Certificate of Merit

Cathey Day’s lifelong dedication to community development, international cooperation, and volunteerism has left an indelible mark on Manitoba and beyond. Born and raised on a multi-generational, farrow-to-finish hog farm near the infamous community of Dand, Cathey’s early life instilled in her a deep appreciation for rural life, family, and agriculture education. She graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1988 with a Bachelor of Human Ecology, majoring in Family Studies with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her academic foundation laid the groundwork for a distinguished career in public service and community leadership.

Since becoming a Professional Home Economist in 1989, she has remained an engaged member of the Manitoba Association of Home Economists (MAHE). Her contributions were recognized in 2010 when the Faculty of Human Ecology Centennial Committee named her one of 100 graduates who have made significant professional contributions.

Cathey began her professional journey in 1990 with Manitoba Agriculture as an Extension Home Economist where she served many communities in western Manitoba. For decades, Cathey has managed programs and people with humour and wit. She demonstrates empathy and gratitude with all those with whom she is involved. From the Manitoba Government’s Queen’s Leadership Development Initiative to Circles for Reconciliation – Cathey loves learning and having fun.

Cathey served as Canadian Coordinator (Canadian Society of Extension), in partnership with the Tanzanian Society for Agricultural Education and Extension (TSAEE) with the Agriculture Institute of Canada travelling to Tanzania and Ghana building agricultural and educational partnerships. She was a founding member of the former Canadian Agricultural Rural Extension Society and contributed to project evaluation and international outreach traveling to El Salvador through the Canadian Home Economics Association.

For 30 years, she has served as a volunteer board member of Prairie Skills Inc., a non profit organization that restored a heritage building in Deloraine and focuses on community. She enjoys dancing at the MB Farm Women’s Conference; volunteering with Ag in the Classroom – MB; The Marquis Project and as an executive trustee of Deloraine Area Donor’s Choice.

Cathey’s commitment to youth development includes a passion for Camp Wannakumbac. She was a founding member and Vice Chair of Wannakumbac Circle Inc. and the Clear Lake Community Service Cooperative which now governs Camp Wannakumbac.

From being a provincial 4-H public speaking winner in 1984 to a 2024 chaperone of Manitoba 4-H students to Japan, Cathey’s family commitment to various levels of the 4-H program remains strong.

Her involvement in arts, sports, and faith communities is equally robust—she participates in the Deloraine Community Band and Choir and provides worship leadership and music at the Deloraine Area United Church.

Home for almost 35 years has been the Prairie Wind Angus farm near her hometown of Deloraine where she and Buzz raised three sons with lots of extended family support. Two sons attended the University of Manitoba and perhaps so will their delightful grandsons. Cathey’s family continues to embody the values of service, leadership, and community that has defined her remarkable life.

Fred Greig is a distinguished leader in Manitoba’s agricultural sector, whose lifelong dedication to farming, advocacy, and community service has made a lasting impact across the province and beyond.

Fred pursued his passion for agriculture by earning a Diploma in Agriculture from the University of Manitoba in 1982.

He began his professional journey in agricultural credit, working first as an agriculture loans officer with the Virden Credit Union and later with Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) where he served as a credit manager. After 12 years in the financial sector, Fred transitioned to full-time farming in 1994. Fred and his wife Lori, along with their three children—Alison, Stephanie, and Cameron—and their families, operate Avondale Seed Farm Ltd. and a beef-cow operation near Reston, Manitoba.

Fred’s leadership in the agricultural industry is both broad and deep. He played a pivotal role in the formation of the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA) following the end of single-desk marketing. As a founding board member and later chair, Fred helped shape the organization into a powerful advocate for Manitoba’s grain producers. Under his guidance, MWBGA invested in research, production, and market development, and forged strong partnerships with national organizations such as Cereals Canada and the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC).

Fred’s vision extended beyond provincial borders. He was instrumental in building collaborative relationships across the Prairies and helped establish MWBGA as a founding member of both the CWRC and the Canadian Barley Research Coalition. His leadership was again called upon during the successful amalgamation of five Manitoba commodity groups - MWBGA, Manitoba Corn Growers Association, Manitoba Flax Growers Association, National Sunflower Association of Canada and Winter Cereals Manitoba - into the Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) in 2020. As chair of both MWBGA and MCA, Fred championed the belief that farmers are stronger together, helping to unify the voice of Manitoba’s crop producers.

In addition to his work with MWBGA and MCA, Fred has served on the boards of Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers, Western Grains Research Foundation, CANTERRA SEEDS, and the Canadian Grain Commission’s Western Standards Committee. His contributions have helped shape agricultural policy, research priorities, and market standards at both provincial and national levels.

Fred’s commitment to service extends into his local community. He has been an active volunteer and leader in numerous organizations, including his current role as chair of Sunrise Credit Union, which serves communities across western Manitoba. Elected as a director in 2014, Fred has contributed to several internal committees, including audit and risk management, demonstrating the same integrity and foresight that define his agricultural leadership.

Fred Greig exemplifies the principles of servant leadership—authenticity, integrity, compassion, and a people-first philosophy. His quiet strength, humility, and unwavering dedication have inspired countless individuals in the agriculture industry and beyond.

Kim McConnell is a visionary, mentor, and tireless advocate for Canadian agriculture, whose contributions have shaped the industry and inspired generations of leaders.

Kim grew up on a family farm in Hamiota, Manitoba, where his early experiences instilled a deep respect for agriculture and rural life. He graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, already demonstrating leadership as Senior Stick (President) of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and serving on numerous university committees. His connection to the Faculty has remained strong ever since, offering mentorship, marketing expertise, and strategic guidance to multiple deans and countless students.

In 1984, Kim founded Fieldstone Marketing and Communications from his basement. This entrepreneurial venture evolved into AdFarm, one of North America’s largest and most respected agricultural marketing firms. Under Kim’s leadership, AdFarm developed iconic brands for industry giants such as Bayer, Cargill, Corteva, RBC Royal Bank and Farm Credit Canada. The company was repeatedly recognized as one of “Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies” and “Best Places to Work in Canada.” Kim’s pioneering work in agricultural marketing has helped build public trust in food and farming and served as a catalyst for major industry initiatives.

After stepping down as CEO in 2007, Kim remained a strategic advisor while dedicating his energy to advancing agriculture, rural Canada, and youth leadership. His influence spans numerous boards and initiatives, including the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, 4-H Canada, Calgary Stampede, and the Salvation Army. He has leveraged his connections with Canadian and international leaders to foster collaboration between government, industry, and the public, leading and supporting key initiatives such as Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers, Growing Alberta, Alberta Farm Animal Care, and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. A trusted facilitator, Kim has played pivotal roles in revitalizing the seed and beef industries, expanding trade, and building public trust in agriculture through efforts like the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity.

Kim’s dedication to youth and education is especially noteworthy. He has mentored countless students and young professionals, including Indigenous youth and young women entering leadership roles. In addition to his work with 4-H at a national level, he was directly involved in the structural re‐alignment of two provincial 4‐H organizations. His guest lectures and mentorship at the University of Manitoba have been described by students as “inspiring” and “transformative.”

Kim’s leadership has been recognized with numerous accolades. In 2012, he was inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame—the youngest recipient at the time. In 2017, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for his contributions to agriculture and youth development. He also received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, was named Canada’s Agri-Marketer of the Year, Calgary’s Inspiring Business Leader of the Year, and was made an Honourary Member of 4-H Canada, a testament to his enduring impact.

Today, Kim resides in Alberta with his wife Carolyn, where he continues to inspire, lead, and support the next generation of agricultural leaders.

The Certificate of Merit is presented each year in recognition of leadership with agricultural organizations and service to the community at large. The 2024 recipients are Arthur Cameron, renowned Roland pumpkin grower, and Delaney Ross Burtnack, executive director of Manitoba Canola Growers Association.

Arthur Cameron was raised on a family farm just outside Roland, MB. In 1970, Arthur graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural Economics. Following graduation, he worked with Grain Insurance & Guarantee in Winnipeg from 1972 to 1996 until he returned to the family grain farm in Roland.

Arthur believes strongly in community service and has volunteered his time with various groups, including the Roland Curling Club and Rink Board. He served for seven years on the Carman Area Foundation, of which the R.M. of Roland is a member. He has often been called upon for grant writing and thanks to his time commitment, community infrastructure such as the Roland Walking Path and Roland Electronic Reader Board projects were successfully achieved.

Perhaps his most significant leadership is evidenced through his community’s annual agricultural fair. As background, in 1976, Roland resident Edgar Van Wyck set the world record for growing the heaviest pumpkin, weighing around 400 pounds. In subsequent years, giant pumpkins continued to be grown which brought the small community a high level of fame. In 1991, the annual Roland fair for the heaviest pumpkin (now termed the “Roland Pumpkin Fair”) began, and in 1996 Arthur began volunteering with the event.

Since then, Arthur has been instrumental in the organization and advertising of the Roland Pumpkin Fair, and without his efforts, the fair would undoubtedly be a fraction of what it is today. For 18 years, Arthur served as Chair of the Roland Pumpkin Fair and President of the Roland Agricultural Society. Under his leadership, the Roland Pumpkin Fair has grown immensely over the years; bringing in thousands of attendees and making North American headlines. In addition to the great pumpkin weigh-off, the fair is filled with a wide variety of organized events – ranging from a pancake breakfast, craft sales, agricultural and educational displays, entertainment and children’s activities, and a full course harvest supper.

The Roland Pumpkin Fair is now a staple event each October in Roland, drawing massive crowds from across Manitoba and even the United States. Arthur’s conversations and advocacy with numerous agribusinesses have amounted in substantial sponsors to make this event possible. His tireless efforts have amounted to countless smiles, memories, and amazement to all those who attend the annual Roland Pumpkin Fair.

