture to inventions to farming; all of it has a place in a national celebration of agriculture.
To all the nominees and finalists: congratulations on earning the confidence and support of an entire industry through your work and your advocacy. Our industry is certainly in good hands thanks to the people you’ll read about here. Canadian Western Agribition is proud to be part of the conversation and celebration of the very best in Canadian agriculture.
Chris Lane CEO, Canadian Western Agribition
welcome
After weeks of nominations, and just as many weeks of judging by some of the brightest minds in the industry, we’re proud to share those Top 50 people with you. Whether you know them already or are hoping to cross paths with them soon, you’ll find these people are leaders and change-makers in an industry that puts Canada on the global stage.
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top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
Meet your judges Kim Mcconnell Kim has been involved in Canadian agriculture since he was a child, growing up on a farm in rural Manitoba. Kim founded one of the first agricultural focused agencies in the country, AdFarm. Agriculture has always been a large part of his life and remains just as important to him today.
Mary Robinson The agriculture industry has always held a special place in Mary's heart as she grew up on her family farm in PEI and is now a managing partner of the 6th generation family farm operation.
judges 6
rory mcalpine Rory’s work within the Canadian agriculture industry includes his work with Maple Leaf Foods and his board experience with agri-food organizations, including Canadian Agri-food Policy Institute, VIDO (University of Saskatchewan), and the Maple Leaf Centre for Action of Food Security.
claude lafleur Claude's life has always been surrounded by agriculture, both personally and professionally. From working on the family farm as a kid to serving as Chief Executive Officer with La Coop fédérée, the largest agri-food organization in Québec.
agribition.com
introducing...
he bold, brash, and daring future leaders of agriculture. The early adopters and those who are trying something completely new. Young people who aren't afraid to buck tradition, find their voice, and go for the moon in the name of Canadian agriculture.
Category presented by:
Upstarts
T
The upstarts
7
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
Sandi Brock andi Brock is a sheep and grain farmer who co-owns Shepherd Creek Farms Ltd. with her husband Mark. Shepherd Creek was a venture they took on in 2012, however, sheep were never in the plan. This new venture has not been easy on them, but somewhere throughout their journey, Sandi turned to social media to share it all. She was determined to share all aspects of their journey, including the good, the bad, and the ugly. Through this, Sandi has found that people want to be a part of all of it and her social following enjoyed watching her endeavours from start to finish.
Upstarts 8
Sandi then created a digital diary called Sheepishly Me. Through her vulnerability, she has been able to create a safe space to continue to share her journey. This space has created a community that still encourages Sandi and celebrates with her. Sandi’s platform allows her to make and build connections as well as sharing those connections with her digital following.
west perth, on
agribition.com
shaun haney haun Haney graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Management in Finance with great distinction. Shaun’s plan was to work in investing, but agriculture was a greater draw. Shortly after graduation, he returned to the family seed farm and feed yard. Shaun’s interest in business and agriculture, combined with a natural curiosity and talent for asking good questions, led to the start of a blog, RealAgriculture.com, in 2008. The blog was a place to share his thoughts on what was happening in agriculture. This hobby rapidly evolved from a one-man show to an entire production and editorial team.
In the last year, Real Agriculture has launched multiple live streaming options to connect farmers with issues, news, and production extension through the daily RealAg LIVE and weekly show, The Agronomists.
lethbridge, ab
Upstarts
In 2016, Shaun and the Real Agriculture team launched RealAg Radio on Rural Radio 147 on SiriusXM, creating the only daily national agricultural radio show in Canada. Through RFD-TV and Rural Radio 147, the Real Agriculture team has been able to reach listeners in the U.S. Shaun is also now a regular panelist on Agritalk, the largest American syndicated agricultural radio show in the U.S.
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top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
Jill Harvie ill Harvie ranches with her husband, Cole, and their daughters, Tinley and Lyla, near Olds, AB. The ranch, Harvie Ranch, has 250 purebred Polled Herefords and Charolais. Jill and Cole enjoy exhibiting cattle and judging cattle shows. Jill has worked in the cattle industry in both animal health policy development and public relations. Her passion for agriculture can be seen through her new podcast, Food Career. Jill received a Bachelor of Applied Science in Agribusiness at Olds College and a Diploma in Agriculture in Animal Science from the University of Guelph. Jill is currently the Co-Chair of the Agriculture Industry Advisory Council to the Alberta Minister of Agriculture.
Upstarts 10
Harvie Ranch dispersed their Polled Hereford herd in November of 2020 and now run 130 Charolais with plans to the rebuild the Hereford herd. In 2020, Jill and her cow horse Unos Boom Boom Chex won the Reserve Champion National Reined Cow Horse Canadian District 5K Limited and have qualified for the World Show in Texas for two years in a row. Jill’s most precious memories have been at Canadian Western Agribition exhibiting cattle surrounded by family and friends.
olds, ab
agribition.com
cherilyn jolly-nagel aised on the Saskatchewan prairies, Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel and her husband, David, continue their love for the land while growing grains, pulses, and oilseed crops.
Cherilyn was elected as the first female President for the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association and continues to challenge government policies that affect the business of agriculture. Cherilyn is a leader on important issues that impact farmers, including grain transportation, governance, trade, and public trust.
Upstarts
Cherilyn is a confident and dynamic speaker and has stepped in front of hundreds of audiences. Her smart, humorous, and myth-busting approach has made her a go-to resource for keynote speaking and agriculture consulting.
Cherilyn is an International Director for the Global Farmer Network and was featured in SaskBusiness Magazine as one of Saskatchewan’s Most Influential Women. She holds her ICD.D designation from the Rotman School of Management and the Institute of Corporate Directors. Cherilyn has experience in media relations and enjoys promoting positive stories of agricultural successes.
mossbank, sk
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top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
kim keller im Keller farms with her parents and brother in the North East part of Saskatchewan. Despite growing up on the farm, Kim did not have interest in agriculture and pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Saskatchewan. After being away from the family farm, Kim realized that farming and the industry was in her blood. In 2012, Kim and two friends co-founded SK Women in Ag, an organization that focused on connecting and supporting women to strengthen the agriculture industry. Kim also co-founded an Ag Tech company, Farm at Hand, with a goal of making farm data more accessible to farmers.
