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Canadian Western Agribition announces mentorship participants

Mar 24, 2021 | 3:02 PM

MELFORT, Sask. — Eight individuals have been selected to participate in the Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program.

Canadian Western Agribition (CWA) pairs the applicants with mentors who are leaders in the agriculture sector and who will share their knowledge on board and governance training, business education, financial literacy, and networking opportunities.

Mentees were selected by an advisory committee based on industry involvement, existing skills, interests, abilities, desired outcomes, and overall fit in the program.

Mentees and their paired mentors include:

  • Alexandra Clarke, paired with Gerry Hertz,
  • Sandra Hessdorfer, paired with Sara Shymko,
  • Megan Roger, paired with Brett Halstead,
  • Morgan Follensbee, paired with Kim Keller,
  • Blaine Lamontagne, paired with Danny Petty,
  • Grayson Berting, paired with Joe Barnett,
  • Ryan Garbarczyk, paired with Shelley Jones,
  • Anna Karlsson, paired with Heather Deobald.

CWA president Chris Lees said this is the third year of the program.

“It’s been a pleasure watching the Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship program grow and CWA is proud to be part of the success of our industry’s future,” Lees said in a news release. “Already, graduates from the program are filling leadership roles in agriculture all over the province.”

The program is funded through Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial initiative.

Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said Canada’s young people are key to the future success of the agricultural sector.

“The Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship program creates leadership development opportunities to give the future agriculture leaders the skills and experience they need to contribute and make a difference in our industry,” Bibeau said.

The program provides young industry leaders with valuable skills that will help them advance their careers and share the story of how our producers create safe, high-quality food, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture minister David Marit.

“I want to congratulate CWA on matching their third intake of mentees with mentors and thank them for their efforts to engage young people,” Marit said.

The program runs for 18 months.

alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

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