Jill Verwey of Portage la Prairie has ascended to a prominent national role in Canadian agriculture, being named as the first vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) during its recent annual general meeting in Ottawa. Verwey, a seasoned farmer specializing in cash crops, beef, and dairy, also serves as the president of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), Manitoba's leading farm policy organization.
The CFA's AGM was marked by significant leadership changes. Alongside Verwey's appointment, Stéphanie Levasseur, an apple grower from southern Quebec and vice-president of the Union des Producteurs Agricole (UPA), was acclaimed as the second vice-president. Keith Currie of Ontario was re-elected as president, maintaining continuity at the helm.
Verwey expressed enthusiasm about her new role, highlighting the importance of collaboration and representation.
"I really look forward to the challenge of working with the executive team going forward and having a voice from a national point of view, being able to represent producers from across Canada.,"
The CFA AGM also emphasized youth involvement in agriculture. Over 30 young farmers from across Canada attended, including three from Manitoba who are part of the KAP board. Verwey noted the significance of their participation:
"It was great to have them attend and meet with other young farmers. They are the future of the industry."
Prior to the CFA meeting, KAP held its own annual general meeting in Winnipeg last month. The event addressed pressing issues such as the impact of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods. Verwey emphasized the importance of strong cross-border relationships.
"We have formed some great alliances with our stakeholders to the south, to make sure that their stakeholders and legislative representatives understand the real negative impact that this would have on our relationship on both sides of the border. For now, producers are trying to just focus on the upcoming season."
Looking ahead, Verwey is preparing for KAP's reorganization meeting and plans to attend various commodity association meetings before the farming season commences. She is eager to engage with producers across Manitoba, understand their regional concerns, and relay them to stakeholders and provincial representatives.
"It's always great to engage with other producers. I'm excited to sit down with our new board and executive at KAP to tackle our strategic plan."
As spring approaches, farmers are preparing for the upcoming season amidst global uncertainties. Verwey acknowledged the challenges but highlighted the resilience and optimism inherent in the farming community on the prairies.
"Although we do face some challenges, we look at every year with optimism and look forward to getting out to the field and doing what we do best, providing safe and affordable food for us here in Canada and being able to export globally as well."
Verwey's dual leadership roles in both KAP and CFA position her to effectively advocate for Manitoba's farmers on a national platform, ensuring their voices are heard in shaping the future of Canadian agriculture.
Source : Pembinavalley online