In 2006, Arthur and other growers established the Manitoba Giant Growers Association (MGGA), a non-profit association. Arthur has since served as Chairman of the MGGA for many years and currently serves in this capacity. His leadership with the MGGA has promoted the hobby of giant pumpkin growing all across this province, and he spends time mentoring new growers and providing his expertise on the subject. Arthur has been vital in organizing annual seminars and patch tours across the province for over a decade to promote awareness and educate others on the hobby.

In 2023, Arthur set his personal best for his heaviest pumpkin weighing 1,178.0 pounds. He has donated many of his giant pumpkins each year to “A Pumpkin Promise”, a fundraiser for CancerCare that gathers attention through carving these giant pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns.

Today, Arthur Cameron resides on the family century farm in Roland, where he continues to grow giant pumpkins and watermelons. In fact, he holds the Manitoba record for watermelons at 167 pounds. He also enjoys golf and curling.

Delaney Ross Burtnack was born and raised in Winnipeg, spending many summers and holidays at the family farm near Swan River in the Parkland Region of Manitoba. Her lifelong love of agriculture began on the Cotton Century Farm through her close relationship with her grandparents John and Margaret Cotton. 

Delaney graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Crop Protection Major) from the University of Manitoba in 1998 and completed her M.Sc. in Plant Science in 2001. After graduation, Delaney began cultivating her reputation as an excellent communicator, joining Issues Ink publishing company as advising agronomist in 2000. She became managing editor for Lester Communications, another publishing group in Winnipeg in 2003. Delaney then joined Cargill in 2005 at their Canadian head office in Winnipeg as communications coordinator.

Delaney’s role as a nationally-respected communicator and leader in Canada’s agricultural industry was firmly established when she joined the Canadian Association of Agricultural Retailers (CAAR), first in 2007 as communications and membership manager and then as their President and CEO from 2011-2017. She led the development of a formal business strategy and restructured the organization, engaging the CAAR Board in strategic planning and development of an updated mission and vision. With the joint effort of a great CAAR team, she led improved the profitability of CAAR’s annual conference and a stronger program format, developed new agronomy and safety training resources, and re-engaged the association in advocacy issues at a national and regional level.

In 2017, Delaney became Executive Director with the Manitoba Canola Growers Association (MCGA), where she was fortunate to step into leadership of an exceptional team. By updating and refining management systems, policies and procedures, she continued to collaboratively build the team into the strong and innovative group that drives MCGA’s successful programming today. Working closely with the board, she established a new Revenue Reserve in 2021 that allowed strategic investment in research infrastructure at the University of Manitoba and Assiniboine Community College, while planning ahead to offset the risk of low-income years. Supported by Delaney’s leadership, the MCGA team built stronger collaborative relationships provincially and nationally, improved cost-sharing, expanded the Research pillar with dedicated staff and new research programs, expanded MCGA’s innovative Market Development pillar into a collaborative national program, grew outreach to farmers with more valuable and relevant programming, and established MCGA as a strong and informed voice for Manitoba canola farmers on a wide range of issues.

Delaney has also continued her family’s commitment to volunteering, serving in a variety of voluntary leadership roles in external agricultural organizations including Northern Agriculture Development Corporation; PMRA Maximum Residue Limit Steering Committee; Fertilizer Canada’s Fertilizer Safety and Security Council; Fertilizer Canada’s Safety, Training, and TDG Subcommittee; Prairie Certified Crop Advisor Board; and Canadian Agri-Marketing Association for Manitoba.

Her service also extends to her local community, with volunteer roles with Graffiti Art Gallery – Mural Fest Event, and coaching and team support for Rally Cap Baseball, and Interlake Minor Baseball 9U and 11U.

Delaney is truly honoured to add this Certificate of Merit to her Cotton family’s distinguished history supporting agriculture and community that continues through her extended family today. The Manitoba story started many years ago with her great, great grandfather Almon James Cotton – an agricultural pioneer who served on the Board of Governors of the University of Manitoba from 1917 to 1934, was inducted into the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame, and later came to be known as “The Wheat King”. Delaney’s grandfather John Cotton also contributed honours like two-time World Flax Champion and recipient of many awards for outstanding volunteerism, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Delaney hopes to continue contributing to the industry and the Parkland region following her family’s move in 2024 back to her husband’s hometown and nearer the Cotton family farm.

Ian grew up near Deerwood, MB, on a multi-generational family farm. Ian’s grandfather purchased the farm in 1921, and Ian’s parents Dan and Pat built a grain and purebred Charolais cattle operation, on which they raised their four sons. Through succession planning and incorporation, the farm was restructured into a large grain, cattle, and beekeeping operation called Steppler Farms, with the brothers each managing different elements.

After high school, Ian graduated from the Diploma in Agriculture program at the University of Manitoba in 1999. His passion for keeping honey bees which got its start from his time as a student in the School of Agriculture. A pivotal decision to take the beekeeping course – as a way to achieve his final two credit hours needed to graduate - led him to purchase four colonies of honey bees in 1999, which turned into over 200 colonies in 2002. He rapidly expanded to the point where he now manages over 1500 colonies as part of Steppler Farms honey operations and is a full-time commercial beekeeper. They produce 400-450 barrels annually, and hire a full time staff member and 5-6 local students every summer season.

His dedication to the beekeeping industry is immense and he has played a transformative role through his many contributions. He has served as Vice President and President of the Manitoba Beekeepers Association (MBA), guiding the industry through difficult issues related to colony losses, as well as bee and labour shortages. He is also leading new initiatives that will serve the industry going forward. For example, as Chair of the MBA research committee, Ian was the driving force behind the establishment of the Knowledge Research Transfer Program (KRTP) a program that will provide extension services to help mitigate future losses of bees as well as conduct demonstration trials that will help to transfer research innovation to use by industry. He now additionally chairs the Steering committee for the KRTP and is overseeing its continuing formation and funding.

He has contributed to service in the broader agricultural community beyond just “bees”. For example, in 2022 he was invited to join the Agricultural Advisory Committee established by the then Minister of Agriculture Ralph Eichler to facilitate communication between the government and agricultural commodity organizations. Ian has also served as a director of the Deerwood Watershed Authority. His concerns over environmental stewardship were recognized through the Canadian Federation of Agriculture “Farmer Rancher Pollination Conservation Award” in 2020. Steppler Farms was also presented with the 2018 Pembina Valley Conservation Award

Ian has a strong philosophy of giving back by mentoring young farmers and budding beekeepers, and he is extraordinarily generous with his time. He has been a regular final presentation panelist for the School of Agriculture and has also presented to the School’s small business classes on several occasions.

He is known as a “rock star” in the bee world. His Canadian Beekeepers Blog on YouTube has over 85,000 subscribers, and his regular videos (he has posted over 1,000) have collectively gained over 30 million views. He is regularly invited to speak at conferences on beekeeping and has done so both live and by video conference at locations in Canada, the United States and Europe where he shares his unique perspectives on the industry.

Ian and wife Sandy currently live with their five children Lori, Michael, April, Charlie, and Lea on the farm. Four of the five have worked on the honey farm through the summer production season, and the fifth would if she was old enough!

Jill Verwey was raised on her family’s mixed farm northwest of Neepawa, which has been owned and operated by her family for over 147 years. She completed the Diploma in Agriculture program at the University of Manitoba in 1988.

After graduation, Jill spent 13 years in agricultural and commercial lending, before shifting her focus to the multigeneration, family-owned crop, dairy, and beef farm operated by her husband, Ray, and his brothers south of Portage la Prairie, MB. Jill and Ray also raised four children: Rachael, Lindsay, Brice, and Randi.

Jill’s main role on the farm is financial management, record keeping, human resources, and acting as the farm’s representative in many commodity organizations. That role prompted Jill to join the advisory committee for the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba. With Keystone Agricultural Producers, she began as a district delegate, a member of grains and oilseed committee, and then chair of committees related to finance, livestock, human resource, and rural policy. She was elected to KAP’s board of directors and then elected as vice president. In January 2023, Jill became the first woman to be elected as president of KAP.

Through her role as KAP’s president, she was elected to the board of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture where she sits as western representative on the board’s executive. Jill also was nominated by KAP as grain producer for the Western Grains Research Foundation board of directors, where she is a member of the governance committee and Manitoba’s representative on the WGRF executive. Jill supports local agricultural research through the Crop Research Organization of Portage, which is a local not-for-profit organization responsible for local research for its farmer members in Portage area.

Jill has always been an advocate for agriculture. She volunteered with Ag in the Classroom, helped with breakfast programs at local schools, and hosted tours of the Verweys’ farm for local school classes and agriculture students from the University of Manitoba. Jill also hosted the general public on their farm during Open Farm Day. Jill and Ray always encouraged their children to participate in their local 4H club, and Jill volunteered as a 4H club leader for many years.

Jill’s other community contributions include service on boards to the Portage Curling Club, the Homestead Coop and the Portage General Hospital Foundation. She has also assisted with community fund-raising, beginning with helping to organize a ladies’ snowmobile ride for breast cancer awareness for several years. Jill and her Verwey family farm partners also hosted the first “Growing for STARS” fundraising event for STARS Air Ambulance service in Manitoba. The Verwey farm was the first farm to do so and now it continues as an important event for STARS, raising awareness and support for this important service in rural Manitoba.

In 2020, the Verweys’ farm was recognized Manitoba’s Farm Family of the Year at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. Jill was also honored in 2020 with an Excellence in Agriculture Award presented by the Chamber of Commerce in Portage la Prairie for her “outstanding contribution to Agriculture.”