Upstarts
In 2015, she began raising awareness about mental health in agriculture with the launch of a t-shirt campaign. Then, in 2016, Kim returned to the farm full-time to follow her passion for both farming and helping her fellow farmers. Kim’s work in mental health in agriculture continues today as she is a co-founder and active board member of The Do More Agriculture Foundation, a national charity that focuses on providing mental health resources to farmers and empowering all farmers to take care of their mental well-being.
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melfort, sk
agribition.com
brett mcrae rett McRae and his wife, Chantel, own and operate McRae Land & Livestock located 15 minutes South West of Brandon, MB. They farm 1000 acres of crop land and perennial pasture and are actively working to expand. McRae Land & Livestock produces canola, oats, wheat, grass seed, and grazing corn. They also raise purebred Angus cattle, sell 2-year-old bulls, and manage a variable number of stockers or custom grazing cattle. Brett’s family has exhibited or judged at Agribition every year since it began in 1971.
Upstarts
In 2014, Brett was selected for the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders program and mentored with Steve Kenyon of Greener Pastures Ranching Ltd. Since then, he has converted his farm to a regenerative operation, implementing management intensive grazing, and the soil health principles wherever possible. Brett is very passionate about regenerative agriculture and strives to be an innovator. Brett believes that land conservation, nature, and agriculture, can and must, work together to optimize both farm productivity and ecosystem services.
brandon, mb
13
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
todd ormann odd Ormann is a pioneer in the marketing and ag tech space, supporting the introduction of agriculture brands and, most recently, the development of TELUS Agriculture. Throughout his career with AdFarm, Syngenta, Farmers Edge, and now TELUS Agriculture, he has succeeded in launching solutions that have influenced how agribusinesses and farms interact with technology. Todd began in marketing and created campaigns for products, such as Nexera and Frontline.
Upstarts
In his tenure at Syngenta, Todd was involved in go-to-market strategies that evolved from mass marketing to customer-driven solutions and tailored offers for individual farms. The development of customer data systems and teams allowed Syngenta to tailor offers beyond simple product marketing to true customer solutions. Todd led the global launch of FarmCommand, a Farmers Edge product that underpins their recent IPO launch. This product was transformed from an agronomic toolset that supported internal agronomists to a farm management platform. At TELUS Agriculture, Todd works with TELUS teammates to support the development of strategy and implementation of the new division.
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calgary, ab
agribition.com
jess verstappen ess Verstappen was born and raised in the Netherlands where her family had a large sheep farm. At age 12, Jess and her family emigrated to Alberta, Canada. They set up a sheep and cattle ranch where they now raise Dorset/Suffolk sheep and have a herd of commercial and purebred Red and Black Angus cattle.
Jess attended Lakeland College in Vermilion, AB, where she completed her Diploma in Conservation and Restoration Ecology as well as a second Diploma in Agribusiness. At Lakeland, she was actively involved with the Lakeland Judging Team and won the Aggregate Canadian Youth Judging title at Agribition in 2016. She was also selected as one of the Setting Sails recipients, which gave Jess the opportunity to travel to Fort Worth, Texas. After completing her education, Jess decided to return home to the ranch to take on a larger role in the family operation and start a career in the crop industry.
high prairie, AB
Upstarts
Jess became involved in 4-H and took part in a variety of projects, including small engines, horse, sheep, and beef projects. In 2014, she was the recipient of the Premiers Award.
15
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
alex villeneuve lex Villeneuve founded Ceres Solutions while attending the Brewmaster program at Olds College in 2015. In the first day of the Brewmaster program, Alex saw the large amount of malted grain by-product that was left behind after the brewing process. Shocked by the underutilization of some of the best malt grain in the world, he was inspired to find an environmentally friendly alternative.
Upstarts
Having grown mushrooms for a culinary arts and biology project in high school, he knew that mushrooms thrived in fibrous substrates. He took several bags of the wasted grain back to his dorm, ordered mushroom starter cultures on the internet, and began growing oyster mushrooms in his closet. He soon discovered that the mushrooms grown on the grain were larger and a higher quality than what was commercially available. In the following years, with the support of Olds College, research funding, prize money, staff members, and his family, Alex grew the company from the Ziploc experiments in his dorm room to a scalable system with custom processing equipment and client base. During this time Alex has had the privilege of managing a small team, growing and selling mushroom products, creating relationships with farmers, and scaling the production system.
16
Olds, AB
agribition.com
charlotte wasylik harlotte Wasylik grew up on her family's farm near Vermilion, AB. Chatsworth Farm is a second-generation mixed farm, raising commercial and purebred beef cattle, sheep, chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, and growing grain and legume crops. Charlotte's passion for the agriculture industry developed at an early age and grew throughout her many years in the Vermilion 4-H Beef Club and being active on the farm. In 4-H, she was a provincial ambassador and finalist for the Premier's Award. After high school, Charlotte attended NAIT in Edmonton, AB and completed the Event Management, Visual Design, and Digital Publishing programs.
Charlotte moved back to Vermilion at the end of 2019. She spends her time as a marketing coordinator at the local credit union and farms after work and on weekends.
vermilion, AB
Upstarts
She has worked in the events industry for seven years, with a focus on agriculture, and most recently at Northlands in Edmonton working with international livestock producers and buyers. Charlotte is an assistant photographer in the show ring at Agribition and is an agricultural event coordinator for her local ag society.
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top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
introducing...
the mentors
B
mentors 18
een there, done that, and have the lessons to prove it. Canadian agriculture wouldn't be where it is without the people here and the leadership they continue to bring. From the kitchen table to the boardroom table, the mentors always keep us pointed in the right direction. Category presented by:
agribition.com
scott exner or 30 years, Scott Exner has provided legal and business advice to the agriculture and food industry. After attending Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Scott joined MacPherson Leslie & Tyerman (now MLT Aikins LLP) in Regina, SK and began advising agribusinesses early in his career. In 2002, he co-founded the MLT Aikins Calgary Office, bringing his agriculture knowledge and experience to Alberta. He has assisted international agribusinesses in their expansion to Canada and international legal publications have recognized him as a leading agribusiness lawyer in Canada.
mentors
Scott is an active volunteer and educator in the agriculture and food industry. He sits on the Plant Protein Alliance of Alberta Board, the Alberta Food Processors Association Board, the Alberta Government’s Red Tape Reduction Panel for the Food and Agriculture, and the Calgary Stampede International Food and Agriculture Committee. Scott co-developed and instructs the Food and Agricultural Law course at the University of Calgary College of Law. He is a frequent speaker on the establishment and growth of agribusinesses and continually seeks legislative changes to foster the expansion and evolution of the food and agriculture industry.
