By Alice McFarlane

Agribition names top 50 ag leaders in Canada

Feb 23, 2021 | 5:00 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – Canadian Western Agribition (CWA) is celebrating Canada’s Ag Day by recognizing the top 50 leaders in Canadian agriculture.

CWA and Farm Credit Canada (FCC) started the search last year by asking for nominations from across the country. A panel of judges then picked the top 10 finalists in the categories of mentors, upstarts, innovators, deal makers and designated hitters.

FCC Chief Marketing Officer Todd Klink said the leaders come from almost every sector of agriculture.

“They represent some of the best in an industry that continues to create endless opportunities to dream, grow, and thrive,” Klink said in a media release.

The top 10 selected mentors are: Scott Exner, Calgary, Alta.; Bill Greuel, Regina, Sask.; Stephen Hughes, Longview, Alta.; Peter Johnson, Ingersoll, Ont.; Alanna Koch, Edenwold, Sask.; Tim Lambert, Ottawa, Ont.; John Phillips, Arlington, P.E.I.; Jeff Reid, Kanata, Ont.; Robert Saik, Olds, Alta.; and Anne Wasko, Eastend, Sask.

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In the upstarts category, the top 10 are Sandi Brock, West Perth, Ont.; Shaun Haney, Lethbridge, Alta.; Jill Harvie, Olds, Alta.; Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel, Mossbank, Sask.; Kim Keller, Melfort, Sask.; Brett McRae, Brandon, Man.; Todd Ormann, Olds, Alta.; Jess Verstappen, High Prairie, Alta.; Alex Villeneuve, Olds, Alta.; and, Charlotte Wasylik, Vermilion, Alta.

The top 10 innovators are: Joy Agnew, Olds, Alta; Wade Barnes, Winnipeg, Man.; Chantelle Donahue, Biggar, Sask.; Viren D’Souza, Peterborough, Ont.; Jean-Martin Fortier, Saint-Armand, Que.; Matt Hughes, Kelly’s Cross, P.E.I.; Myles Immerkar, Rocky View County, Alta.; Kee Jim, Okotoks, Alta.; Brian Olson, Fort Qu’Appelle, Sask.; and Maggie Van Camp, Blackstock, Ont.

In the deal makers category, the winners are Murad Al-Katib, Regina; Terry Curley, Norboro, P.E.I., Jeffrey Fitzpatrick-Stilwell, Toronto; Dennis Laycraft, Calgary; Sebastian Leveille, Montreal; Garth MacDonald, Kindersley, Sask.; Bob Mazer, Brandon, Man.; Mike Medeiros, Osgoode, Ont.; Ray Price, Acme, Alta.; and Jean-Marc Ruest, Winnipeg.

Winners of the designated hitters category include Gordon Bacon, Winnipeg, Man.; Shannon Benner, Perth, Ont.; Marc Bieler, Saint-Louis-de-Blandford, Que.; Robert Black, Ottawa, Ont.; Cyr Couturier, St. Johns, N.L.; Jean Fontaine, Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.; Stephanie Hamelin, Montreal; Pierre Lampron, Saint-Boniface, Que.; Marty Seymour, White City, Sask.; and Alison Sunstrum, Airdrie, Alta.

The panel of judges included industry leader Kim McConnell, Canadian Federation of Agriculture president Mary Robinson, former Maple Leaf executive Rory McAlpine and Quebec agricultural economist Claude Lafleur.

The top 50 will be featured in a magazine that will be distributed by at CWA’s fiftieth anniversary show in November.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@AliceMcF