Jill has maintained a strong and supportive connection with the University of Manitoba. She serves regularly as a panel member for the Diploma farm management presentations. Three of Jill’s and Ray’s children have furthered their education in agriculture at the U of M, with Lindsay and Brice completing their Agriculture Diplomas and Rachael completing her B.Sc. in Agriculture.

Curtis was born in Morden and raised on a farm south of town. After high school, he attended the University of Manitoba and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree in Agricultural Economics in 1972.

In 1973, Curtis married Pat Hamblin and started working for Northern Sales, a special crop company in Winnipeg where he contracted farmers for mustard seed in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and canola in North Dakota.

In 1975, after Pat’s father suffered health issues, Pat and Curtis moved south of Morris to farm with Pat’s brother Robert and after five years, they began to farm on their own. Pat and Curtis raised four children, all of whom attended UM: son Craig (currently operating the farm) - Diploma in Agriculture, daughters Nancy - Bachelor of Education & Masters in Library & Information Studies, Leanne - B.Sc. in Agroecology and M.Sc. in Plant Science, and Shelley - Bachelor of Nursing.

In the late 70s and early 80s, Curtis taught courses for Assiniboine Community College in grain marketing and NISA (Net Income Stabilization Account). For several years he ran a grain elevator for Allstate Grain at Emerson. Pat and Curtis started and operated Valley Seed Laboratory from 1986 to 2010 - a federally approved and audited seed testing laboratory. Curtis was on the board of Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada from 1996-98. He has been a long-time member of the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists and served a term on the board. Curtis (along with Pat) became Honorary Life Members of the Manitoba Seed Growers Association in 2011.

The first organization Curtis joined after moving to Morris in 1975 was the Valley Agricultural Society (VAS), host of the Manitoba Stampede (the Big M). He worked for several years on the dairy committee of the Big M, joined the board and served as president in 1985 and 86. Representing the VAS, he became a board member of the A & B Fairs Association of Manitoba. He was a founding member of the Manitoba Association of Agricultural Societies (MAAS) in 1986, served as president in 1989 and 1990, and as administrator after that until today.

On behalf of MAAS, Curtis administered many federal and provincial programs over the years including the Federal Fairs & Exhibition Program, the Canadian Farm Business Management Program, the Canadian Farm Safety Program and the Agri-food Research & Development Initiative (ARDI) of the Canadian Ag Policy Framework. Curtis developed and administered over 800 agreements, and paid - on behalf of the governments - approximately $85 million dollars to recipients while interacting with hundreds of potential and successful applicants of research projects as small as $500 and up to $3 million.

A strong supporter of his home community of Morris, Curtis has been a dedicated volunteer including as Cub Leader, Sunday School Youth Leader, and Church Board member, chair and trustee. He is been a Red Hat recipient for his long involvement with the Big M. He has also

been board member of the Morris Community Development Corporation and Morris & District Handi Van, and is currently vice-chair of the Morris Area Foundation.

Today Curtis and Pat spend their time with their four grandchildren, continue to help on the farm and hope to do more traveling.

Henry Holtmann was born in 1962 in Winnipeg, and was raised on the home dairy farm in Rosser and was involved in all aspects of farm life. Henry’s grandfather came to Canada in 1929 from Germany, and was later joined by his wife; they raised a family of eight children on their dairy farm. Henry’s parents took over the farm in 1961 and raised four children and continued in dairy with purebred Holsteins.

Laura Holtmann was born in 1962, the oldest of three siblings. Raised in Winnipeg, Laura’s passion for agriculture began in her teen years spending time on family friends’ chicken farm south in Iles des Chenes. Laura decided that there were plenty of jobs in agriculture so she enrolled in the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Manitoba.

Henry and Laura met in the final years of their university careers. (Rumors circulating indicates that Laura needed tutoring in Statistics and that was the introduction to a lifelong journey together)

Henry received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Manitoba in 1984, and Laura graduated in 1985 with her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.

After graduation from the University of Manitoba, Henry served as a quality control inspector at Canada Packers, and then as sales representative for Western Breeders for Manitoba/Saskatchewan from 1986 to 1991.

Laura throughout university worked at Agrciulture Canada Research center in Morden and as a summer student for Dupont. Later, Laura worked for Monsanto as a sales representative in Saskatchewan. After returning to Manitoba, Laura worked at the dairy lab at the Agriculture Services Complex.

Since 1995, Henry and Laura, in partnership with Henry’s brother Tony and his wife Kim, have owned and operated Rosser Holsteins Ltd., a third-generation 650-cow dairy and 3200-acre grain and forage operation located in the municipality of Rosser, MB. The farm’s values include being family focused, producing quality milk, feed, and purebred Holsteins as well as advocating for the dairy farmer and agriculture, all done in a sustainable fashion. Henry is one of the farm managers and Laura is responsible for the human resource and farm safety file for Rosser Holsteins. Today, the fourth generation of Holtmanns are actively involved including sons Eric and Ben, Ben’s wife Kelly, and Henry’s nephew, Joseph. Ben and Kelly, Eric and Joseph all have Diplomas in Agriculture from the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.

Henry and Laura are active leaders in the agri-food and local community. Henry was elected to the board of Dairy Farmers of Manitoba (DFM) in 2007 and has served as the Vice Chair since 2012. In this role he has been a key advisor on dairy policy to both the provincial and federal governments. In addition to his service on several committees, Henry is the chair of the Western Canada Milk Pool. Their role is to increase milk processing capacity not only in the province of Manitoba but also by helping to establish Dairy Innovation West, a milk-concentrating facility that is expected to open in 2024 in Blackfalds, Alberta.

Henry has served as a volunteer for 4-H in his community, as Woodland 4-H Dairy Club Leader and Rosser Guys and Gals Dairy Project Leader. Henry also served on as chair of the Citizens Liaison Group on siting Prairie Green Landfill in their rural municipality; and has been a director for 10 years and chair for four years with Starbuck Credit Union.

Laura has made contributions through venues committed to bringing agriculture to the public. For six years, she been a director on the board of Agriculture in the Classroom-Manitoba, an organization of volunteers that strives to help students and teachers become more agriculture literate in Manitoba. She has held several executive positions and is currently serving as President of AITC-MB. As well, she has been a volunteer in the Red River Exhibition Association for 21 years. Laura is the current chairperson of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Scholarship committee, a member of the Red River Exhibition Farm Family selection committee, as well as member on the board of directors of the Red River Exhibition Association. Laura has served on the board of directors of the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Laura worked at the Interlake School Division as an educational assistant from 2000-2012 in early years education. As well, Ronald McDonald House and the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Health Sciences Centre have kept Laura busy volunteering in various capacities for the last 10 years. In addition, Laura has been involved in 4-H in various leadership roles. Laura has contributed her time and expertise as chair or a board member of various groups and organizations including Grosse Isle School, Warren Collegiate and Rosser Elementary Parent Advisory councils, University of Winnipeg Collegiate and Oak Park Safe Grad committee as well as Neptunes Water Polo Club.

Both Laura and Henry have participated in venues such as Discover Agriculture in the City at The Forks and the Food and Farm Discovery Centre at University of Manitoba’s Glenlea Research Station. They enjoy representing the dairy sector to the public. Laura and Henry, along with Tony and Kim Holtmann, were awarded the Red River Exhibition Farm Family of the Year in 1997.

Henry and Laura have both generously shared their time and expertise with their alma mater. They have both participated regularly as panellists during the School of Agriculture final presentations. Henry has hosted numerous degree, graduate student and faculty staff tours on the farm, has contributed in lectures and has facilitated graduate student and faculty research activities at Rosser Holsteins. Laura participated in the pilot of Human Resource Course in which students are expected to develop an HR plan for their farm.

Today, Henry and Laura are actively farming with their family. They enjoy time with their granddaughter June, family, and friends. They bought a cottage and look forward to making new memories. Sharing their story continues to drive their passion for agriculture.

Anishinaabe from Lake Manitoba First Nation located in the Interlake region. He graduated with a Diploma in Agriculture in the business/financial management stream from the University of Manitoba in 1990.

Robert owned and operated a cow/calf operation for 10 years. He also served as an economic development officer, a health director in two First Nations communities and a senior health policy analyst for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, a role in which he participated as the Manitoba representative on many intergovernmental committees, focus groups, and caucuses as a chair and/or sitting member.

Robert has been engaged in his community’s government for many years. He was first elected band councillor for Lake Manitoba First Nation in 1992, and served for three terms from 1992-1994, 1996-98 and 2000-2002. He was elected Chief for Lake Manitoba First Nation from 2004-2006 where he was engaged in all aspects of First Nations governance, including leadership, financial reporting, infrastructure planning, personnel management and administration.

Since 2009, Robert has been the Indigenous Human Resources Development Officer for the Interlake – Eastern Regional Health Authority, where he promotes health careers and recruits candidates in local Metis and First Nations communities. In his role, he has successfully built relationships with educational institutions and communities throughout the region to attract Indigenous students into a career in health care, dramatically increasing the Health Authority’s representative workforce. He is also responsible for delivering cultural awareness training to over 3200 new and existing staff with the organization.

Robert has also worked with board and senior leadership to develop an Indigenous Subcommittee to the Board, comprised of a First Nation Director, Elder, Community Member, Youth and a representative from a Metis community. This committee, which includes Robert, is working towards the development of an Indigenous Strategic Plan as well as providing oversight for the development of inclusiveness and anti-discrimination policies.

Robert also serves his community as Knowledge Keeper with the internationally renowned Turtle Lodge in Sagkeeng First Nation. As Knowledge Keeper he is responsible along with other elders from across the world for preserving and promoting Indigenous languages, cultures and ceremonies. Robert’s strengths lie in his extensive traditional knowledge and experience being on the land, and his ability to build bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. Robert willingly dedicates his time to share the knowledge and teachings that reflect his Anishinaabe identity with people from all cultures. He expertly articulates First Nation worldviews, the impact of colonization on First Nation peoples, and the self-determination movement.

