Expert Guests and Speakers

Jason's Bio

Jason Hale has experience in the oil and gas sector, has been a cattle rancher in southern Alberta for over 30 years, was a professional bull fighter, and was an elected Member for the Eastern Irrigation District and Alberta Beef Producers.

As a former Member of Legislative Assembly (April 2012 – May 2015), Jason served on 3 legislative committees and was the opposition critic for Energy; where he provided critical assessment of government policy and programs. He sat on multiple community boards such as the Advisory Committee for the Medicine Hat College and Crawling Valley Recreations Society.

Jason has a Chemical Technology diploma from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).

Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation

Mike's Bio

As the Sr. Manager, Environmental Sustainability at Nutrien, Mike leads Nutrien’s global sustainability work on water, biodiversity, waste, and climate as priority sustainability topics and how they relate to sustainable agriculture. He also supports Nutrien’s climate strategy and looks for opportunities around system solutions between the nature-climate-food nexus with agri-food value chain partners.

Mike received his Bachelor of Science with Distinction in Environmental Science and his Master of Science with a concentration in Hydrology from the University of Lethbridge. He is registered as a Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) and an Environmental Professional (EP), and currently serves as the Chair of the Water Committee for the Potato Sustainability Alliance in North America.

Nutrien

Margo's Bio

A registered Professional Agrologist, Margo has worked for over 30 years in natural resource sectors within Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Alberta.

In her current role as the Executive Director of the Alberta Irrigation Districts Association, she represents Alberta’s eleven irrigation districts to promote the importance and benefits of irrigation and associated conveyance infrastructure.

Margo, her husband and two children operate a fourth-generation irrigated crop farm located just outside of Brooks, Alberta in the Eastern Irrigation District.

Alberta Irrigation Districts Association

Reem's Bio

Reem Ghaleb is a passionate science educator with experience in the classroom and community education spaces. Currently, she is an educational facilitator at the Calgary Stampede, hosting field trips and school visits to teach students about sustainability and agriculture. Previously, she was a classroom teacher and educational consultant, helping schools on reserves and rural areas access resources and improve their science curriculum.

Calgary Stampede

Semeton's Bio

Semeton Amosu is a Research Associate and Soil Scientist in the Crop Research and Environmental Stewardship departments at OCCI. Semeton is passionate about best agricultural practices, digital agriculture, soil health and environmental management. He’s currently developing research project proposals in agrivoltaics. He’s also looking into research and academic program opportunities in soil health at Olds College.

Semeton has been involved in agricultural and environmental research for over 23 years with academic and field training in West Africa and South America. He obtained his bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.

Before joining Olds College in 2024, Semeton worked as a research officer with the National Horticultural Research Institute in Nigeria for over 17 years and he was the head of the Fruits Research Program. He focused on designing and conducting field research on the agronomic improvement of tropical fruits.

Prior to his research experience, Semeton worked as an agricultural consultant. He established farms for clients, performed soil surveys and conducted land use evaluation projects. He also organized and facilitated agricultural workshops and seminars. As a project manager, he has coordinated government-funded agricultural projects and participated in other internationally funded projects, including a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded project. 

Outside of work, Semeton prioritizes God, family and friends. He’s happily married with three teenage kids and currently resides in Calgary. Semeton likes soccer, he has played the sport and is a supporter of Arsenal F.C. in England. He’s currently gaining an interest in hockey, which is a sport he had a brief stint with in high school. The Calgary Flames seem to catch Semeton’s attention these days.

Olds College

Detimdale's Bio

Welcome to the Home of Detimdale Holsteins.

We are pleased to show our dairy facility, we built our new robotic dairy barn in 2021 moving in January 2022. We have robotic milking, feeding and manure removal. When building animal welfare and sustainability were our main focus. Our farm is validated on the ProAction Program. ProAction is a quality milk assurance program that ensures Canadian milk is produced responsibly. We are a three generation family farm and look forward to your visit.

Detimdale Holsteins

Michelle's Bio

Michelle DuBois is 21 years old and specializes in cow-calf beef farming, with her certificate in beef production from Olds College. Michelle comes from a non agricultural background and has paved her own path into the agriculture industry and is currently working on a local beef/grain operation. She is planning to go to school this winter for business to enhance her agricultural opportunities.

Young Agrarians

Kelsie's Bio

Kelsie has a background in human ecology and has worked in the agriculture industry, dairy specifically, for over a decade, specializing in agriculture education and industry advocacy among students and consumers. Kelsie leads Alberta Milk’s communications with producers and stakeholders, and is passionate about sharing information about the Canadian dairy industry! When not at work, she enjoys exercise, gardening, and spending quality time with her husband and two small children.