calgary, ab
19
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
william greuel illiam (Bill) Greuel is currently the CEO of Protein Industries Canada, focusing on the growth of Canada’s plant-based food industry. Bill was born and raised on a mixed farm near Bruno, SK and has been involved and employed in agriculture for as long as he can remember. After attending the University of Saskatchewan, Bill joined Zeneca Seeds where he helped bring to market the world’s first canola hybrids. In his time with Zeneca Seeds, Bill served as the Product Development Manager for Latin America where he worked to introduce canola into crop rotations in Brazil and Paraguay.
mentors 20
In late 1999, Bill joined the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture as the Oilseed and Transgenic Crop Specialist, later becoming the Manager of Research and Development where he delivered Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund. In 2008, while completing his MBA at the Kenneth Levene School of Business at the University of Regina, Bill joined BASF as the Clearfield Trait Intellectual Property Manager. Bill then served as the Executive Director of the Crops and Irrigation Branch and later as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Regulatory and Innovation for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.
regina, sk
agribition.com
stephen hughes tephen Hughes is a third-generation rancher who spends his time on the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Southern Alberta. He graduated from the University of Alberta and is one of the owners and operators of the Chinook Ranch.
In 2015, Stephen volunteered to be the first person to be audited in the McDonalds’ Sustainable Beef Pilot Project. He is involved with the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and is committed to the 4-H community as a leader and parent of the Longview 4-H Beef Club. Stephen enjoys teaching the club members about various aspects of the beef industry. Being an advocate for agriculture and the beef industry, Stephen has been involved in the University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine program since 2008, hosting students as part of their Community Partnerships program. He also hosts students from Canada and the U.S. to Chinook Ranch as part of the Advanced Beef Cattle Production Rotation.
longview, AB
mentors
In 2003, Chinook Ranch began year-round grazing and were awarded the Environmental Stewardship Award from the Alberta Beef Producers.
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top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
peter johnson eter Johnson is the resident agronomist with Real Agriculture. He spent 30 years as the Cereal Specialist for the Province of Ontario and loves to talk anything agriculture. His weekly podcast, Wheat Pete’s Word, is posted every Wednesday on Real Agriculture. He is a regular on Agronomy Monday, and on The Agronomists, a Monday night interactive live broadcast. He has been privileged to bring his engaging and enthusiastic presentations to producers across Canada, the U.S., and many other countries, giving him the opportunity to interact with a wide diversity of growers.
mentors 22
Peter is a long-standing program Co-Chair of Ontario’s Premier Ag Conference, the Ontario Agricultural Conference. He coordinates the Middlesex Soil and Crop Improvement Association’s applied research program. Peter is the Environmental Advocate for the Land Improvement Contractors of Ontario, the treasurer of the Ontario Cereal Crops Committee, and is a founding member of the Ontario Compaction Team. He keeps his boots dirty by crop consulting with growers and operates a small farm near Lucan, ON.
ingersoll, on
agribition.com
alanna koch lanna Koch is the Chair of the Board of the Global Institute for Food Security at the University of Saskatchewan. She is on the Board of SeedMaster Manufacturing, the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame, and is Chair of the CN Agricultural Advisory Council. Alanna works with farmers and the agriculture industry through her consulting company, KoHert Agri Inc. Prior to this, she served as Deputy Minister to Premier Brad Wall and Cabinet Secretary. Alanna was also the Saskatchewan Deputy Minister of Agriculture for nine years.
mentors
Alanna is one of the longest serving Agriculture Deputy Ministers in Canadian history and has worked very closely with farmers. Before joining government, she was President of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, was a Director with Agricore United (a predecessor of Viterra), and Executive Director of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association. She was on the Board of the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership and the Buffalo Plains School Division. She has been widely recognized for her contributions to the agriculture industry and her community, but her greatest honour was her induction into the Saskatchewan Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2011 for outstanding achievement in the sector.
edenwold, sk
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top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
tim lambert or more than 17 years, Tim Lambert has supported the Canadian egg industry through a period of growth as CEO of Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC). He is also the past Chair of the International Egg Commission and current President of the World Egg Organization. Tim is a founding trustee and the current Chair of the International Egg Foundation. He served as Chair of the Heart for Africa (Canada) Board of Directors and Foundation between 2016 and 2019 and is currently a member of the Heart for Africa Eswatini.
mentors 24
Tim has pioneered programs that empower and mentor young people in Canada’s egg farming industry. EFC’s National Young Farmer Program and Women in the Egg Farming Industry Leadership Program are creating a strong and vibrant future for Canada’s agriculture sector. Previously, Tim was an Executive Committee Member of the Public Trust Steering Committee where he worked to build trust within the agriculture and agri-food sector. Recently, the University of Guelph awarded Tim its Alumni of Honour Award for his professional and volunteer contributions.
ottawa, on
agribition.com
john phillips ohn Phillips grew up on a small mixed farm in Arlington, PEI and is the youngest of five boys. When his two older brothers, Barrie and Sherwin, combined a small dairy operation and potato farm, John shifted his focus from an off-farm occupation to become a farmer himself. In 1982, after attending university for two years, he became a partner with his brothers in, what is now, Westcountry Farms Inc. They grew the dairy operation and the acreage of potatoes until the mid 90's when they shifted livestock.
In 2020, after careful consideration, the decision was made to sell the complete shares of the farm to their neighbours, Farmboys Inc. Since the farm sale, John has remained active in the operation of the combined farm businesses.
arlington, pei
mentors
In the mid 80's, John became a Director on the PEI Potato Processing Council. Over the next 12 years, he held consecutive positions on this Board and the PEI Potato Producers Association, serving several terms as Secretary, Vice Chairman, and Chairman.