Robert is also an avid outdoorsman, spending significant time as a hunter and fisherman using traditional hunting methods.

Grew up on a mixed farm near Dugald, Manitoba, close to the city of Winnipeg. Her parents Norman and Lois Edie were leaders in agriculture, including policy development, and in 1974 won the Red River Ex Farm Family of the Year award.

Active in their industry and community, Norman held a University of Manitoba Diploma in Agriculture (1945); Lois was a Registered Nurse and former Manitoba Women’s Institute president, as well as a Western Canadian Wheat Grower Lifetime Director.

During her teens, Elaine’s participation in the Dugald Home Economics 4-H Club helped shape her vision for extension work. Elaine graduated from the University of Manitoba with a comprehensive Home Economics Degree in 1978. That same year, Jim Downey, Minister of Agriculture asked her to serve the Department of Agriculture in Boissevain. There she met Wes Froese, a University of Manitoba plant science graduate, who would become her husband.

Wes and Elaine have farmed their certified seed farm for 40 years. Their son Ian, a Diploma Ag grad and daughter-in-law Kendra (University of Manitoba Nursing grad) farm alongside them, while raising Penny, Ruby and Read. Elaine and Wes’s daughter Erica lives in Brandon. In 2019, BMO awarded Froese Family Farms their award for outstanding farm family.

Elaine’s passion for farm families to find harmony through understanding has crystallized into a multi-decade career and journey of speaking, coaching and writing. Author of five books, she has been a columnist for Grainews for 26 years, as well as a certified coach and conflict resolution specialist since 2003. Elaine’s messages reach audiences across North America as a CSP or certified speaking professional. Fewer than 1300 people in the world hold this designation. She has also spoken in Mexico and Australia.

Elaine has been recognized with accolades including Farm Management Canada’s 2018 Wilson Loree Excellence in Farm Management award for her coaching work with over 1000 farm families, and 4-H Canada’s inaugural Most Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018 from a pool of 350,000 alumni.

In another poignant honour, Elaine and her late mother Lois share the 2020 Manitoba 150 Women Trailblazer award in recognition of their leadership for agricultural families.

Locally, Elaine has also served her faith community as a director of Vacation Bible School, adult education teacher, girls club leader, worship leader, and Sunday School leader.

Elaine’s mission continues to create a stronger culture in agriculture where families believe, behave and decide in healthy ways to create harmony through understanding and smooth transitions. Currently, she is mentoring a group of trained coaches to continue her legacy.

Graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1983. Shortly after, Marcel and his wife Georgina purchased a farrow-to-finish hog operation in the Niverville area. Daughters Anaïs and Anastasie both completed Masters in Agribusiness, and his son Yves works in the social services. Marcel also completed his Master in Business Administration from the U of M in 2011.

Marcel was elected a Manitoba Pork Council delegate in 1992, and a director of the board in 1996. He was subsequently chosen by the board to be its chair each year from 1999 to 2003. He led the MPC board through a period of economic change and encouraged the development of innovative programming on sustainable agriculture, which included improved public relations, worker safety and outreach efforts. He also encouraged support for new national programs for on-farm food safety and continued efforts to increase pork processing in Manitoba.

Marcel also served as vice-president of Keystone Agricultural Producers from 1997-99, where he established and implemented the Manitoba Farm Relief Fund. He chaired the trade, finance and sustainable development committees, and represented Manitoba on the Canadian Federation of Agriculture board.

Marcel became the executive director of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association in 2004, where he has led and inspired a broad range of Canadian agricultural safety specialists and industry stakeholders to actively engage in promoting safe practices on Canadian farms and service providers. He has served as a national ambassador for farm safety, and his leadership has resulted in the establishment of many organizations that provide resources and programs to support farmers in managing safety on their farms. His influence can be seen in initiatives such as BeGrainSafe, Canadian Agricultural Safety Week Campaign, and a Canadian adoption of Progressive Agriculture Safety Days aimed at Canadian youth.

Coming full circle back to the University of Manitoba, Marcel has provided guidance and mentorship to the School of Agriculture in incorporating farm safety content in its Diploma curriculum and developing short courses and workshops aimed at Manitoba farmers.

In other service, Marcel served on on the Board of the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists and is a past president of the International Society for Agricultural Safety & Health. He is also ex-officio for the Progressive Ag Foundation, and currently sit as the secretary/treasurer for the Farm Safe Foundation. He also continues to act as the secretary/treasurer for the family farm corporation.

A strong leader in his community, Marcel helped start up Les Boutons d’Or, a French pre-school in Iles des Chênes in 1988, which is now the Garderie Les Boutons d’Or. He also helped organize (and accompanied) “Boîte à Chanson” at the École Communautaire Réal-Bérard in St. Pierre and community theatre in Iles des Chênes.

In his spare time today, you can find Marcel driving around in his restored ‘68 Firebird convertible, wood working, tiling or installing pavers. Or if he is not too tired, spending time with his four grandchildren.

Graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Winnipeg, and following a job with the City of Winnipeg insect control branch, went on to receive her Master of Science in Entomology in 1982 from the University of Manitoba.

After graduation, she worked for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Winnipeg Research Station as its first information officer. She later joined Dow Elanco where she served as a research and development manager, and then served as weed specialist and manager for eight years with Manitoba Agriculture.

In 1999, JoAnne became the vice-president of crop production and biotechnology at the Canola Council of Canada. She served as its president from 2007-2012, where she brought her vision and insight into the entire value chain to see unprecedented growth for Canadian grains and oilseeds. She played a prominent role in maintaining canola exports to China despite concerns about blackleg disease in 2009.

In recognition of her expertise in the agriculture sector and her service to the community, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed JoAnne to the Canadian Senate, where she served for two years as Manitoba’s representative, and sat on the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.

JoAnne then became the CEO for the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) where she guided the organization through a priority-setting process and into a new structure and funding model. Using a collaborative approach and her extensive connections in the agri-food industry, JoAnne helped elevate Cigi to a respected leader in technical training for the use of Canadian grains. She retired in 2019.

JoAnne has generously contributed to her community in a wide variety of other ways. She has served with the Golden Prairie Arts Council (a non-profit organization that provides educational programs to the southern rural Manitoba arts community), the Entomological Society of Manitoba, the Canada Grains Council, and as chair to the Manitoba Agriculture Research and Innovation Committee. Today, she volunteers for Reaching Out Winnipeg which arranges for safe immigration of LGBTQ+ people from countries of persecution

In recognition of her many accomplishments, JoAnne was presented with a Motivator of the Year Award by Manitoba Agriculture and the Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Winnipeg, and was recently inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame.

JoAnne now spends her time with her husband Grant on road trips exploring Canada. When at home, she can be found gardening, weaving, silk painting and reading or spending time with her nine grandchildren.

Bill Toews grew up on his family farm near Kane, Manitoba. After high school he attended the University of Manitoba completing a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Honors Degree in 1968 and a Master of Science in Soil Science in 1971.

After graduation, Bill was employed as a Soil Management Specialist for Alberta Agriculture.  He also served as an international development agronomist, for the Canadian International Development Agency in Kenya and in Pakistan.

In the mid-1970s, he returned to Kane where he and his wife Barb operated their grain and oilseeds farm.  While farming he served as the Associate Director of the School and taught courses in the Agriculture Diploma Program.

Bill has served the agricultural industry and the community at large as: 

• A Director for the Canadian Wheat Board
• A Board Member and Chair for the Canadian International Grains Institute
• The Vice-Chair for the Western Grains Research Foundation
• A Council Member for the Manitoba Farm Products Marketing Council,
• A Council Member for the Canada-Manitoba Agri-Food Research and Development Initiative
• A Director for Keystone Agricultural Producers
• A Board member for the local Lowe Farm Credit Union
• A Farmer member of the Prairie Region Recommending Committee for Grains
• A Member of committee that reviewed the Manitoba Crop Insurance program
• And A KAP representative of the Government committee that developed stubble burning regulations

Bill and his wife Barb have a daughter Shawna, two sons, Darryl and Ryan and two grandchildren Mira and Ty.

Roberta Galbraith was raised on her family farm north of Minnedosa, Manitoba. Her parents, Bob and Gwen Manns, operated this century old farm from 1969 to 2002.  Like her father Bob, Roberta attended the University of Manitoba where she completed a Diploma in Agriculture.

After graduation in 1983, Roberta was employed as a Credit Advisor with Farm Credit Canada and continued her career in agricultural finance for 16 years with the Manitoba Agricultural Credit Corporation and the Minnedosa Credit Union.

Currently serving as the Member Relations Manager for Manitoba Canola Growers Association, Roberta has played a leadership role in developing programs for Manitoba farmers including the CropConnect Conference, Crops-a-Palooza Field Day, and Learn to Lead, a leadership development program for farmers.

Roberta has been a strong advocate for farm safety contributing to the formation of the Manitoba Farm Safety Program and persuasive in securing funding for the Grain Safety Trailer project spearheaded by the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association.

She is a supporter of STARS Air Ambulance and raised over $60,000 in pledges to “rescue her off the island”.

Roberta has been a strong supporter and volunteer for Agriculture in the Classroom for over 19 years.  She has served as a  4H leader, mentored high school students in world-wide charitable events, coached and managed numerous youth sports teams when her children were younger. 

