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Wawanesa Educator Named AITC-M’s 2026 Educator Champion

The Educator Champion Award recognizes educators who demonstrate exceptional leadership in agriculture education by creating meaningful learning experiences that help students better understand food, farming, and the many opportunities within Manitoba's agriculture industry.

For Kirby, agriculture education goes beyond the classroom. Through hands-on learning opportunities, school gardening projects, and agriculture-focused activities, she helps students build meaningful connections to where their food comes from and the role agriculture plays in their everyday lives.

At Wawanesa School, Kirby has helped bring agriculture learning to life through a greenhouse and garden project she championed to give students hands-on experiences with growing food. Through planting, caring for crops, and harvesting produce, students gain a deeper understanding of food production while developing responsibility, curiosity, and practical skills that extend beyond the classroom.

"Students get really excited when things actually grow," says Adams. "They enjoy the hands-on aspect of working in the garden and greenhouse and learning about the different career opportunities that are out there."

School staff and students describe Kirby as a passionate educator who believes in learning by doing. Her commitment to hands-on agriculture education has helped students engage with agriculture in meaningful ways while building valuable connections to their local community.

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Episode 123: Alfalfa Research May Be in for a Long, Cold Winter

Video: Episode 123: Alfalfa Research May Be in for a Long, Cold Winter

Legumes are one of the most economical ways to improve feed quality, pasture performance and cattle productivity. Alfalfa has received the most breeding focus and is the most common and productive legume available, however, combining strong yields, grazing tolerance and winter hardiness in a single variety remains a challenge. In this episode, we explore Canadian research examining how different alfalfa varieties balance productivity, grazing resilience and survival in harsh northern climates.