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top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
jeff reid eff Reid is the General Manager of SeCan, Canada’s largest distributor of certified seed. As General Manager, Jeff is responsible for translating SeCan’s vision into operational programs that promote the success of SeCan’s member seed growers and processors across Canada. Jeff has spent the last 34 years in the seed industry and has held various roles in research and development, sales, marketing, and management. Jeff is a graduate of the University of Guelph and has been a director on many seed and agriculture-related organizations.
mentors 26
Jeff is Past President of the Canadian Seed Trade Association, the Canadian Seed Institute, and the Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance. He is also a past Director of Cereals Canada, CropLife Canada, and has served as Industry Co-Chair of the Seed Sector Value Chain Roundtable. Most recently, he has accepted a position on the Board of Directors for a new organization, Seeds Canada.
kanata, on
agribition.com
robert saik obert Saik has 40 years of experience as a professional agrologist, entrepreneur, and an international consultant who has worked with a wide variety of agriculturalists, including Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture and Bill Gates. His latest book, FOOD 5.0 How We Feed the Future, is a pragmatic look at the five iterations of agriculture, presenting an examination of how technology convergence is reshaping the farm and the consumer. Rob has founded over 15 companies in the areas of farming, agri-retail, distribution, media, and ag tech including the Agri-Trend/Agri-Data Group of Companies. He also served as CEO of DOT Technology Corp.
olds, ab
mentors
He serves on several boards, including IntelinAir and Proteum Energy. Rob is also an advisor to Olds College, a member of the A100 (Alberta Tech Entrepreneur Network), a student of Strategic Coach and Singularity University, and a member of Abundance 360. He has been recognized for agriculture leadership by the Alberta Institute of Agrologists and, in 2016, was awarded Canadian Agri-Marketer of the Year by the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association.
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top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
anne wasko nne Wasko currently works for Gateway Livestock in Taber, AB and has been a market analyst for over 35 years, focusing on the Canadian cattle industry. Anne is also the President of Cattle Trends and is a regular contributor to RealAgriculture.com and RealAg Radio on Sirius. Prior to Gateway Livestock, Anne was the Senior Market Analyst with Canfax for 21 years and worked for Alberta Beef Producers prior to that.
mentors
Anne is the Chair of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, a member on the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef Board, and a member of the Canadian Beef Advisors. She sits on the Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund Advisory Committee and was a member on the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency Board. Anne grew up in Fraser Valley, B.C. and attended Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, AB. Anne was an avid 4-H member participating in both a dairy and a horse club. In 2012, Anne was recognized with a Diamond Jubilee Medal.
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eastend, sk
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top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
introducing... B
innovators 30
The innovators
uild a better mousetrap? How about building an entire industry for the future. Whether they're spinning wrenches or spinning atoms, it's the Innovators who are keeping Canadian agriculture at the leading edge. Technology, processes, policies, business models, chemistry, and genetics are just a few of the fields you'll find this group owning. Category presented by:
agribition.com
joy agnew
In 2019, Joy joined the team at Olds College as Associate VP Applied Research. Joy oversees the applied research activities including crop production, livestock production, turfgrass production, environmental stewardship, technology integration, smart farm operations, and the barley and triticale breeding program in Lacombe, AB.
innovators
oy Agnew grew up on a grain farm near Prince Albert, SK and earned her M.Sc. in Bioresource and Food Engineering at the University of Alberta and a Ph.D. in Ag/Bio Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. Her graduate work and early career began at the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute where she focused on answering questions on farm waste management, converting waste to energy, understanding the carbon footprint, and helping producers understand how to better manage in-bin grain drying and storage systems.
Joy is a leader in the development of Old’s Smart Ag Ecosystem, bringing together the academic programming, applied research, strategic partnerships, smart farm operations, and communication activities to help the College become a leader in Smart Agriculture. Joy is also a Past President of the Canadian Society of Bioengineering and is an adjunct professor at the University of Saskatchewan.
olds, ab
31
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
wade barnes s co-founder and CEO of Farmers Edge, a leading digital agriculture company, Wade Barnes heads the company’s vision, global strategy, and development. Driving a global business suits his entrepreneurial spirit but driving a tractor on his own farm helps him stay rooted. Wade turned Farmers Edge from a two-person operation specializing in agronomy services to the established digital agriculture enterprise it is today.
innovators
Under his continued leadership, the company now employs over 450 employees. Since 2005, the company has been transforming the industry with disruptive technologies and strategic partnerships designed to enhance connectivity across the entire agricultural ecosystem. Wade’s vision is to help growers and agricultural professionals around the world make data-driven and profitable farm management decisions. Farmers Edge is the most comprehensive digital agriculture platform that offers a unique combination of field-centric data, artificial intelligence, and complete integration.
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winnipeg, mb
agribition.com
chantelle donahue Chantelle is a strong leader and collaborator within the industry as demonstrated by her previous and current roles on numerous agri-food related boards. In 2019, Chantelle was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agriculture Hall of Fame and is currently the Chair of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute. Chantelle has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta, where she obtained a double major in Marketing and Agriculture Economics. Chantelle and her husband, Greg, operate a grain farm in Biggar, SK. Chantelle and her husband continue to look for new production methods and work along side equipment manufacturers and input suppliers to maximize the output on their farm while minimizing their environment footprint.
biggar, sk
innovators
hantelle Donahue is the Vice President and Commercial Leader Specialties for Global Edible Oil Solutions-North America for Cargill Inc. Chantelle’s previous roles include the Commercial Manager Seed for Global Edible Oil Solutions – Specialties, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, supply chain and general management at Prairie Malt Limited/Cargill Malt, and merchandising for Cargill Limited.
33
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
viren d’souza iren D’Souza was raised in Keene, ON in a small farming community, but began his career in agriculture in New Zealand, where he travelled around the country and worked on various farms. Upon returning to Canada, Viren was hired by LFI Farm Supplies. After leaving his job fixing milking equipment, Viren started his own business, D’Souza Farm Systems where he provided consultation and installation services of robotics for dairy equipment across Canada.
innovators
BaledStorage.com, one of the Viren’s latest initiatives, is a distributor of Orkel compactors and highlights how farms handle materials including forage, feed, and forestry by-products to increase efficiency and reduce wastage. Viren volunteers his time in the agriculture community and is currently serving as President for the Peterborough Agricultural Society. He’s served on the Peterborough Cattlemen’s Association, an agriculture economic development advisory board and a community food cupboard. He is passionate about bridging the gap between rural and urban issues and increasing awareness about agriculture.
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peterborough, on
agribition.com
jean-martin fortier ean-Martin Fortier is a farmer, educator, and best-selling author of his award-winning book, The Market Gardener. Jean-Martin’s book is now published in 10 languages and has inspired hundreds of thousands of readers worldwide to reimagine ecological human-scale food systems.