Alberta Milk

Dr.'s Bio

Ed is an internationally-recognized expert on the behavior and welfare of a wide variety of species (Beef cattle, Dairy cattle, Swine, Poultry, and Lab Animals) as well as having expertise in animal welfare standards and legislation. Dr. Pajor has published over 140 scientific papers and consulted with numerous national and international companies.

An effective and enthusiastic teacher, Professor Pajor was named a University Peak Scholar, was awarded the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Great Supervisor award, and served on the AVMA’s Model Animal Welfare Curriculum Planning Group which was charged with developing an animal welfare-based curriculum for veterinary schools in North America. Ed is a graduate of the University of Waterloo with an Honors Co-op B.Sc. Degree in biology. In addition, he earned a MSc. and PhD. degree in biology from McGill University specializing in Animal Behaviour.

W.A. Ranches

Jamie's Bio

Jamie Gervais Rietveld is a passionate advocate for food literacy and positive societal impact. With a degree in Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Alberta, Jamie focused in nutraceuticals, complimenting earlier studies in dietetics at Southeast Missouri State University.

In response to a corporate takeover, Jamie founded FoodImpact, an initiative that delivered nutrition and food education to Alberta’s elementary schools for 11 years until the 2020 pandemic disrupted operations. During this period, Jamie pursued further education in Marketing at the University of Calgary, gaining experience in product development and social media marketing. This sparked an interest in psychology, leading to studies at Athabasca University in decision-making, behavioral science, and learning psychology.

Currently, Jamie is a graduate student in Transdisciplinary Research and a graduate research assistant at the University of Calgary, where her research bridges marketing, public health, and education to explore decision-making around food choices for youth. To address reduced funding for food education in low socioeconomic status communities, Jamie established the Food Discovery Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing food literacy education to children and disabled individuals in need.

Jamie’s enthusiasm for learning, exploration, and creating meaningful change continues to shape her impactful journey.

FOOD IMPACT

Tatyana's Bio

Tatyana Pavlovets is the Executive Director of the Central Alberta Forage and Livestock Association (CAFLA), a producer-led organization committed to providing knowledge, tools and resources that build and support a thriving ag community in Central Alberta.

In her role, Tatyana works closely with producers, researchers, and industry partners to translate research into practical, on-farm solutions that enhance productivity, sustainability, and resilience. She is passionate about fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange within the agricultural community, ensuring that producer voices and priorities drive CAFLA’s work.

Under her leadership, CAFLA has strengthened its role as a trusted connector and resource for producers across Central Alberta—supporting peer learning, sustainable grazing practices, and evidence-based management strategies that build stronger, more adaptive farm operations.

As a mother of two young adults and a teenager, Tatyana is deeply passionate about creating awareness and opportunities for youth in agriculture and helping the next generation see a future in the industry.

Central Alberta Forage and Livestock Association

Boyd's Bio

Dr. Boyd Mori is an Associate Professor and NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Agricultural Entomology in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science at the University of Alberta. His research group focuses on developing integrated pest management strategies for insect pests of field and horticultural crops. Boyd combines foundational and applied research incorporating behavioural, chemical, and molecular ecology to understand and exploit the biology of insect pests, their host plants, and natural enemies.

Boyd has worked on insect pests across a wide variety of field crops including alfalfa, canola, quinoa, red clover, pulses, and wheat. He has garnered over $4.1 million in research funding since 2019. Recently, a major focus of his research group is investigating the impact of generalist predators and the potential threat of insecticide resistance across prairie cropping systems.

He currently leads a laboratory consisting of 10 graduate students (6 PhD, 4 MSc), 2 postdoctoral fellow, 2 full-time technicians, and numerous undergraduate research assistants.

Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science

Tawnya's Bio

Tawnya is from the Piikani Nation, she was recently hired as the Project Manager for the Siksikaitsitapi Agriculture Project because of her passion for bettering the lives of her community.

Tawnya has 6 years working in various projects that brought new opportunities to the Piikani people through, food sustainability, land stewardship, promoting the importance of language and encouraging land based learning with youth and elders.

Through Tawnya’s educational background in journalism she has encompassed the skills to network and build important relationships throughout the confederacy.

Rural Routes to Climate Solutions

Katrina's Bio

After growing up in small farming communities Katrina studied Biology in post-secondary, and still did not clue in that she could end up creating a career in the agriculture industry. She started working with Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District nearly four years ago, and is continuously soaking up all the knowledge she can.

