AgAnnex Talks

Dr. Valarie Carney has been one of North America’s most respected poultry science leaders for nearly two decades. Based in Edmonton as the Poultry Innovation Partnership lead, she supports excellence…

Mary Ruth McDonald has always been interested in plants, which led her to the University of Guelph, the study of plant pathology, and an interest in crop protection. But it was a summer job as a pest…

While Heather Watson didn’t grow up on a farm, most of her youth she was drawn to agriculture, nature and farming, whether it was through her part-time job at a local farm supply store or living near…

Jeremy Meiners might have been comfortable in lecture halls and research labs for the rest of his career – he obtained his PhD at Washington University at a time when he says many of its graduates we…

Adam Fisher has a passion for doing things the right way. Since creating his first Ditch Doctor prototype, Fisher has made his life about just that. His goal with the Ditch Doctor, an excavator attac…

Award-winning farmer Lisa Mumm is a dedicated leader in the field of seed harvesting and seed policy. As a fourth-generation organic seed farmer, Lisa has a wealth of experience growing specialty see…

Bruce Shewfelt, president of consultancy firm PBS Water Management, has spent his whole career focused on moving water – both away from areas that are too wet and into areas that are too dry.

His work…

From risky career moves and adversity in the workplace to the illness and death of a loved one, Lana Shaw has encountered many curve balls in her life, and credits her village of supportive people to…

Some children develop an interest at a young age that quickly grows into an obsession and, eventually, a career. For Christine Noronha, growing up in Pakistan, that interest just happened to be insec…

Welcome to the third episode in our 2022 Top 4 Under 40 series. These three episodes will feature conversations with the winners of Fruit & Vegetable’s recent contest, which sought to recognize the i…

Welcome to the second episode in our 2022 Top 4 Under 40 series. These three episodes will feature conversations with the winners of Fruit & Vegetable’s recent contest, which sought to recognize the …

Welcome to the first episode in our second annual Top 4 Under 40 series. These three episodes will feature conversations with the winners of Fruit & Vegetable’s recent contest, which sought to recogn…

Leona Staples, president of The Jungle Farm in Red Deer, Alta., is passionate about sharing the story of agriculture with everyone she meets. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Staples, along with her hus…

Life is full of difficult decisions – when to take a chance, when to take time off, when to go back to your roots, when to try something new. Andrea McKenna has tackled all of those tough decisions a…

If you work with cereals in Ontario, odds are you’ve heard of Ellen Sparry – she’s a go-to person for cereals research and production questions, according to “Wheat Pete” Johnson. Sparry is the gener…

Professor Tina M. Widowski has spent more than 25 years investigating the factors that affect the well-being of poultry and livestock. Collaborating with academic leaders including Temple Grandin and…

Simone Demers-Collins’ career has taken her from government and extension to independent consultation, but at the root of it has always been listening to the needs of the community around her. Now as…

Crystal Mackay is an agriculture advocate, entrepreneur and much more. Currently the founder/CEO of Loft32, which works to elevate businesses, people and the conversations on food and farming, Mackay…

Welcome to the third episode in our Top 4 Under 40 series. These four episodes will feature conversations with the winners of Fruit & Vegetable’s recent contest, which sought to recognize the industr…