Guelph ON, – Kelly Somerville has joined the Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) staff team as the organization’s new Industry Services Manager. Somerville, a University of Guelph Animal Science graduate from the Ottawa Valley, has an extensive background in the beef industry and most recently worked with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association as a Programs Analyst.
In her new role with LRIC, she will be providing additional support to the LRIC membership. This includes researching topics of interest to the livestock sector, preparing materials to bring relevant research results to livestock producers, working with LRIC’s International Research Advisory Committee, organizing and coordinating industry events, and managing various LRIC initiatives like the Mentorship Program for Early Career Faculty.
“I’m proud of the work that LRIC has been doing but we’ve always had ideas for even more and by bringing Kelly on board, we’ll be able to turn some of those ideas into reality,” says LRIC CEO Mike McMorris. “Kelly brings an important, youthful perspective on the world and the livestock sector, and her passion and positive attitude, combined with her industry experience, will be a key part of LRIC’s continuing work to improve the livestock innovation system in Ontario.”
Somerville got her start in the livestock industry showing beef cattle in 4-H in her pre-teen years, and today co-owns a small herd of purebred Angus cattle together with her sister under the prefix Twin Valley Cattle Co., showing and marketing purebred Angus genetics. She’s been involved with various cattle organization boards, including the Ottawa Valley Angus Club and the Ontario and Canadian Junior Angus boards and currently serves as Vice President of the Ontario Angus Association.
Her career started as a ruminant farm consultant with Cargill before she moved to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture as first a Member Service Representative and then Member Relations Manager.
“My passion for livestock as a producer means I have a vested interest in the future sustainability of livestock farming in Ontario,” Somerville says. “I am incredibly excited by the work LRIC is doing to connect every facet of the livestock industry and explore the big challenges facing animal agriculture. I have always been driven to be part of the conversation surrounding these challenges and it’s so invigorating to see academia, industry, and producers brought together to find creative research-driven solutions.”
Livestock Research Innovation Corporation was established in 2012 with support from Ontario’s beef, pork, dairy and poultry sector organizations and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. LRIC’s mission is driving innovation and the organization takes a value chain approach to research and innovation by providing leadership in research priority setting, coordination and process; identifying and communicating emerging issues; and strengthening networks across the sector. LRIC is funded in part by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a five-year, federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
Source : Livestock Research