Katrina is incredibly passionate about sharing the information she learns about the irrigation sector with others! When she’s not talking about her job, you can find her reading a book, playing guitar, or gardening.

Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District

Victoria's Bio

aGRO’s founder, Victoria Ross, hated seeing her father John working full-time as a rancher but also needing an evening job to keep the farm going (nearly 50% of Canadian farmers face the same problem). aGRO was born from Victoria’s drive to help these sustainable smaller players profit and have better livelihoods (the UN family-run scaled producers as the most environmentally productive class of food production).

Victoria Ross started market research for aGRO Systems during her BCOMM at the University of Calgary, and launched business operations shortly after graduating in June 2018. Through Victoria’s continuous efforts (and the team!), aGRO has successfully diverted over 50 million pounds of spent grain from entering the landfill to be repurposed as nutritional animal feed. 

Victoria was one of the first women recognized for SHEInnovates, the Alberta Chapter, by UN Women. Most recently, Victoria has spoken at the 2022 Advancing Women in Agriculture, the 2022 Cultivate: Agriculture Summit with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, and hosted the 2022 Alberta Beer Awards in Red Deer. She is aGRO System’s leader in managing sales, market research, and bringing the company’s vision to life.

aGro Systems

Jennifer's Bio

Jennifer Neufeld is an environmental educator and permaculture practitioner dedicated to cultivating ecological literacy and regenerative agriculture practices. With a BSc in Environmental Studies, a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Community Development, a Permaculture Design Certificate, and a Soil Food Web Certificate, she brings a strong foundation in both science and systems thinking.

Jennifer has designed and delivered engaging, experiential workshops for students and communities across Alberta, connecting learners to the incredibly amazing living systems that sustain our food and environment.

Flowing Springs Permaculture and Soil Health

Balwinder's Bio

Dr. Balwinder Kumar is a Research Scientist at Lakeland College’s Applied Research in Vermilion, Alberta. He specializes in cereal and forage crop agronomy, nutrient management, sustainable agriculture, and climate-resilient farming systems. With over 20 years of experience in research, teaching, extension and administration, Dr. Kumar works closely with farmers, scientists, and students to solve real-world agricultural challenges.

At Lakeland College, he leads projects focused on improving production of wheat, barley, oat, triticale and forage crops to support crops and livestock producers across the Prairies. His research helps farmers grow healthier, more productive crops using smarter agronomic management and conservation practices.

Originally from India, Dr. Kumar has shared his research in over seven countries and has received international recognition for his work. He’s passionate about engaging youth and the next generation of agricultural leaders in science, sustainability, and innovation.

Lakeland College

Emma's Bio

Emma Cross is a rancher from Tofield, Alberta, about an hour outside of Edmonton, where she raises cattle, sheep, and horses. When not out tending to her animals, Emma is passionate about connecting people with where their food comes from. Emma works in communications for the Public and Stakeholder Engagement program of the Canadian Cattle Association, which focuses on building and maintaining public trust in the way beef cattle are raised in Canada.

Canadian Cattle Association

Jenn's Bio

Jenn is a Logician (according to her 16 Personalities test). With an unquenchable thirst for knowledge she leans to innovative inventions, approaching life and work in unconventional ways. A flexible thinker, Jenn often finds herself walking unlikely paths with a strong focus on objectivity and rationality.

Alberta Pulse Growers

Kimberly's Bio

Kimberly Gray (MA) is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, producer, writer, voice actor, educator, entrepreneur and overall creative force.

Gray’s connection to the environment and making a positive impact through story, art, and community is an integral part of her passion.

Her award-winning documentary, The Root of It All, has connected with audiences across Canada (and a little in New York). It’s a powerful story of our relationship with food.

As a sessional instructor at Mount Royal University, Gray inspires her students with practical skills and the confidence to chase their passions, think critically, cultivate connection, and provoke beautiful questions.

Beyond teaching and the creative arts, Gray is a devoted advocate for canine rescue, breed equity and animal welfare. She also finds joy and power in boxing, Muay Thai, yoga, travel and dance.

Gray’s bold approach and fearless curiosity continue to shape her creative journey.