In 2020, Jean-Martin founded Growers & Co., a farm tool and apparel company that focuses on celebrating the movement of small-scale organic farming. Jean-Martin is based in Quebec, Canada, where he manages Ferme des Qua, a research and training farm that serves as a model for the future of agriculture.
saint-armand, qc
innovators
His teachings have been adapted into a comprehensive online program, the Market Gardener’s Masterclass, that supports over 2000+ growers in over 60 countries. His message is one of empowerment with the intention to educate, encourage, and inspire people to pursue a career and lifestyle focused on growing food with care, by and for people who care.
35
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
matt hughes att Hughes integrates horticulture, livestock, forestry, and sustainability as the basis for his first-generation farm and forestry business, Oak Isle Farm and East Coast Timberjack, in Kelly’s Cross, PEI. Matt grew up on his family’s dairy farm, and since he was young, he envisioned himself being a farmer when he grew up. Matt spent several years with the PEI Federation of Agriculture, while farming on the side and growing a market garden with a flock of sheep.
innovators
Matt eventually moved to farming full-time. Matt’s farm grows five acres of pumpkins and consists of a small flock of sheep which are raised using an intensive grazing system. The farm is also piloting a new project in 2021, where livestock are managed in neglected red pine plantations. Matt is currently a member for the PEI Federation of Agriculture Board and the PEI Sheep Breeders Association Board. He is very fortunate to have his dad as his closest farming neighbour.
36
kelly’s cross, pei
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myles immerkar Previously, Myles was the Manager of Global Beef Programs for Semex Alliance and led the company’s innovative market development and the promotion of Canadian beef genetics.
innovators
yles Immerkar has explored out-of-the box innovations and strategies that balance traditional learnings and forward thinking. Myles is the CEO of the Canadian Angus Association, Canada’s largest purebred beef breed organization. He leads the organization in preserving the vision and expanding the Angus breed for Canadian producers and consumers.
Myles has spent his entire career in the beef industry. He was raised on a cattle ranch in northern Manitoba and completed his Agriculture degree from the University of Manitoba. His career in the cattle industry has spanned across many areas, including nutrition, genetics, project management, and association leadership. Myles has a passion for the food we produce, how we produce it, and the role we play in feeding the world.
rocky view county, ab
37
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
kee jim r. G. Kee Jim received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, SK. He is the founding partner of Feedlot Health Management Services Ltd. and the 2008 recipient of the American Association of Bovine Practitioner of the Year Award. Dr. Jim is also a past recipient of the American Association of Bovine Practitioner’s Beef Award for Excellence in Veterinary Preventative Medicine and the Schering-Plough Animal Health Institute Leadership Award.
innovators
Dr. Jim is currently the CEO of Feedlot Health Management Services at TELUS Agriculture. Kee’s cattle feeding companies are major players in the Canadian and American cattle industries. Kee has served on the board of several beef industry groups, including the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Livestock Identification Services Ltd., Canadian Cattle Identification Agency, Canada Beef Export Federation, and the Alberta Livestock Meat Agency. He has served as Board Chair of the Canada Beef Export Federation, Vice Chairmen of the Alberta Cattle Feeder’s Associations, and is also an Adjunct Professor in the Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and VERO at Texas A&M University.
38
okotoks, ab
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brian olson hen Brian Olson started Power Pin in 1991, he never imagined how much the company would evolve. Power Pin is the world’s largest supplier of tractor/implement drawbar hitching components and has been manufacturing and selling about 100 tractor/implement hitches a day for the last 23 years.
innovators
Today, Power Pin supplies 14 tractor plants around the world with the Drop Pin tractor hitch and over 200 manufactures use the implement hitches that Power Pin has designed. Brian has received fourteen awards, including Farm Industry News Readers Choice in 1997 and the ASABE Evelyn E. Rosentreter Award in 2018. Power Pin’s Hit N Hitch line and Drop Step Semi Trailer steps were developed and sold to CURT in the U.S., where they are now being distributed all over the U.S. Power Pin now has a 20,000 square foot facility in Fort Qu'Appelle, SK, which has brought in over one hundred million dollars in export dollars to the province.
fort qu’appelle, sk
39
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
maggie van camp aggie Van Camp is BDO’s National Agricultural Practice Development Leader, a well-known former agricultural journalist, and senior editor of Country Guide.
innovators
As a farmer herself, Maggie is a respected and trusted voice in the industry. Maggie chairs Drive Away Hunger, BDO’s firm-wide social responsibility program that supports foodbanks across Canada. She is responsible for BDO’s relationship with the agricultural industry, including supporting Outstanding Young Farmers, Canadian Young Farmer Forum, and Farm Management Canada. Notably, she helped launch Farm Transition Appreciation Day and BDO’s innovative financial benchmarking for Canadian farmers. Maggie sits on the Board of the Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame and is CEO of a commercial chicken farm in Blackstock, ON. Maggie is also co-founder of LOFT32, a communications firm linking the entire food chain. She has been very involved in her farm community through various roles in the church, sports, and 4-H. Additionally, she is a member of Ontario Agri Business Association and the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation.
40
blackstock, on
agribition.com
introducing... The deal makers C
Category presented by:
deal makers
anadian agriculture is big business here at home and around the world. But who are the movers and shakers keeping the industry growing on Bay Street and Main Street? They are the C-Suite leaders in their own right and are making sure agriculture is always at the right table when it's time to do the deal.
41
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
murad al-katib urad Al-Katib is President, CEO, and a Board member of AGT Food and Ingredients Inc., an international agri-food organization. Murad founded AGT Foods in 2001, building the Canadian start-up into a global billion-dollar business, specializing in value-added pulses, staple foods, and ingredients.
deal makers
Murad has held various board positions, including appointments to the Industry Strategy Council of the Government of Canada in 2020, Board Member of the Century Initiative, Chair of the SME Advisory Board for Canada’s Trade Minister, Chair of the Government of Canada National Agri-Food Strategy Roundtable, Chair of the Executive Committee of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, and Board Chair of Economic Development Regina. Murad’s other board experience include his involvement with Canadian Special Crops Association, Pulse Canada, and Canada’s Protein Industries Canada Supercluster. Murad is an advocate of Canadian agriculture, speaking extensively on the opportunities and challenges facing Canada’s agriculture sector. Murad is also passionate about championing entrepreneurism and working to expand female, youth, and indigenous participation in business start-ups.
