After entering university to play volleyball, Courtney Kowk found her way into the agriculture program and continued her studies with a masters degree in agricultural economics. While her work experience started during university, her connection to agriculture began with a love for animals and a connection to her grandparents in Saskatchewan. She continued into a role at Cellar Insights, which allowed her to work closely with producer-focused innovation.
Where did you grow up? Was it an agriculture or urban environment?
I grew up in East St. Paul, a small municipality just outside of Winnipeg. It wasn’t a farming community, but it also wasn’t fully urban, so I got a bit of both worlds growing up.
What was your dream job when you were a kid?
Thinking back, I don’t know if I ever really had a dream job. I don’t think I spent much time thinking about growing up or being an adult, I was pretty happy just being a kid and not having to worry about those responsibilities yet. At one point I wanted to be a veterinarian because I’ve always loved animals, but I don’t think I was ever all that serious about pursuing it.
What was your first job in the agriculture or agri-food sector?
My first job in agriculture was at the Glenlea Research Station, a research farm owned by the University of Manitoba. I worked in a number of different areas there—I spent time in the dairy barn, the feed mill, and occasionally helped out in the poultry and swine barns when they were short-staffed or especially busy. I also led tours around the farm. But my favourite part was definitely working in the dairy barn because I absolutely loved the cows. I’d spend my lunch breaks brushing them and cleaning out their water troughs. Any free time I had, I was usually with the cows. That’s really where I got my first hands-on experience in agriculture.
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