She has been a long-time member of the Minnedosa Rotary Club serving in several leadership positions.   For 30 years Roberta has been farming with her husband Neil.  Their two sons Ryan and Jason have also returned to the family farm in Minnedosa after completing their Diplomas in Agriculture.  Neil and Roberta also have three daughters  Lauren, Tizita  and  Fikira. 

Chris Hamblin (née Fisher) was born and raised in Dauphin, MB.  After high school, Chris attended the University of Manitoba and graduated with a Bachelor of Home Economics in 1977 and a Certificate of Education in 1978. She met her husband Lorne (BSA/75) at a 4-H Rally in Dauphin and following university they returned to Lorne’s home community of Morris to farm. Following university, Chris also worked as a home economics teacher, first in the Morris Macdonald School Division, and then in the Red River School Division.

Together Chris and Lorne managed and operated first Lorandon farms and then Redview Farms Ltd., a grain and seed farm with Select Seed Grower status from 1975 to 2012. They were the Outstanding Young Farmer recipients for Mid-Canada in 1992. Today, son David operates the business and Chris and Lorne are the helpers when available. They still farm 240 acres and have put in place a succession plan for David, the farming son and Kevin and Doug, non-farming sons.

Chris has provided leadership to the agricultural community in numerous ways. She served as director and then as vice president for Keystone Agricultural Producers (1991-2001) and was the KAP assessment and taxation committee chair. She also served as an appeal board member for Farm Debt Mediation Services and as an AIDA Producer Review Committee member. Chris was Manitoba’s elected producer to Secan (1997-2002), and chaired Secan’s board of directors. She served Ag in the Classroom - Manitoba Inc. as a director, vice chair and secretary.  She was a Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council director and served on the Strategic Planning Committee and the Innovation Committee.

She has been considered a valued advisor, serving on the Climate Change Task Force as a producer representative on committee chaired by Lloyd Axworthy in 2001, and on the Premier’s Economic Advisory Council as a producer representative 2001-2004. Chris presented to several committee meetings related to the 1997 Red River flood as a local farmer and expressed concerns of the area farmers. She and husband Lorne hosted various farm tours including Canadian International Grains Institute’s millers group from Brazil, and participated in a Manitoba trade mission to Mexico.

In 2002, she served as commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission, and was subsequently appointed Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission from 2002 to 2007. While at the Commission, she led a review of the producer representation on the Western Grains Standards Committee. She also played a key role in the Commission exploring options other than kernel visual distinguishability (KVD) for grain quality management.

Chris has been a tireless community volunteer, having held positons with the Valley Agriculture Society, Morris Curling Club, Morris School Band Parents, Cubs and Scouts, Morris Agricultural Marketing Club, and Ag Expo.

What she and Lorne may be most recognized for is their dedication to and love of the sport of curling.  Very accomplished athletes themselves, in 1991, they established a local junior program with 60 curlers ages 8 to12.  In addition, Chris has coached various high school, pre-junior and junior curling teams, and offered school curling programs to students from Lowe Farm, Morris, St. Jean and Rosenort.  Chris completed NCI Level 4 Coach certification in June 2008 at the University of Winnipeg. Together Chris and Lorne have very successfully coached teams at Manitoba, Canadian and international events including the Europeans, the 2010 Olympics and 2015 Deaflympics.

Chris and Lorne initiated and chaired the 1st annual DEKALB SuperSpiel in Morris, MB and served as co-chairs of the 8th annual DEKALB SuperSpiel and continue in this role today. This event will celebrate its 11th anniversary in 2018. Over the years, Chris has also been involved with many successful events including provincial curling ladies and mixed playdowns, numerous curling zone playdowns and held many positions at the local curling club level including President.

Today, Chris is manager and instructor for the Cargill Curling Training Centre which opened in fall 2016 and offers individual, team and group instruction.

Chris has been recognized for her very diverse achievements with a number of awards including Outstanding Young Farmer for Mid-Canada in 1992.

Chris and Lorne have three sons David, Kevin and Doug, and 8 granddaughters.

William (Bill) L. Campbell was born in Boissevain, MB, and has lived all his life on the family farm northeast of Minto, MB.  In fact, the Campbell family has farmed in the region for 136 years.  After high school, Bill attended the University of Manitoba and graduated with a Diploma of Agriculture in 1975.

On the farm’s 2560-acre spread, Bill farms 1700 acres of cropland (wheat, barley, canola, corn, oats and soybeans) and 70 head of purebred Limousin seed stock. The breeding herd was dispersed in 2014, and the dispersal notice noted that “the Campbell prefix is synonymous with integrity, dedication and hard work”.

Much of Bill’s career has been dedicated to the improvement of the Limousin cattle breed. He has marketed Limousin genetics to eight Canadian provinces, as well as to USA and Mexico. Bill has devoted much time to the Manitoba Limousin Association (MLA), serving on its board for 41 years and currently holding the position of president. He has been the MLA vice president, Limousin breed representative for the Manitoba Ag-Ex show and chairman of the Canadian National Limousin Show in Manitoba. At the national level, he has been board member, vice-president, president (2012 and 2013), and past president, of the Canadian Limousin Association (CLA). He has been chair of the Breed Improvement Committee for the CLA and still sits on the committee today.  Bill was a Canadian delegate at International Limousin Congresses in Denmark and Ireland.

His contributions to the agricultural community stretch even further, as he has been a member of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) since its inception and has served on the KAP advisory council for 14 years and board of directors for 4 years. He currently chairs KAP’s livestock committee and is in his second year as a vice-president for KAP.  He has been a 4-H Leader for the Margaret and Boissevain Beef Clubs and a judge for numerous 4-H and breed shows in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Bill has also been a strong supporter of local area organizations, serving as current chair of the Minto Restaurant Committee, on the board of directors for the Boissevain and Area Vet Board, and as a coach and volunteer for many sports over the years. In his free time, Bill has played for the Boissevain Border Kings and Minto Mustangs hockey teams, and for the Riverside Canucks and Elgin Cubs baseball and Minto Mustang fastball teams.

Bill’s accomplishments have been recognized with a number of awards, including the Canadian Limousin Association Award of Distinction in 2016. He has also been inducted into Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame 2006 (Minto Mustangs) and the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame 1999 (Riverside Canucks).

Bill and his wife Lauren have two daughters Courtney and Kaitlin (Cam Nykoliation) and two granddaughters Madison and Rylee.

Martin Entz was born in Winnipeg after a harrowing drive through a snowstorm from a farm where his new immigrant parents were working as farm labourers.  He grew up in Winnipeg and St. Elizabeth, MB. 

Martin attended the University of Manitoba where he received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1978 and his Master of Plant Science (Horticulture) in 1981. He worked as research agronomist for Rogers Sugar for several years and then returned to his studies, attending the University of Saskatchewan where he received his Ph.D. in Crop Science and Plant Ecology in 1988.

After graduation, he joined the University of Manitoba’s Department of Plant Science as an assistant professor. Nearly 30 years later, Martin has distinguished himself as a respected educator and mentor, teaching courses in agroecology, forage and pasture management and organic crop production, and has an active graduate student program.  There have been 44 MSc and PhD students under his direct supervision since 1992.

Martin’s research focuses on ecologically-integrated farming systems with specialization in long-term studies. He leads the Glenlea Long-Term Rotation Study – Canada’s oldest organic vs conventional farming systems experiment, which celebrated 25 years in 2016. He is also the founder of the Natural Systems Agriculture program, which explores cropping systems based on processes found in nature — specifically the natural grassland ecosystem of prairie Canada.

Martin is known for his collaborative approach to research, and has worked with traditional and organic researchers and producers in the areas of weed and fertility management, organic breeding and production, and conservation agriculture. He has logged countless hours of outreach at field days, producer workshops and conferences, connecting with farmers and learning from their experiences. He participates in ecologically-integrated farming system research and development work in Central America, southern Africa, northwest China, and has volunteered with the Mennonite Central Committee in North Korea.

Together with his graduate students and collaborators, Martin has published his work in 102 peer-reviewed scientific papers and several book chapters.

Martin served as Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Adelaide University, Australia (1998) and was the Canadian Mennonite University Scientist in Residence (2016). He was named a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Agronomy (2003) and received a Merit Award from the American Forage and Grassland Council. The University of Manitoba honoured Martin along with several colleagues with an Outreach Award (2010) for a community-based pest management project in Central America. Martin was named an Organic Hero by Organic Connections (2012).

In his spare time, Martin and his family enjoy their small farm located near Libau, Manitoba. 

James (Jim) E. Downey was born in Melita, MB. He was active in Air Cadet Squadron #680 in Waskada, MB.  After high school, he completed the Diploma in Agriculture at the University of Manitoba in 1964 where he was awarded the President’s Medal. Jim also graduated from the Western College of Auctioneering in Billings, Montana.

He has farmed in the Melita area for over 50 years and in 1971 he founded the Melita Auction Mart Ltd, which he and his wife Linda operated until 1977 along with Downey Auction Sales.  Over the years, a number of philanthropic, sports, education and other organizations have called on Jim to volunteer his auctioneering skills to help fundraise for them.

Jim was elected to represent the constituency of Arthur in the provincial legislature in 1977. He was re-elected five times, and during his time in office served as Minister of Agriculture, Northern and Native Affairs, Rural Development, Energy and Mines and Industry, Trade and Tourism. Jim was a member of the Treasury Board for the majority of this time and was appointed Deputy Premier from 1990 to 1999.

During his time as Minister of Agriculture, Jim helped resolve the logjam in the prairie grain movement in 1979, introduced the bill that established the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association, revised the Manitoba Farm Land Protection Act so Canadians could buy and own Manitoba farm land, and encouraged hog producers to double hog production.

