Manitoba Bulletin
Bold leaders wanted to serve Manitoba Canola Growers
Are you interested in becoming involved with a farmer funded, farmer focused organization? We are seeking nominations of MCGA members to run for our Board of Directors in the 2023-24 election.
Our vision is bold action for canola farmers. Join a Board of Directors that is committed to driving success for Manitoba canola farmers through research, market development, advocacy and outreach.
Four seats will be up for election, including two open seats as Clayton Harder and Jack Froese will term out in 2024 following three terms of dedicated service to the association.
We welcome diverse perspectives, backgrounds, farm sizes and geographies on our board, and we encourage anyone who is eligible to consider seeking a nomination.
Who is eligible to run for election?
Anyone who is a member of the Manitoba Canola Growers Association who is 18 years of age or older and is a resident of Manitoba.
What is the deadline for nominations?
The nomination period opens November 15, 2023 and closes at 4:30 pm CST on November 30, 2023.
The vote by preferential ballot will take place online and by paper ballot. The successful candidates will be confirmed at our annual general meeting in February, 2024.
For more information about eligibility, benefits of becoming a director, director job description details or to download a nomination package, visit canolagrowers.com.
A director’s perspective:
Pam Bailey, Vice President
I joined the MCGA board of directors in 2018, and I’ve learned so much. As a younger farmer I wasn’t sure if I’d taken enough leadership courses or had enough governance training, but it’s not required as there are endless learning opportunities. These include conferences, different training and educational workshops relevant to my business and farm, as well as networking with other farmers and people in the agriculture industry, to name a few.
For me, the greatest value of becoming a director with MCGA is knowing that what we do as directors is helping farmers – in their fields, in their business and in their lives.
If you’re a farmer looking to gain experience or make a difference, if you’re eager to witness a change in commodity leadership, or if you’re part of a farm and curious about how policy works and impacts on your farm, please consider putting your name forward for election.
Commodity groups are great contributors to the agricultural industry. As farmers, we know our operations best, including what is holding us back and where we are excelling. Our input is critical for the future of our industry.
$1,000 scholarships awarded to five outstanding students
Each year, Manitoba Canola Growers is pleased to award five $1,000 scholarships to students who are graduating from grade 12, are from a farm that is a member of the Manitoba Canola Growers Association and plan to attend post-secondary education in any field within two years of graduating.
Students submit their applications, and an independent panel judges the applications based on academic standing, their personal canola connection, references, essay submission, and school and community involvement.
This year we received a record number of applications and our judges commented on the high quality of the submissions.
Congratulations to this year’s winners! We wish you the best of luck as you pursue your chosen careers
Alexis (Lexi) McLean – Oak River, MB
Lexi is enrolled in the Faculty of Agriculture (majoring in plant biotechnology) at University of Manitoba.
Elle Labossiere – Dunrea, MB
Elle is enrolled in the Faculty of Science at Brandon University
Rudy Bond – Kenton, MB
Rudy will continue her education at Olds College of Agriculture and Technology.
Simon Krahn – Rivers, MB
Simon is enrolled in the Faculty of Science at Brandon University.
Zoe Pritchard – Carmen, MB
Zoe is enrolled in the Faculty of Science at University of Manitoba.
Where are they now?
Cole Thomas – 2017 recipient
Cole grew up on a farm in western Manitoba. He studied English literature at the University of Manitoba and graduated in spring 2021.
“Receiving the MCGA scholarship in high school was a huge deal. I was concerned about how I was going to pay for university and, in general, nervous about school. This scholarship went a long way towards getting me through that first year.”
Cole has recently started his own business and is working part-time for the U of M in the crop science department for the summer.
“Thank you, Manitoba Canola Growers, for your ongoing commitment helping kids in the ag community transition to post-secondary education.”
Carrie Livingston – 2017 recipient
Carrie was raised on a farm at Starbuck, Manitoba. She double majored in marketing and human resource management at the University of Manitoba Asper School of Business and graduated in 2022.
“Receiving the MCGA high school scholarship meant a lot to me. I have always felt a connection to farming and to have the support from the agriculture community made my connection grow stronger. I always wanted to return back to agriculture, even if it wasn’t in the traditional farming way.”
Carrie had her full circle moment last year when she joined MCGA as communications coordinator.
2nd Annual Canola Research Camp
Over the span of two days, MCGA took researchers across the province to visit six different farms and an aerial application company. Researchers got the chance to see different on-farm practices and talk with farmers about production across Manitoba.
Canola-specific topics discussed included seeding methods, fertilizer management, flea beetles, canola diseases, and harvest methods and optimization. Whole-farm topics included managing field variability, crop-livestock integration, crop rotations, soil health, farm management and transition planning. Researchers and farmers also discussed how to share research results in a way that enables farmers to adopt new and improved production practices.
Thank you to all our farmers, researchers and agriculture community that helped along the way. Click here to read Jay Whetter’s article about Research Camp.