42
regina, sk
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orn in January, 1962 and raised on a mixed farm, Terry Curley comes from a family rich in the farming tradition. As the oldest of six children, Terry began his farming career at an early age. After graduating high school in 1980, Terry partnered with his father to grow potatoes for the french fry market. Soon after, Terry formed Monaghan Farms and began producing potato varieties more suited to potato chips. In 1987, he switched production to Hostess Frito Lay and took on other contracts. Terry’s been involved in other start-ups, including co-founding a potato ventilation company and partnering with neighbouring farmers to build potato storage using this ventilation. Terry was elected to the PEI Processing Council in 1994. In his six-year tenure, he was on various committees and helped negotiate contracts with french fry producers, Cavendish Farms and McCains, p chip producers, Frito Lay and Humpty Dumpty, and was elected Chairman numerous times. In 2001, with the potato chip market increasing in volume, Terry began contracting with other local farmers to produce raw product and partnered with an exporter to supply Frito Lay plants around the world.
norboro, pei
deal makers
terry curley
43
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
jeffrey fitzpatrick-stilwell eerey Fitzpatrick-Stilwell is a Senior Sustainability Manager with Cargill Protein North America. In his role, Jeeery leads the development and execution of strategic sustainability initiatives with businesses, customers, and other external stakeholders that drives progress in key sustainability impact areas.
deal makers
In particular, Jeerey leads targeted sustainability eeorts with McDonald and Walmart as well as industry stakeholders to develop McDonald’s and support industry-wide sustainability solutions in the North American agriculture value chain. He sits on many industry broads, councils, committees, and working groups. Prior to joining Cargill in 2020, Jeeery spent 16 years at McDonald’s Canada as the Sustainability Agriculture leader, where he was responsible for developing strategies for McDonald’s global sustainability commitments and goals. Jeerey was also responsible for sus leading engagement with suppliers, NGOs, and other stakeholders across the Canadian agriculture value chain and for identifying emerging issues and areas of future focus related to sustainability.
44
Toronto, on
agribition.com
dennis laycraft
Dennis has participated on several government and industry task forces and committees, including the Regulations and Standards working group on the Agri-Food Competitiveness task force, Chairman of the External Advisory Panel of the 1992 regulatory review conducted by Agriculture Canada, Advisor to Canada's Auditor General's department on a number of food inspection and research matters, Past President of the Global Round Table for Sustainable Beef, and current Chair of the Beef Value Chain Roundtable. Dennis is also a founding member of the Canadian Beef Grading Agency and the Canadian Round Table for Sustainable Beef.
calgary, ab
deal makers
eading the staa of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) and its various divisions since 1990, Dennis Laycraft serves as a spokesperson for the beef cattle industry on trade, product safety, sustainability, and animal disease issues. As a Senior Policy Analyst and Lobbyist, Dennis addresses national and international issues im impacting Canada's beef cattle industry. He manages any legal actions that CCA undertakes to defend the sector from trade actions or unfair trade practices. Dennis is also a member of the Industry Technical Advisory group on World Trade Organization negotiations.
45
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
Sébastien Léveillé ébastien Léveillé has been Executive Vice-President of the Agri-business Division of Sollio Cooperative Group since 2014. He has dedicated his entire career to the agri-food industry, including more than 15 years with the organization. In 2019, he took on the role of Chief Executive OOcer of Sollio Agriculture, the Agri-business Division of Sollio Cooperative Group.
deal makers
st A strategic and inspiring visionary, Sébastien cares deeply about bridging the gap between urban and rural communities. His knowledge of the organization and managerial experience allow him to tackle the challenges regarding the consolidation and integration of the business activities of Sollio Agriculture. Sébastien focuses on ooering farmers an environmental approach to growth and well-being. Sébastien has a Bachelor’s in Agricultural Economics and MBA from Université de Sherbrooke. Sébastien is interested in the changing business landscape and the impact of technology on the agricultural industry. Sébastien sits on the Association Québécoise des industries de nutrition animale et céréalière (AQINAC) Board and participates in various cooperative network committees.
46
montreal, qc
agribition.com
garth macdonald arth MacDonald is the founder and CEO of G-Mac’s AgTeam, one of the largest independently owned crop production retail companies in Canada.
deal makers
Garth is a true entrepreneur. He started out driving a Coca-Cola truck in West Central Saskatchewan. Today, he leads G-Mac’s AgTeam with 13 retail locations, a fertilizer distribution facility, a corporate ooce, and employs over 120 people across Saskatchewan. Garth has a passion for agriculture in multiple generations of employees inspi inspired and growers who share an appetite for knowledge and growth. A key part of Garth’s leadership has been sharing that success with the communities that G-Mac’s AgTeam serves, through volunteer hours, material donations, and sponsorship dollars. Garth has a vision for independent crop input retailers to come together with the common goal of increasing crop production for Canadian farmers. He is one of the original seven founders of GROW Community of Independents (now WinField United Canada). This vision has evolved into a retail-owned distribution company that now represents thousands of independent retailers across North America.
kindersley, sk
47
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
Bob mazer
deal makers 48
n 1959, Bob Mazer’s Father, Ed Mazer Sr., moved to Brandon, MB and purchased Brandon Implements, the Massey Ferguson dealership. Bob started working at the dealership at a very young age and, at one point worked, both on his family farm and at the dealership. In 1975, Bob and his brother purchased the dealership from their father and the business then became Mazer Implements. Over the next three decades, the business continued to flourish and, in 1988, Mazer pu Implements purchased the New Holland Franchise. In 1994, Mazer Implements expanded again by purchasing Atkinson Implements in Hartney, MB. The business has continued to grow and now has 18 locations across Manitoba and Southern Saskatchewan. Bob is a true leader in agriculture and is dedicated to the industry. Bob has been awarded Business Person of the Year from the Brandon Chamber of Commerce and has received an Honorary Diploma from Assiniboine Community College. His partnership with technical colleges, business councils, fair boards, and agricultural organizations have ensured that the industry remains at the forefront of technological advances and economic policies.
brandon, mb
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mike medeiros ike Medeiros was born in Toronto, ON and moved to Ottawa with his family in 1978. Being brought up in the agriculture industry, Mike and his two younger brothers started their careers early. Working alongside their parents, the boys learnt the business from the ground up. In 1984, Carleton Mushroom Farms was built and operated by Mike’s parents.
