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Coverage on AWC EAST 2019
November 21, 2019 • Women in Agriculture and a Royal Winter Fair
Harrowsmith Radio: “In this episode we talk about the changing role of women in agriculture and the future of the largest agricultural fair in the world. I speak with Iris Meck, the force behind the Advancing Women in Agriculture conference. And I chat with the CEO of the Royal Agriculture Winter Fair about produce, horses and, yes, royals…”
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November 11, 2019 • Step up, not over!
Eastern Ontario AgriNews: “Kelly Dobson, Chief Leadership Officer with Leadershift Inc of Manitoba explains how the squares help when trying to explain to others what you are trying to say or determine what strategies to use to solve a problem. Participants were divided into groups and practiced this activity during the Advancing Women In Agriculture Conference in Niagara Falls, Oct. 27 to 29…”
November 6, 2019 • How McDonald’s Canada navigates consumer choice and supply chain demands
Real Agriculture: “As the saying goes, if Henry Ford had listened to what his customers wanted, they would have said, “Faster horses.” For Nicole Zeni, that innovation philosophy means that while you do need to listen to your customers, you must be open to change, and challenged to thinking broadly and for the long term.”
November 5, 2019 • Advancing Women In Ag Conference A Success
High River Online: “Over 400 women from all parts of the ag sector gathered in Niagara Falls to be inspired and recharged.
The Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference East took place from Sunday, October 27 to Tuesday, October 29, and Conference Founder, Iris Meck, says the women in attendance represented over 170 organizations across eight provinces.
Meck says there’s great networking at the conference where women can build sustainable relationships with like-minded people passionate about the agriculture industry.”
November 3, 2019 • First-ever female engineer hired by John Deere still blazing a trail for women in agriculture
RealAgriculture: “Alot has changed for Debra Harrison in the past 39 years.
Almost four decades ago she was the first female engineer ever hired by John Deere. Today she is president of John Deere Canada. Earlier this week, Harrison shared that journey with 450 people attending the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference at Niagara Falls, Ont.
Back then, women were just starting to enter non-traditional roles and it was tough, says Harrison, who recalls being the only woman among 650 engineers at an engineering conference early in her career. She was the only woman amongst her graduating McGill University engineering class; she also recalls that there were no washrooms for women on the shop floor when she started her first job.”
November 1, 2019 • Level up your career through key conversations
RealAgriculture: “It’s okay to not have all the answers when it comes to how you want your farm or agriculture career to look in five, 10, or 20 years down the road.
Steph Kowalski, agronomy lead for Sollio Agriculture, says she ended up in her leadership role somewhat accidentally, but not without significant commitment to getting there.
“I knew I wanted to kind of level up, and go to the next step. I didn’t know that that next step was,” says Kowalski, adding that navigating that decision making process meant talking to the people around her that supported her career and ambitions.
“It’s okay to not know what you want,” says Kowalski, “but there are methods to help you sort that out, to take the next step and be happier.”
October 29, 2019 • Kevin Werner – Raising Awareness about Mental Illness
RURAL ROOTS: Kevin Werner, a retired VP with TD Bank, talks with RRC’s Craig Lester about his battle with depression, the warning signs and the importance of getting help in this interview at the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference – East.
October 28, 2019 • Kevin Werner – Raising Awareness about Mental Illness
RURAL ROOTS: Steph Kowalski, Agronomy Lead with Sollio Agriculture, talks with RRC’s Craig Lester at the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference about how someone can successfully be in a leadership role when they are under 30 years old.
October 28, 2019 • Agriculture Management Student journeys from Argentina to take part in conference
RURAL ROOTS: Cecilia Vignau traveled to the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference – East in Niagara Falls from Buenos Aires, Argentina as part of the AWC Student Program. Her sponsor is Cultovo. Vignau and Cultovo Founder Brodie Houlette talk about agriculture in Argentina, why they are so excited to be at the conference and what Vignau hopes to take back with her.
October 10, 2019 • We need more women driving agri-food innovation
TROY MEDIA: Atlantic Institute for Market Studies “A new report shows women are much more adept at driving change and managing results in startups, yet they struggle to find funding.
A recent report on agri-tech startup funding provided some compelling numbers but it barely received attention. And when it comes to what it reveals about gender discrepancies, it deserves attention.
More and more venture capital is being invested in the sector, which is great news. But these funds apparently aren’t serving all demographics equally. Some are left behind, most importantly women…“
September 19, 2019 • Women’s Conference puts a Focus on Mental Health and the Brain
GERMINATION: “As awareness of it becomes more prevalent, the Advancing Women in Agriculture conference puts a focus on the mechanics of mental health.
During his tenure with TD in Toronto as vice-president of commercial and agriculture banking, Kevin Werner opened up to the bank in 2009 about his mental illness — clinical depression.
Coincidentally, the bank was in the process of setting up a national sub-committee to help address and improve the understanding by all employees about people with disabilities, both visible and invisible. Kevin — who had the benefit of having an agriculture background — was requested to be part of this sub-committee given his experience with mental illness.”
August 6, 2019 • AWCA: A chance to re-energize
Rural Roots: “The first time Dana Sachvie attended an Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference she was amazed by the number of women there were to network with at the event.
The Senior Administrative Assistant at Cargill says she came back from the first event feeling energized and empowered, which has brought her back multiple times since.
Five times to be exact.
“I look forward to it every year and the content and speakers change every time and even when speakers have returned, the content has evolved and has been relevant and updated to current times,” says Sachvie.”
May 8, 2019 • Yukon farmer, Krista Roske of Sunnyside Farm attends AWC and takes away more than practical ideas to improve their farm business (Page 7)
April 23, 2019 • More women are dumping lucrative careers to move into the demanding world of farming
Financial Post: “After a successful 33-year professional career in festival event management in Victoria, Ramona Froehle-Schacht decided 12 years ago it was time to pursue a different path. Now, she’s the proud owner of SOL Farm, a five-acre property in North Cowichan, B.C., where she spends her day nurturing her crops of pickling cucumbers, bouquet flowers, tomatoes and berries.
An avid gardener all her life, she considers growing food to be something “basic and magical. But to take a productive plant and harvest and sell it involves a tremendous amount of work and knowledge…”
April 3, 2019 • Meet Dianne Finstad, AWC’s long time Master of Ceremonies
Farm Marketer: Dianne Finstad is a media legend. She is well known as an agriculture reporter, an award-winning host of two shows, a freelance writer, and the host at many rodeo events.