“If I’d give any advice, I’d say don’t be afraid to ask questions…don’t ask a question because you know the answer. Ask a question because you genuinely want to know, and get their opinion and get their advice. And when you ask that question, when you explore that curiosity, you’re wiser, and the folks who… Read More
Category: Leadership
Brant County farmer Steve Sickle has been named president of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) for 2023. Sickle has been involved in the Brant Federation of Agriculture, Brant Beef Farmers, Ontario Soil Network, and the agriculture advisory council for the county. His OSCIA involvement stretches back many years, and he’s also worked… Read More
It’s said that a farmer has to be a mechanic, biologist, vet, and CEO, sometimes all in the same day. Formal education and hours in the tractor seat are how plenty of farming is learned, but there’s always new leadership skills to develop and more to learn. Professional development pays, too, as farms with better… Read More
A high functioning team is a key component of running a business, and trust builds strong teams. So how do leaders foster trust between team members? Kristjan Hebert, a farmer at Fairlight, Sask., says the younger a team, the steeper the learning curve. Hebert has a team of young professionals and he makes sure there… Read More
Farm Management Canada held its annual Agricultural Excellence Conference last month at Canmore, Alta., where Michele Rogalsky was announced as the 2022 recipient of the Wilson Loree Award. The award, now in its 20th year, honours individuals or groups who have made an extraordinary contribution to advancing agricultural business management practices in Canada. Rogalsky, of… Read More
McDonald’s Canada and 4-H Canada have launched the National Youth Scholarship program, as a part of the next iteration of a relationship between two organizations. The program includes sixteen scholarships, totalling up to $80,000 over two years, beginning in 2023. Candidates include senior youth leaders from across the country, focusing on advancing work in sustainability… Read More
Strong culture and core values are the foundation of a well-functioning team. This applies to business, sports, and, yes, families. When business meets family, as often is the experience for farmers, family members need to work together to define the core values of their operation. In this episode of The Mind Your Farm Business podcast,… Read More
We’re often told not to dwell on the past, but what about the future? Elatia Abate, futurist, spoke at the Grow Canada Conference at Ottawa, Ont., to help producers build a bridge between the now — and what’s coming next. Looking at what’s next, Abate says we need to pay attention to the rate of… Read More
Each year, Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) selects 16 program participants ages 18-35 from across the country and offers industry networking, travel, and skill building opportunities. A focal point of the program is matching participants with a hand-picked mentor in their specific area of interest in the Canadian beef industry for a nine-month mentorship experience…. Read More
The Alberta Canola Producers Commission has announced that Karla Bergstrom will be the next leader of Alberta Canola, beginning her role as executive director on May 16, 2022. Bergstrom has over 10 years of experience leading Alberta Canola in its legislative duty to advise governments on issues affecting canola farmers. She will build on key relationships with… Read More
Canada’s young farmers are helping to strengthen the agriculture and agri-food sector through their leadership and innovative contributions, which is why the federal government has announced up to $2.1 million for three organizations to support development opportunities for Canadian youth in agriculture. With funds under the AgriCompetitiveness Program, these organizations will deliver important programming and… Read More
With so many factors being tied to the war between Russia and Ukraine, many are trying to get a grasp on the situation to better situate themselves, or to just make sense of it. Understanding something that you’ve never been a part of can be a difficult task, and that’s why we’ve brought in a… Read More
A large part of farm succession planning is information sharing between the generations, something Canadian Western Agribition’s (CWA) Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program is looking to replicate. The program is now in it’s fourth year and has recently announced this year’s group of mentors and mentees for Saskatchewan. The 18-month mentorship focuses on developing numerous… Read More
In 2022, the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame will induct Paul Kelly, Patrick Lynch, Patricia Mighton, James Rickard, and Dr. Patricia Shewen as worthy candidates based on their life-long commitments to Ontario’s agriculture. The five will be recognized in an induction ceremony on June 12, (in-person, if restrictions permit, and online) bringing the total number… Read More
I’ve been having this conversation a lot lately, as I’m sure many of you have been too — I’m not sure how we’re at the end of December already. Although the last couple of weeks have shown some true winter temperatures, it has been abnormally warm (and dry) in my area, which I’m convinced has… Read More