Kalyn's Bio

Kalyn Edworthy has worked in the film industry for eleven years - mostly as the Visual Communications Director at ATB Financial, and as producer/director at Relevant One Media. She’s led multiple award-winning corporate and commercial projects as producer, director and editor, both for ATB and independent work

Tyson's Bio

From Blood Tribe, Tyson lives in Standoff, Background in Agriculture specifically growing forage Alfalfa and Timothy. Involved in growing vegetables (produce) in community gardens, Tyson also raises and trains horses. Tyson is a traditional learner in his culture. He also works with Rural Routs to Climate Solutions as a Project Coordinator.

Siksikaitisitapi Project

Dana's Bio

Dana has worked in the food industry for the past 20 years and has experience on the floor, in both meat and dairy processing. With Alberta Innovates, she supports research and development of innovative technologies that are poised to transform the agriculture and food sectors.

Dana has a passion for agriculture and food and loves seeing made-in-Alberta solutions. She believes that food is something we all have in common and is a great place for building connection and community.

Alberta Innovates

Stacy's Bio

Stacy Murray is a passionate advocate for lifelong learning and the agriculture industry. Currently the extension coordinator with Gateway Research Organization (GRO), a non-profit producer-led applied agriculture research association, she has spent her career sharing her knowledge and passion with youth and producers around the province. GRO does research and demonstration projects relating to crop production, soil, water, livestock and grazing. Stacy supports this work hands-on in the field, by organizing field days and workshops, sharing with school groups, and through various print and electronic means. 

Stacy grew up on a mixed farming operation and her family’s involvement in various agriculture organizations provided opportunities to travel much of Western Canada and learn about wide range of operations in the agriculture industry. She was raised with a belief in sustainable and regenerative concepts before they became terms applied to the agriculture industry. Stacy has a BSc in Agriculture and believes that cooperation between all involved in the agri-food value chain - producers, industry, processors and consumers - can lead to solutions that will benefit everyone economically, environmentally, and for health.

Gateway Research Organization

Stephanie's Bio

Stephanie Draper is a Program Coordinator with CAREERS: The Next Generation, where she supports students exploring careers in the Agriculture and Environment industries by helping them gain hands-on experience through internship opportunities that showcase the diverse pathways in these fields.

CAREERS The Next Generation

Tara's Bio

Although, she wasn’t raised on a farm, Tara’s experience in agriculture spans over 30 years, first in dairy, then cattle and now chicken (25 years).

In 2011, Tara’s first husband lost his battle with cancer. During this difficult time, she was faced with the choice to stop farming or forge ahead. Her passion for agriculture persisted and with the encouragement from her father-in-law, the support of her church family, and neighbouring farmers she persevered.

Today, alongside her husband Darren, they farm near Devon, Alberta.

“I am very passionate of the fact that if we don’t tell our story someone else will… and we know that it won’t always be the correct story. Being out in the community has given me the opportunity to firsthand correct some of the myths around our industry. And hopefully our story gets spread just a little more with each encounter.”

Family plays a huge part in Tara’s life and when she isn’t busy volunteering at agriculture education events, hosting a farm tour, helping to create videos to counter myths, or tending to her flock, Tara spends time with her three children, their spouses and her and Darren’s nine grandchildren.

Alberta Chicken Producers 

Katie's Bio

Katie is the marketing manager at Alberta Beef Producers, and has had an extensive career in brand development. She is also a third-generation farmer from central Alberta, and has dedicated over 30 years to the beef industry, focusing on seed stock production. Katie farms with her family at Rocky Mountain House, and has judged most of the major beef shows in Canada. This includes the Agribition Beef Supreme Show, also known as the Super Bowl of cattle shows.

Alberta Beef Producers

Tracey's Bio

Tracey combines academic expertise with entrepreneurial experience in agriculture. After two years of graduate research in honey bee biology at the University of Alberta, she founded Beanstalk Honey, running it for over a decade while building strong connections in the farming community. With a background in conservation biology, sustainable agriculture, and industry leadership, Tracey brings a vision for innovation and community engagement to her role at Organic Alberta.

Organic Alberta

Cheryl's Bio

Cheryl has been with Nutrients for Life since the fall of 2021. Cheryl is a retired science and biology teacher that utilized many of NFL’s materials within her own classrooms. Cheryl enjoys connecting with teachers and students across Canada.

Nutrients for Life

Charles's Bio

Charles Russell is the owner of Plains Pantry Pemmican, where he leads interactive workshops that bring the art of pemmican-making to life. Blending traditional Blackfoot teachings with modern science, Charles helps participants explore how this traditional Indigenous food continues to offer value in today’s world. His sessions create a bridge between traditional knowledge and contemporary understanding through storytelling, hands-on learning, and food.