Mike joined Mushrooms Canada in 2010 as Acting Director. In 2015, he started on the Board of Canadian Federations of Agriculture as a representative from Mushrooms Canada, standing for mushroom farms across the country. Mike’s biggest pride is his wife Mi Heather and two daughters, Erin and Bailey.
osgoode, on
deal makers
After completing his Business Diploma, Mike started working full-time at the farm in 1992. Mike and his brother took over the ope operation in 2004 and started producing 30,000 pounds per week with nine growing rooms and 30 employees. Now, Carleton Mushroom is producing 220,000 pounds of product per week with 50 growing rooms and have expanded their team to 175 employees. In addition to the family farm, the boys partnered up with two other mushroom farms in 2010, creating Ontario Mushroom Farms, one of the largest compost facilities in North America, producing 1500 tons of phase 3 compost per week.
49
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
ray price ay Price grew up on a mixed farm near Acme, AB. After attending college, he returned to the farm and worked in every area of the business. The company, now called Sunterra Farms, has pig operations in Alberta, Ontario, South Dakota, and Iowa as well as cropping operations in Acme.
deal makeres
In 1989, Sunterra Farms acquired a small meat plant located in Trochu, AB. It now has nine retail food stores in Calgary, Red Deer, and Edmonton. Then, in 2018, Sunterra Farms and the Simonini family of Italy partnered up, resulting in the construction of a dry cured salami and cooked ham facility in Acme. Ray is now President of the Sunterra Group, which includes Sunterra Farms, Sunterra Meats, Sunterra Markets, and Soleterra d’Italia. He has worked for, and with, his mother, father, five brothers, and his sister since joining the business in 1979. Ray is currently a Director of the Sunterra Group, Fortis Alberta, the Canadian Meat Council, and the Vineland Innovation and Research Centre. He has also served on several other industry, community, and corporate boards including, Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions, the Government of Canada Council of Science and Technology Advisors, the Prairie Swine Research Centre, and Careers: the Next Generation.
50
acme, ab
agribition.com
ean-Marc Ruest graduated from St. Boniface University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He also holds a Bachelor of Law from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Law degree in International Commercial Law from the University of Cambridge. Jean-Marc was called to the Bars of Ontario and Manitoba and began his career at Great-West Life as in-house counsel. He subsequently joined the law firm of Fillmore Riley in Winnipeg, MB where he practiced primarily in civil and commercial litigation, employment, and labour law. Jean-Marc then joined Richardson International Limited in 2002 and is currently Richardson’s Senior Vice-President, Corporate Affairs and General Counsel.
deal makers
jean-marc ruest
Jean-Marc has been actively involved in Canadian agricultural policy, including current Chairman of the Western Grain Elevators Association, Board member of Cereals Canada, Board member of Canadian Centre for Food Integrity, and past Chairman of the Canada Grains Council. Jean-Marc is also involved in numerous community associations, including the St. Boniface University Board of Governors and the Catholic Health Corporation of Manitoba. He has previously served on the St. Boniface Hospital Board of Directors and has been actively involved with the United Way of Winnipeg.
winnipeg, mb
51
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
introducing...
designated hitters 52
the designated hitters
T
he go-to leaders when you really need a home run. Industry champions, advisers, motivators, and producers that know how to get the job done and drive in some runs. You'll probably recognize these people as keynote speakers, association leaders, or even volunteers that are always the first to sign up in the name of Canadian agriculture. Category presented by:
agribition.com
gordon bacon Gordon is a member of the Executive Committee of the Global Pulse Confederation and has played key roles in the establishment of the United Nation's International Year of Pulses and the designation by the UN of an Annual World Pulses Day.
designated hitters
ordon Bacon is the CEO of Pulse Canada and CEO of the Canadian Special Crops Association. Both organizations represent the agriculture industry and the domestic and international issues that are important to market growth and profitability of the Canadian pulse and special crops sectors.
Gordon is a currently member of the UN Food System Summit Action Track 2 Affiliated Business Panel. Before joining Pulse Canada, Gordon was Director of Market Development at the Canadian Wheat Board, working in several departments over his seven years. Previously, Gordon served as Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of State, Grains, and Oilseeds in Ottawa and after graduating from the University of Saskatchewan, Gordon began his career with Alberta Agriculture. Gordon also held positions with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Western Economic Development.
winnipeg, mb
53
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
shannon benner
Designated Hitters 54
hannon Benner has more than 25 years of experience with youth development organizations. After starting her career with Outward Bound in Western Canada, Shannon went on to pursue leadership opportunities with several youth organizations, including as Director of the Princeton-Blairstown Center at Princeton University and work with the Tim Hortons Children’s Foundation. Shannon is currently the CEO of 4-H Canada, one of the country’s longest-running youth development organizations. Shannon has led a period of rapid and impactful change in virtually every area of the organization including human resources, financial performance, brand recognition, and strategic direction. Shannon spent three years as the inaugural Chair of the Global 4-H Network Board of Directors, where she continues to contribute her leadership skills and brings a Canadian perspective to the worldwide 4-H community. She was instrumental in bringing the 2017 Global 4-H Network Summit to Canada, an event that saw global 4-H youth, volunteers, and professionals gather to build capacity and grow the global 4-H movement.
perth, on
agribition.com
arc Bieler holds an Agriculture Diploma from McGill Macdonald College. After working for Holstein breeders for two years, Marc decided to broaden his knowledge and ended up back at McGill to get his Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He began working as Managing Secretary for Comité Permanent Aménagement des Resources Inter-ministerial Planning Board. Marc moved back to consulting assignments with Deloitte Montréal where he then embarked on completing his Master’s in Urban & Regional Planning at the Université de Montréal. Agriculture continued to hold a special place in is heart and in 1972, Marc purchased an apple farm in Eastern Quebec. Over the next 10 years, he founded Aliments Fribourg, a company intent on producing high end apple juice blends. He then became involved in the cranberry industry as the demand for private label cranberries was growing. Over the next 38 years, Bieler Cranberries grew and now has six farms and 1500 acres of cranberries. During this time, Marc developed ATOKA Cranberries Inc. He also served as President of the Quebec Cranberry Growers Association and has been on the Board of the Cranberry Institute for 10 years.
