2019

Travis Heide was born and raised in Moosomin, Saskatchewan. He grew up on the family farm alongside his three younger brothers.

After completing his business degree from the University of Saskatchewan, he started his own commodities brokerage thereafter traveled to South Sudan to assist locals in farming practices and after returned to Canada in the Spring of 2014 , that’s when he broke first ground.

Travis made the decision to transition to organic farming after meeting his wife Amy and together they manage and operate a farming operation of over 40,000 acres.

Travis, Amy and their three young daughters live on the farm located in Waldron, Saskatchewan.

Robin Young is the Chief Operating Officer/General Manager of the Food Development Centre in Portage la Prairie. She is excited about the growth and success of Manitoba’s agri-food sector and has a wide range of knowledge and experience in the food industry, having worked in the areas of quality assurance, technical marketing, production, environmental management and continuous improvement prior to joining Manitoba Agriculture in 2007. Robin grew up on a mixed farm in Manitoba and her passion for food and love of science drove her to pursue a career in agriculture and food.

Michael Poole, CPA, CA, is a Partner and the Tax Leader for MNP’s Southern Manitoba region. Working out of the Brandon office, Michael delivers comprehensive corporate and personal tax services, helping clients stay compliant and reduce their overall tax requirements.
Michael provides specialty tax strategies to clients of all sizes and in a
wide range of industries, including agriculture and oil and gas. He is adept
at helping business owners with structure reorganizations, estate and succession planning and family trusts. In addition, he advises on and assists with complex negotiations involving the Canada Revenue Agency to achieve audit resolution.
Skilled at explaining complicated tax issues so that clients can make informed decisions, Michael draws on more than 10 years of experience and knowledge to deliver creative, practical solutions to unique business challenges. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), qualifying as a Chartered Accountant (CA) in 2005.

Dr. David Lobb is a Professor in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Manitoba. He received his B.Sc. (1987) in physical geography from the University of Toronto, and his M.Sc. (1991) and Ph.D. (1998) in soil science from the University of Guelph. Before moving to Manitoba in 1999, David worked in Ontario and across Atlantic Canada. He grew up on a cash crop farm in southern Ontario.
Dr. Lobb’s research, teaching and extension activities are in the areas of soil erosion, soil and water conservation and sustainable agriculture. A major focus of David’s research has been the causes and management of soil variability in agricultural landscapes. He is internationally recognized for his research in tillage translocation and tillage erosion. In support of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s agri-environmental initiatives, David has made major contributions to the national assessment and prediction of soil erosion and sedimentation. David also represents Canada on the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils.

Graduated from Laval University with a degree in Applied Sciences (Soils and Crops). Started as agricultural representative with Manitoba Agriculture in 1988 in Somerset. Currently working in the same office as Farm Production Extension Specialist on the Cereal Grains Team for Manitoba Agriculture. Professional agrologist member of the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists.

Amber McNishs’ passion for farming began at a young age. She grew up on a small cattle farm in the far southwest corner of Manitoba. Staying active in the 4-H Beef program and volunteering in the community has always been an important family value. For the past three years she worked at Borderland Agriculture gaining knowledge in regenerative farming practices, bison and business management. She graduated in June 2018 and is now attending Brandon Assiniboine College, earning her diploma in Agribusiness.

Kristen Phillips

Brittany Cousins

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