In his other portfolios, Jim was the lead minister in the Manitoba Hydro purchase of Centra Gas and in the rural gasification process, introduced Grow Bond legislation to support rural industrial development, and was instrumental in several initiatives including the Maple Leaf hog processing plant in Brandon, Louisiana Pacific plant in Swan River, McCain potato plant expansion in Portage la Prairie and Simplot fertilizer plant expansion in Brandon.

He participated in and led a number of trade missions around the world including the United States, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Europe, Chile, and Mexico, and was the lead provincial minister on Canada’s internal trade agreement established in 1995. Jim also signed the first agreement ever to introduce canola and canola products to Egypt, a multi-million dollar opportunity for Canadian farmers.

Jim retired from elected office in 1999 to pursue work in the private sector. In 2009, he became part owner of Shape Foods Inc., a state-of-the-art flaxseed crushing business in Brandon.  He is also a member of the board of St. Boniface Hospital Foundation and a former member of the board of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (MB).

Jim has been honoured for his accomplishments by many organizations. He was named Honourary Air Marshall by Manitoba Air Cadets. He received the Silver Eagle Citizen Award from the Indigenous Women’s Collective of Manitoba Inc. (1996), Citizen of the Year Award from the Winnipeg Chinese Cultural and Community Group (1997), Honourary Life Membership in the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba (2000). He has received the Confederation, Golden Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee Medals for contributions to community.  In 2005, Jim was appointed Honourary Consul of Mexico at Winnipeg and in 2015, the President of Mexico awarded Jim the Aztec Eagle Award for the work he has done on behalf of Mexico and Mexicans in Manitoba.

Jim and Linda have one son Ryan and two grandchildren Adyson and Ardan. 

Kelly Beaulieu grew up on a farm near Portage la Prairie, MB, and attended the University of Manitoba, completing a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in English and History in 1987 and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1991. She has also achieved her Professional Agrologist credentials with the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists. 

Following graduation, Kelly worked with Dr. Ian Morrison in the Department of Plant Science at the University of Manitoba as a technician in his weed science research and teaching lab. She then worked for Manitoba Pool Elevators, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and the Alberta Wheat Pool in varietal development and plant breeding roles. At the Canadian Wheat Board, she helped develop grain delivery policy. Kelly joined the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) as the communications manager and then agricultural research and development manager.

In 2004 Kelly left PAMI to pursue her own entrepreneurial projects under several agri-business companies.  PB&C Agri-Tech Solutions Inc. develops technological solutions for the agricultural industry.  The company currently has two transformative technologies nearing commercialization – a root crop monitor that uses electro-impedance tomography to detect and sample potato tubers under the ground and a specific gravity monitoring technology for the French fry industry.   

Kelly with her partners Harvey I. Pollock and Martin J. Pollock also co-founded Canadian Prairie Garden Purees, a large-scale, commercial food processing business in Portage la Prairie which exports its products worldwide.  Canadian Prairie Garden uses a state-of-the-art steam infusion cooking process to aseptically package fruit and vegetable puree for the food ingredients markets.  Kelly and Canadian Prairie Garden Purees have received numerous awards and recognition over the last few years including the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council’s Best Technology Innovation Award; Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance Award for Innovation; the Manitoba Food Processors’ Association TASTE Award for Best New Product 2015; and a Top Ten Nexty Nomination at the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim California, the largest natural food products show in North America. 

When she is not kept busy fostering the growth of a rapidly expanding business, Kelly is active in showing horses, cattle, show dogs and show cats. Kelly is also proud of her heritage as a status Ojibwa associated with Sandy Bay First Nation and has given her time to encouraging youth participation in their career decision-making activities, to encouraging young entrepreneurs with mentoring for Innovate Manitoba, and to promoting Manitoba's agriculture at the province's Agriculture Awareness Day.

Marlene grew up on a small family farm near Rosenfeld, MB, taking her education in Rosenfeld and Altona.  She went to the then Manitoba Teacher’s College, now part of the Canadian Mennonite University.  Receiving her Teaching Diploma, she taught Grade 4 in Steinbach. However, a moment of inspiration led her to the University of Manitoba where she earned her Bachelor of Home Economics (Honours) in 1970. 

Marlene was hired by the Manitoba Department of Agriculture in Boissevain, MB, where she was the Home Economist from 1970 to 1974 and from 1985 to 1995.  From there she moved to Winnipeg as the Agriculture Curriculum Specialist until 2012 when she left the department.  She was also the Acting Superintendent of Agricultural Societies for a number of these years.

Since she has ‘retired’ she finds herself busier than ever and enjoying it.

Marlene is currently working as the Executive Director of the Manitoba Association of Agricultural Societies (MAAS), which is the provincial advisory board for the 59 Agricultural Societies in Manitoba.  Currently MAAS is working with ag societies in building community leadership capacity through community engagement activities.  As well, MAAS is organizing and delivering Open Farm Day and including ag societies in creating experiences and activities for consumers to see when and how their food is produced.

Volunteer work is a big part of her life.  Marlene serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and focusses her time on the importance of primary prevention in health risk factors based on smoking cessation, physical inactivity and excess weight.  She also sits on the Board of Directors with the Red River Exhibition Association, one of Manitoba’s largest agricultural societies, where she is Finance Chair and is involved in developing and directing the policies and programs of the Association.

For more than 25 years, she has been involved in the Manitoba 4-H program, as a member, a leader, a parent, a departmental staff person, and again most recently returning as a leader.  She is currently co-leading the University of Manitoba Future Leaders 4-H Club where members participate in leadership development activities and programs to help them prepare for their careers in the agricultural industry.

Marlene has three children, two of whom are working in the agricultural industry and the third is a member of the Canadian Armed Forces.  She has five grandchildren, age range three to 13. 

Keith Kuhl was born on a mixed farm in southern Manitoba in the village of Gnadenthal in 1953.  His first five years of education were spent in a tworoom village school.  Keith enjoyed this school as the large windows allowed him to monitor the activity on the fields surrounding the school.   From that early age Keith longed to be on the farm and dreamed of one day owning the farm.

In 1960, Keith’s father John incorporated Southern Manitoba Potato Co. Ltd. together with Keith’s uncles.  The company planted about 60 acres of potatoes the first year.  By 1964, the company had grown to the point where they built storages on the outskirts of Winkler.  Keith completed his education in Winkler then attended the University of Manitoba where he completed his Diploma in Agriculture in 1975. Following university, Keith went back to the farm.

In 1978, the partners decided to sell Southern and Keith’s father purchased a downsized version of the farm.  Keith together with his five other siblings became shareholders in the newly organized company, and Keith together with his brother Douglas moved into management of the farm.

In 2000 after the untimely death of his brother, Keith was appointed President/CEO of Southern. His oldest son Marlon who had just graduated with a Diploma in Agriculture joined the farm management team and his youngest son Jeremy followed the same path a few years later. In 2010 Keith negotiated a buyout of all common shares of the company giving him control of the company.  He today owns Southern together with Marlon, Jeremy and his daughter Andrea, officially making Southern Potato a third generation company and a fourth generation farm.

Keith had been taught by his father to always be willing to give time back to the industry.  Keith spent many years as President of the Seed Potato Growers of Manitoba and during this time he led the efforts to develop the seed potato post-harvest test in Hawaii for the four Western Canadian provinces.  Keith was chair of the Canadian Potato Council which is part of the Canadian Horticultural Council (2005-2013).  During this time he was also appointed to numerous industry government working groups such as the Potato Bio Security Working Group, the Potato Task Force, the Potato Plant Health Strategy working group.  Keith served as co-chair of the Canada US Potato Committee (2005-2013). Keith continues to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Peak of the Market.

At the 93rd annual general meeting of the Canadian Horticultural Council, Keith was elected as President for a third consecutive year.  Keith spends much of his time in Ottawa and other locations serving the members of CHC. Keith is also a director on the Board of IDE Canada, an NGO involved in improving agriculture and rural life in many third world countries.

Today, Keith has turned all day-to-day activities of the company over to his sons and continues to spend his time overseeing corporate affairs and managing the succession plan.

Keith and his wife Karen have been married for 42 years and love spending time with their six grandchildren. In his spare time Keith enjoys cooking, biking, running and travelling; Keith is an avid Grand Canyon hiker, and hiked the canyon for the sixth time in April 2015.   

Cynthia (Cindy) Grant grew up on a farm in the Minnedosa area, and completed her B.S.A. (1980), M.Sc. (1982) and Ph.D. (1986) at the University of Manitoba. Cindy’s academic excellence was recognized with the University of Manitoba Gold Medal for highest standing in the B.Sc. Agriculture program, the AIfred Rea Tucker Scholarship for highest standing among all graduate students at the U of M, an NSERC Graduate Scholarship, and a Potash and Phosphate Institute Fellowship. 

Since beginning her career at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)’s Brandon Research Centre in the early 1990s, Cindy’s research and extension activities have focused on management strategies for improving fertilizer use efficiency in cereals and oilseeds in a variety of environments and cropping systems across the Canadian Prairies. Her work on soil fertility and crop nutrition has led to a national and international reputation in the areas of improving nutrient use efficiency in cropping systems and reducing the risk of trace metal toxicity. Cindy has also worked with a wide variety of scientists across Canada and world-wide to learn about the interaction of nutrient supply and crop management practices with crop diseases, weed competition and soil microbial activity. Cindy also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Manitoba.

Cindy has approximately 150 refereed research publications on topics ranging from diversified cropping systems, crop nutrition, nutrient dynamics in tillage systems to trace element behaviour in soils and crops including several invited reviews in each of these areas. She is also the author or coauthor of several chapters in SSSA monographs on dryland agriculture and sulphur management, as well as a book on integrated nutrient management. Cindy has given hundreds of extension presentations and written nearly 200 extension bulletins and reports for the benefit of agronomists, farmers and policy-makers.