saint-louis-de-blandford, qc
designated hitters
marc bieler
55
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
robert black
Designated hitters 56
he Honourable Robert Black has been involved in agriculture and leadership for much of his working career, including 4-H and the Junior Farmers and the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program. His involvement in these programs allowed him to develop the skills needed for him to later apply to be a senator. Robert is a Past President of the Canadian 4-H Council and was the Ward 5 Representative on Wellington County Council. He also worked with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs for 15 years and spent five years as the Executive Director of 4-H Ontario. On February 27, 2018, Rob was sworn in as a senator representing the province of Ontario. Since then, he has been working on several issues of importance to Canadians and is a member of the Standing Committees on Agriculture and Forestry, Social Affairs, Science, and Technology, Rules, Procedures, and the Rights of Parliament, and the Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament.
ottawa, on
agribition.com
yr Couturier has had a keen interest in farming the oceans since the 1970s. Cyr has provided technical advice, expertise, and education in finfish, shellfish, and seaweed farming since the early 1980s. Cyr has served on numerous boards and is devoted to rural economic development, farmed seafood, and agri-food development. He has held leadership positions on the executive of numerous organizations, including terms as President and Board Chair, during a time that the Canadian seafood farming sector was booming and employed nearly 30,000 Canadians. Cyr has been a frequent keynote at seafood farming and trade conferences in Canada, the U.S., Europe, and Asia over the past 20 years. He has published over 100 articles, reports, and commentaries in peer reviewed journals, book chapters, and trade magazines in English, French, and Norwegian. Many of his former students, men, and women, are now leaders in the seafood farming industry.
st.johns, NL
designated hitters
cyr couturier
57
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
jean fontaine
Designated hitters 58
ean Fontaine has built a worldwide reputation for his dynamism, sense of innovation, visionary talent, and tenacity. Jean’s career goal is to modulate the intestinal flora of farm animals in order to keep the production as economical as possible while supplying high quality proteins. Jean received his Honoris Causa Diploma from the Veterinarian Medical Faculty of Montreal University as well as a Bachelor's in Animal Science from Laval University in Quebec. In 1982, Jean founded Jefo; an organization that offered innovative non-medicated feed products for farm animals. Throughout the years, Jefo rapidly became a worldwide leader in high performance non-medicinal nutritional solutions for animals. Jefo has commercialized species-specific products in almost 80 countries. In 2006, when Europe's ban on antibiotics growth promoters was active, Jean accelerated the development of alternative solutions to antibiotics, to produce safe food with even better performance for the animals.
SAINT-HYACINTHE, QC
agribition.com
tephanie Hamelin is committed to innovation and individual and team entrepreneurship. She is one the founding members of Universite Laval’s Agricultural Entrepreneurship Training Platform, an initiative that equips entrepreneurs for leadership and business success. She currently sits on and has previously served on multiple boards and committees, including the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, Idee Education Entrepreneuriale, and Fonds coopertif d’aide a la releve Agricole. Stephanie has held various positions in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Quebec at major financial institutions, including her current position at the National Bank of Canada. She has over 20 years of experience in management, business strategy, marketing, and finance. Her creative leadership enables her to design effective and innovative business strategies for entrepreneurs that produce results. She is building the trust of an increasing number of entrepreneurs and business partners in the agri-food industry.
MONTREAL, QC
designated hitters
STEPHANIE HAMELIN
59
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
PIERRE LAMPRON
Designated hitters 60
ierre Lampron is President of Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) and has been a dairy farmer since 1987 in Mauricie, QC. With his three brothers and son, he owns an organic dairy farm with 200 cows and 1,000 acres of crops. For more than a year, the Lampron farm has been distributing their organic milk in glass bottles in several locations in Quebec. He was first elected to the Board of Directors of the Producteurs de lait du Quebec in 2000 and was appointed to the Board of Directors of DFC in 2007. At a national level, Pierre has led proAction’s Animal Care Committee since its establishment and has participated in the DFC Promotion Committee. In addition, he served as a member of the Canadian Animal Health Coalition Executive Committee and on the Board of the National Farmed Animal Health and Welfare Council. Pierre also served as President of Valacta from 2013 until that organization became Lactanet in 2019. Pierre climbed Mount Kilimanjaro on behalf of DFC in February 2017 and, in association with the Tim Hortons Children Foundation, helped raised more than $500,000. Pierre and his wife, Annick, have three children and one grandchild.
SAINT-BONIFACE, QC
agribition.com
elf-described as a small-town kid from Saskatchewan who grew up in cows and canola, Marty Seymour holds the most interesting job in Canadian agriculture. Director of Industry Relations at FCC, Marty is a known connector and master networker in the industry. Marty is active on the speaker’s circuit, bringing his inspirational ideas and thoughts on how Canada can be world-class in agriculture and food. Marty has been an active mentor in the Cattleman’s Young Leader Program and sits on the Communications Committee of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. Marty is a a former member of Four Horse Developments Board and supported economic development and job creation for the Sakimay First Nation. Marty also sits on the Board of Innovation Saskatchewan, an organization dedicated to enhancing Saskatchewan based companies focused on commercializing leading-edge technology.
WHITE CITY, SK
designated hitters
MARTY SEYMOUR
61
top 50 in Canadian Agriculture
ALISON SUNSTRUM
DESIGNATED HITTERS 62
lison Sunstrum is a Venture Partner at Builders VC, a San Francisco/Calgary based venture capital fund that focuses efforts in underinvested and antiquated industries. She is also an investment committee member of The51. Alison is a former Co-CEO/Founder of GrowSafe Systems Ltd., where she grew research and development organization from an Alberta garage to a global operation, receiving international recognition for the science-based innovation. GrowSafe developed a platform that continuously acquired data from animals and their environment, leading to an increased profitability and a reduction in the production’s carbon footprint. Previously, Alison led the development of one of Canada’s first electronic data interchange projects with a Canadian railroad. Alison holds patents for innovative technology and has presented on Big Data, the Internet of Livestock Things, and commercializing early-stage technology ventures. She is a member of the Agri-Food Innovation Council, the Canadian Council of Innovators, the Canadian Institute of Corporate Directors, and a former member of Canada’s economic strategy table.
AIRDrIE, AB
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You’re behind Canadian agriculture and food and we’re behind you As a leader in Canadian food, you’re not just the foundation of our nation – you’re a key to our future. Thank you for making our industry stronger.
DREAM. GROW. THRIVE.
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