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KAP President Jill Verwey becomes first vice-president of CFA

KAP President Jill Verwey becomes first vice-president of CFA
Feb 27, 2025
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

She was acclaimed during CFA’s annual general meeting

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) has some new leadership at the board level.

Delegates at the CFA’s annual general meeting in Ottawa elected two new vice-presidents by acclamation.

Jill Verwey, a cash crop, beef and dairy producer from near Portage la Prairie, Man., and the current president of Keystone Agricultural Producers, is the CFA’s new first vice-president.

Members of the ag industry support Verwey’s new role within the CFA.

“An exceptional choice by the CFA Board to join the senior leadership team,” Jen Wright, the executive director of the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council, said on X.

“Manitoba is well represented,” Stephanie Cruickshanks, a Manitoba Agricultural and Resource Development rep, said online.

The CFA’s other new vice-president hails from Quebec.

Jill Verwey and Stephanie Levasseur
Jill Verwey, left, and Stephanie Levasseur.

Stephanie Levasseur is an apple grower and a vice-president of the Union des Producteurs Agricole.

Levasseur and Verwey are replacing Todd Lewis and Pierre Lampron, respectively.

Lewis recently received a Senate appointment, and Lampron decided not to seek re-election.

Ontario producer Keith Currie remains the CFA’s president.

The organization is prepared to work with whichever party wins the next federal election.

In August 2024 the CFA published a pre-budget submission in advance of the upcoming federal budget.

The document includes multiple recommendations for the next government, including:

  • A commitment to modernizing the Canada Grain Act
  • Extending interswitching distance to 500km
  • Immediately convening an ag disaster relief summit with stakeholders and governments to look at better supports for farmers
  • Investing in the expansion and enhancement of colleges of veterinary medicine to address a shortage of large animal vets.

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AgTech Innovation at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show

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Welcome to Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show AgTech Breakfast. This annual Ontario outdoor farm show has always been a place where innovation thrives.

The AgTech Breakfast takes place every September to create a space where farmers and representatives from startup companies can meet and discuss innovations that bring new options to the agriculture industry. This is a great opportunity for attendees of this event to see what’s new.

At the AgTech Breakfast, attendees hear from a panel of companies, followed by a casual discussion session where farmers and representatives from startup companies can discuss new technology related to farming and share opportunities and challenges that impact Canadian agriculture.

One company featured at the 2024 AgTech Breakfast at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show was VETSon. This company connects producers and veterinarians for one-on-one consultations through online and app technology to improve options for livestock management.