As a result of this outstanding work, Cindy has received many national and international awards, including the International Fertilizer Industry Association Fertilizer Award for Young Professionals , the Robert E. Wagner Award from the Potash and Phosphate Institute, Researcher of the Year from the Fluid Fertilizer Foundation, and Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy. In Canada she has received the Canadian Society of Agronomy Young Agronomists Award, Fellow of the Canadian Society of Agronomy, Fellow of the Canadian Society of Soil Science, Gold Harvest Award from AAFC for her outstanding science achievement and the Manitoba-North Dakota Zero Tillage Farmers Association Non-Farmer of the Year.

Cindy has served her profession in a number of roles: as President of the Canadian Society of Agronomy (1999-2001), President of the Canadian Society of Soil Science (2010), Associate Editor of the Journal of Environmental Quality (2009-2011), and as a member of a large number of professional committees.

Cindy maintains her ties to rural Manitoba, living north of her hometown of Minnedosa with her husband on their family farm. Within her local community, Cindy has also served in a variety of roles; for example, as director for the Minnedosa Golf and Country Club.

Cindy is one of the world’s most respected agronomists and soil scientists, respected by farmers, industry and public agencies alike. She has provided outstanding service to her profession, employer, colleagues and society at large.

Marg Rempel grew up on a dairy farm near Brandon, MB, and studied at Canadian Mennonite University, University of Manitoba, and Assiniboine Community College.  Marg and her husband Ron worked as community development volunteers with Mennonite Central Committee in northeast Brazil from 1975-78. They returned to Manitoba and purchased the family farm near Ste. Anne, southeast of Winnipeg.

Marg farmed together with Ron until his death in 2003, and has continued to farm on her own, managing and operating a mixed farm of 500 sow farrow-to-finish hog enterprise and 1600 acres of cropland, growing cereals and oilseeds.  Several years ago, her oldest son Jason made the decision to return full-time to the family farm, adding meat goat and pasture-raised chicken enterprises to the mix. 

Marg is very involved in Manitoba’s agriculture community. She has served on the 4-H District and Regional Councils for six years; has been a director with Keystone Agricultural Producers (1987-1995), including four years on the executive committee; and she has been a founding board member of the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council (1996-2003), including serving as chair of the project evaluation committee and vice-chair of the executive committee. Since 2008, she has served as a delegate/district advisor on Manitoba Pork Council. Nationally, Marg sits on the board of directors for the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute.

For six years, Marg was part of the Provencher constituency agricultural advisory committee. She served as a representative on the Sectoral Advisory Group on International Trade (Agriculture and Food). Marg’s interest in international food security issues led her to serve on the Canadian Foodgrains Bank board of directors (1997-2004), chairing the board for the last four of those years, and traveling to India and Bangladesh in that capacity. In her local community, Marg has served as a board member with the Bethesda Hospital Foundation in Steinbach since 2000, chairing a capital fund-raising campaign for a new community cancer care wing at Bethesda Hospital in Steinbach, as well as a new obstetrics/birthing centre, opened in December of 2007.

In 2012, Marg was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for outstanding service to her community. Also in 2012, she was presented with the Award of Distinction from Manitoba Pork Council in recognition of outstanding contributions to the agriculture sector. In 2010, she was awarded the Farm Credit Canada Rosemary Davis Award – a distinction that honours women who are active leaders in Canadian agriculture. In 2009, she was recognized with the Philanthropist of the Year Award from the Loewen Foundation and the Steinbach Community Foundation.

Marg Rempel’s accomplishments and vast contributions have had far reaching global impact, but perhaps it is the motivation and commitment to her work that impresses most. She has said that primary food production is the most important vocation that exists. Marg is deeply acquainted with the challenges and the complexity required to provide our community and the world with high-quality, environmentally-friendly food options and considers it an honour to do so.

Marg is the mother of three adult children and grandmother of two preschoolers. 

Ed Tyrchniewicz was born in 1941, and grew up on a farm at Prairie Grove, just outside of Winnipeg. Ed attended the University of Manitoba and obtained a degree in agricultural economics in 1962. Ed’s love of agriculture and his interest in policy was stimulated by professors such as Clay Gilson and Art Wood, and led him to pursue his Ph.D. in agricultural economics at Purdue University.

Ed’s career was driven by the desire to contribute to the viability of farm and rural communities.  He recognized the importance of developing and educating the youth to ensure the future viability of rural communities.

Ed served at the University of Manitoba (1967-1988) as professor and department head of Agricultural Economics and was also founding director of the Transport Institute. He then served a term as dean of the Faculty of Agriculture & Forestry at the University of Alberta (1988-96) before continuing his career in Manitoba where he held a variety of appointments, including senior fellow at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (1996-99), founding executive director of the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council (1997), and adjunct professor (Agricultural Economics) at the University of Manitoba from 1998 to 2004. He joined the Asper School of Business in 2003, and served as the first head of the Department of Supply Chain Management and then as associate dean. Ed was appointed a senior scholar in the Department of Agribusiness at the University of Manitoba in 2008.

He is currently involved in teaching in the Internationally Educated Agrologists Program in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences; this program is aimed at helping immigrants with degrees in agriculture from foreign countries get their credentials recognized in Manitoba.  He is also a senior associate with his son Allen’s agricultural consulting company, Tyrchniewicz Consulting Inc.

Over his long career, he participated in numerous provincial and national public inquiries.  Many of his recommendations shaped the development of Canadian and international agricultural policy and programs related to sustainable livestock production, grain handling and transportation, and natural resource management.  He also undertook short-term assignments in countries including Ukraine, Bangladesh, Thailand, Kenya, India, Argentina and China.  He has had a tremendous impact on Canadian and overseas agricultural policy through mentoring students and others interested in the subject.

“Dr. Ed,” as he was known to his students and colleagues, was elected Fellow of the Agricultural Institute of Canada in 1986 and Fellow of the Canadian Agricultural Economics Society in 1996, named a Distinguished Agrologist by the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists in 2005 and inducted into the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2012. 

Ed’s distinguished career was aided by his supportive wife and constant companion, Peggy (nee Witty) of Russell, MB.  They have two sons, Allen and David, both of whom are involved with the agriculture sector.  Ed and Peggy are also the proud grandparents of three grandchildren and even more proud of their four great grandchildren. 

Daniel Michael Mazier was raised on a family farm near Justice, Manitoba. Graduating from the University of Manitoba in 1984 with a Diploma in Agriculture, Dan returned to work with his father and brother on the farm. He also began to work at Simplot, a fertilizer manufacturing plant in Brandon.  In 2001, Dan left Simplot and diversified his farming operation to include grains, oilseeds, seed production, cattle, poultry and sheep.

Over the past years Dan has served his community in many ways. He founded the local farmer’s market for his community, and further began serving on the boards of the Justice Community Club, the Mid‐Assiniboine Conservation District and representing his area as a trustee on the board of Rolling River School Division.

Dan is one of the founding members of Elton Energy Cooperative, based out of Elton Municipality. Elton Energy Co‐op has developed a business model for a province‐wide community power program that allows Manitobans to invest in renewable energy projects with the returns going back to their communities.

Dan became involved with Keystone Agriculture Producers in 2002 as an executive member. He was a founding member of KAP’s Young Farmer Committee and was the western representative for the Canadian Young Farmer’s Forum. As a young farmer, Dan saw the need to participate and become involved with KAP to understand the wider implications of agriculture policy. He is currently serving as KAP’s vice‐president and represents the organization across the province. He is also the chair of KAP’s Workplace and Employment Committee and is committed to ensuring that the farming industry creates a safe work environment for all farmers, especially those new to the industry. Dan has been very happily married to Leigh for twenty‐eight years. They are parents of two children Hannah and Michael. They continue to enjoy farming and being part of their rural community.

Stewart Allan Chambers was born and raised near Belmont, Manitoba. He graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1965 and began his career with agricultural extension work for the provincial Department of Agriculture, which led to a lifetime of farming in the Interlake. During this time he also taught at the University of Manitoba and served as the Assistant Director of the School of Agriculture.

He worked in Oman and Sudan for the Canadian International Development Agency, and provided tax advice to farmers as part of the federal Net Income Stabilization Account (NISA) program. Allan was a contributing writer to the Winnipeg Free Press, Grainews and Farmer's Independent Weekly, both under his own name and as Suzy Saskatoon.

He was active in the Liberal Party, served as a municipal councillor for the RM of Gimli, and as the Director of the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame. He was the first General Manager of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association, and remained an agitator for change and improvement in farming methods and policy throughout his life.

Allan passed away at the Glenboro Health Centre on Sunday October 21, 2012 at the age of 70 years.

Elmer Joseph Fontaine is a member of the Sagkeeng First Nation and graduated from the Diploma in Agriculture program in 1987.  Upon graduation he worked for the Manitoba Indian Agriculture Program as a Farm Advisor and later as a Loans Analyst.  This unique experience provided him with an opportunity to share his knowledge gained in the Diploma in Agriculture program with many First Nations agricultural producers throughout Manitoba.

Throughout his professional career he has served the First Nation people in various capacities including Economic Development Officer with the Keewatin Tribal Council in Northern Manitoba, Economic Development Advisor to the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Regional Coordinator with the Manitoba First Nations Regional Area Management Board.

In 2003, he pursued his entrepreneurial ambitions and created Anishinabek Consultants Inc. that has since developed into a reputable company offering a wide range of consulting services to governments, non-profit organizations, Aboriginal organizations and the private sector on Aboriginal issues. In 2008 he and Eva Wilson-Fontaine, his business partner and wife, created Anish Corporation to deliver emotional support services to former students of Indian Residential Schools seeking compensation through the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement for abuses suffered while attending residential schools.   Anish Corporation also coordinated and managed the delivery of Early Childhood Education training to staff of 39 Aboriginal Head Start on Reserve projects in Manitoba. He is especially proud of the AMIK.ca website which has gained a reputation as Canada’s premiere Aboriginal jobs referral website. AMIK.ca offers a practical solution for tapping into the Aboriginal labour force and is now a leader in the Aboriginal job advertising market in Canada with over 350 employers using the services to recruit quality Aboriginal employees.

E. J. has become a recognized leader in the Aboriginal community and the community at large through his professional experience, community involvement and business ventures.   Companies, governments and communities seek out AMIK.ca’s services and advice for tapping into the Aboriginal labour force and bridging the gap between employers and Aboriginal groups.

He currently serves as a voluntary Chairperson of the Sagkeeng Education Board, a governing body overseeing three community schools with over 800 students, 115 staff, and a post-secondary education program with close to 200 students. Other volunteer duties include serving as Committee member for the Keeping the Fires Burning annual Gala Dinner hosted by  Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc. that recognizes and celebrates the important contributions that First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Elder women have made in the protection, preservation and promotion of First Peoples’ cultures.

E. J. and his wife Eva were the recipients of the 2011 Excellence in Aboriginal Business Leadership Award presented by the University of Manitoba Asper School of Business.

Richard Owen Jones received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Manitoba in 1972 and started his career working in Manitoba’s feed industry.

In 1984, he founded Canadian Bio-Systems Inc. which manufactures a wide range of products utilized in feed, food, industrial and environmental applications. Today, Canadian Bio-Systems Inc. has its headquarters in Calgary, manufacturing operations in Calgary and Oshawa and product distribution across Canada, the United States, Asia and Europe.

Owen has been a long standing supporter of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. For the past 20 years, he has contributed to an internationally recognized research program in the area of feed enzyme development and application, and has applied innovative enzyme technology to improve production efficiencies in livestock and poultry feed industries while reducing environmental contaminants.

In recognition of these achievements, Canadian Bio-Systems Inc. along with Bogdan Slominski and other academic staff within the Department of Animal Science received the prestigious NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation in 2002, and the National Research Council/Alberta Science and Technology Innovation in Industrial Research Award in 2006. 

Through his company, Owen has been a strong benefactor of graduate student training.  Canadian Bio-Systems’ funding of enzyme research contributed to the training of five Ph.D. and nine M.Sc. students, with more students participating in current research. Owen approached the Faculty in 2010 to establish a scholarship in nutritional biochemistry for Animal Science graduate students, the first of which was issued in 2011. 

In addition to the financial support by Canadian Bio-Systems, Owen’s intellectual contribution to our research has resulted in his co-authorship on nine peer-reviewed articles in publications such as the Canadian Journal of Animal Science and Poultry Science.

He has also supported Faculty fundraising initiatives such as the T.K. Cheung Centre for Animal Science Research, a large animal facility located on the University of Manitoba Fort Garry Campus for research, undergraduate and graduate training and extension/outreach activities.

Herman Henry Martens was raised on a small mixed farm at Rosenort, Manitoba.  He came to the University of Manitoba and graduated in 1972 with his Diploma in Agriculture.

Upon graduation he returned to the family farm in Rosenort in 1972 and has been active in the operation of it ever since. As President of Hermart Farms Ltd. he oversees three full-time employees on a 780 sow farrow to weanling operation.  Herm is President of Fre-Mar Farms Ltd., a 2836 acre grain, oilseed and specialty crop farm and President of Prairie Egg Inc. an 117,000 laying hen operation.

Herm has served as a Director of Manitoba Egg Producers for 11 years and President of the Canadian Egg Producers Council.  He has been a member of the Keystone Agricultural Producers Executive.  He also was a delegate on the Manitoba Hog Board for 12 years.  He was appointed by the Minister of Agriculture to serve two 3-year terms on the Manitoba Veterinarian Medical Board.

Herm served the as Rural Municipality of Morris as Reeve/Mayor for 15 years.  He was instrumental in the construction of a sewer and water system for the community of Sperling and providing a system of potable water for all residents in the R.M. of Morris. He served as the Emergency Measures Coordinator for the last 7 Red River floods.  He supervised rebuilding of the infrastructure after both 1996 and 1997 Red River floods and conducted an evaluation and refurbishing of the municipal drainage system.  He initiated building of dykes around four rural communities one being the Rosenort Dyke and Floodway, the second largest flood protection project in Manitoba.  He has served as a Member of the Floodway Advisory Board and the Floodway Liaison Committee.

Herm currently serves as a Board Member and Past President of the Red River Basin Commission which supports international cooperation between Manitoba, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.  He is a Member on Rivers West Board and was appointed by the Prime Minister to serve on the International Red River Board, a sub-committee of the International Joint Commission.

He was a Board Member of Triple R Community Futures for 15 years and served on the Pembina Valley Water Co-op, the largest utility out of Winnipeg, for 15 years as Co-chair.  He also served on the Board of Directors for the Rosenort for 8 years. Herm has served as President of Morris Minor Hockey.  He managed Pee-wee, Midget and Junior hockey teams and served as Director of Hockey Ministries International Hockey Camps. For 13 years he served on the Mennonite Heritage Village (Museum) Board in Steinbach and was a Member of Mennonite Central Committee’s Aid Fundraising Auction Committee for 26 years.

Herm and his wife Eleanor are parents to three adult children and 10 grandchildren.  The Martens are active members of the Rosenort Fellowship Chapel.  Herm and his family have hosted many classes of Agriculture Diploma students who have toured their farm.

Harold Froese was raised on a poultry and grain farm at Oak Bluff, Manitoba.  He completed his high school education at Sanford Collegiate.  He came to the University of Manitoba and graduated in 1974 with his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.

Upon graduation and until 1983, Harold worked as a Credit Advisor with Farm Credit Canada in Dauphin and in Portage la Prairie.  In 1983 Harold returned to the family farm producing grain, eggs, broilers and pullets. He continues to be an egg and pullet producer as part of Prairie Egg and Willridge Pullet Farms where he is on the executive for both farms.

Since 1984 he has been a Director of Manitoba Egg Farmers (MEF) serving as Chair for twelve years.  Harold was the MEF representative to Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC) for nine years. Today Harold continues to play an important role at MEF, where he currently sits on the Audit Committee. He served as a Director of Manitoba Chicken Producers for four years. His knowledge and expertise is highly valued, and his contribution and leadership skills are respected by egg and chicken producers.  Harold has also played an integral role on various committees at the national level. He served on the EFC Executive, was Chair of the Production Management Committee, Producer Trade Representative to the World Trade Organization.  He was also the EFC representative to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) and served on the CFA Executive.  Harold is highly respected, not only in the egg and poultry industries but the in the overall agricultural industry, locally and across the country.  He has served with successive Provincial Agriculture Ministers as Trade Advisor, Agri-Food Advisory Council Member and Chair of the Crow Adjustment payment Committee.

Harold has served as an external examiner for the Agriculture Diploma final presentations and has made numerous presentations to students enrolled in Agriculture Diploma courses.  He has also been a guest speaker at the Manitoba Farm Writers and the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists. Harold is happily married to Jocelyn for thirty-seven years.  They are parents of four adult children and have one grandchild.  Harold and Jocelyn have been active in their local church. Harold is currently Moderator of their Church Conference for Manitoba.

Robert P. Brunel, St. Rose du Lac
A. Donald Kroeker, Winkler

Raymond J. Timmerman, Treherne
Robert G. Roehle, St. Norbert

Les Kletke, Altona
Ian Wishart, Portage la Prairie

Glen Tully, Marquette
Diane Wreford, Winnipeg

Herb Watson, Treherne
Cam Brown, Winnipeg

Guy Johnson, Eddystone
Bob Durston, Neepawa

Gary Martens, Kleefeld
Wally Happychuk, Vita

Owen R. Beever, Brandon
J. Paul Maguet, St. Norbert

A. Fraser Stewart, Selkirk
Gabriel M. Durand, Notre Dame de Lourdes

Reginald E. Forbes, Dauphin
Brian Norman Johnson, Arborg

Sidney Gordon, Neepawa
Donald R. Dewar, Dauphin

Charles Wilson (Bill) Ransom, Boissevain
George Rodney Graham, Foxwarren

Leslie E. Jacobson, Arborg
Robert Allan Hoffman, Camper

Charles Froebe, Carman
Jack Putnam, Winnipeg

Herman Arason, Glenboro
Bruce Hood, Carberry

Ken Foster, Arborg
Jack Murta, Graysville

Curtis Wold, Altamont
Owen McAuley, McAuley

Howard Smith, Dugald
Richard Klassen, Winnipeg

Earle Froebe, Homewood
Gordon McPhee, Dauphin

Ken Tjaden, Sperling
Sandy McNabb, Minnedosa

Larry Maguire, Elgin
Albert Cantin, Winnipeg

Jack Granger, Nesbitt
Earl Geddes, Pilot Mound

Theo Holtman, Rosser
Lang Musgrave, McCreary

Cliff Henderson, Minitonas
Ron Batho, Oak Lake

W.C. Mooney, Wawanesa
Ken Edie, Dugald

John Rankin, Hamiota
Wilf James, Dugald

A.O. Henuset, Pipestone
Ray Siemens, Altona

Don Fraser, Duncan
Walter Durston, Dauphin

Charles (Lem) Shuttleworth, Minnedosa
Ralph Faurschou, Portage la Prairie

Jim McCutcheon, Homewood
Gordon Killoh, Hamiota
George Franklin, Deloraine
Norman Edie, Dugald
Frank Baker, Winnipeg