Serving & Growing

Friday, August 22, 2025

Why Get Involved in Ag Boards?

By Emily Mckinlay

Farmer-driven organizations have a strong presence in Western Canadian agriculture. They represent the interests of producers while supporting, advocating for, and developing their sectors. Directors who sit on the boards of these organizations are the voices that lead industry growth.

Ag organizations typically advocate for specific commodities or regions, and often support producer education, research, government relations, and product marketing.

Carlie Hayes, chair of the Sask Young Ag (SYA) board, says that the organization is important for developing young leaders in agriculture in Saskatchewan.

“Our board aims to cultivate the next generation of agriculture leaders through education and knowledge sharing, while providing lifelong professional connections for young agriculturalists in Saskatchewan,” says Hayes.

Jonothan Hodson, the chair of Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) says that their board represents wheat, barley, flax, sunflower and corn producers in Manitoba by investing in research, marketing, and advocacy, in collaboration with the Grain Growers of Canada for work done on a federal level.

“Our primary focus is using checkoff dollars to invest in research, which will hopefully make farming in Manitoba more sustainable and resilient over time,” says Hodson.

Kevin Peters, the vice-president of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) in Manitoba, says that advocacy and lobbying are the main priorities of their board.

Peters explains, “The board is a provincial agriculture board. We focus on lobbying and working on policy, locally in Manitoba and with other organizations federally, to be the voice for all Manitoba farmers.”

Why should more farmers consider serving on a board? Involvement in the governance of a board offers opportunities for personal growth and ensures that farmers have a voice in shaping their industry.

The ‘why’

Serving on an agricultural board, at any level, is a time commitment, often requiring directors to travel and perform duties that might push them out of their comfort zones.

Farms are busy enough without additional commitments and time away, so why are producers choosing to serve on boards?

Some producers see it as an opportunity to learn and grow their network, bringing new information home to their own operation. It is also an opportunity to give back to their farming community and improve their industry.

“I feel that it’s important for producers and people working in the industry to get involved on boards and as members of organizations,” says Hayes, noting that as a young producer, boards can be particularly helpful for personal growth.

“If you find a group that aligns with your values, there is no better place to get new ideas, create a network of trusted experts, and participate in a little personal development. Podcasts and articles have their place, but finding a mentor or getting to know someone who has accomplished the goals you have for yourself is a real game changer.”

Hodson has also found that his time with MCA has been a chance to learn more about the industry in general from other producers.

“Being on the board has given me the opportunity to learn so many things, often from other producers, and you gain a lot from being around people like that,” says Hodson.

“It has given me the opportunity to network with incredible people with incredible ideas and an enthusiasm for agriculture. They have a very positive outlook. You can’t help but feel more motivated about what you do on the farm and with the organization when you are surrounding yourself with those people.”

Boards can also help farmers stay up to date on pressing issues and ongoing challenges.

“On the farm level, you can get really stuck in a microclimate and it’s important to step back and look at agriculture from a wider lens. It is really interesting,” says Peters.

“It has helped me be more in the know. That’s a neat part of being on a board. It’s almost an inside track to a lot of information on the latest issues or topics.”

Peters adds that he believes as a producer it’s important to play a role in the behind-the-scenes action of the agriculture industry.

“I think it’s important to give back and at least participate in the bigger picture of what we do,” says Peters.

Giving back to agriculture

While many board members find their service brings many personal benefits, agricultural organizations typically exist to bring benefits in the form of advocacy, development, and education to the communities they are built around.

Hodson says he can see how the research supported by MCA has improved his own farm as well as his neighbours’ operations.

“The work that we put in goes back to the community, which is the producers in Manitoba – the farm families,” says Hodson.

“I look at where my farm was 10 years ago and the improvements that research has provided. Using yield structure on wheat as an example, I see how much that has increased over the last 10 years and I know that the checkoff dollars invested, along with government and industry investment, has really made a difference for our production abilities and hopefully the overall sustainability of agriculture in Manitoba.”

Hodson and Hayes both enjoy the work their organizations put into educating the next generation of farmers.

Hayes says that the SYA board organizes conferences, workshops, and tours for their members, connecting them to other professionals in the industry.

“Sask Young Ag members get access to our annual Proudly Ag Conference for a member price, are included on our newsletters and get invitations to other events we host throughout the year,” says Hayes.

“My favourite part about SYA is that at any event you attend, you will have a farmer, a lawyer, an accountant and an agronomist all in the same room. It’s a great place to learn from not only the speakers and presenters we have at our events, but your peers in the same life stage as you.”

The Manitoba Crop Alliance also supports agricultural education for younger children in their communities.

“Recently, MCA made a big investment in Ag in the Classroom,” says Hodson.

“We have invested in the youth of the province for the next generation, and I am very proud of those investments we’ve made.”

Ag in the Classroom is a program which helps teachers and students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 learn about agriculture in a way that aligns with school curriculum.

Serving as a member on a board also allows producers to represent their fellow farmers in discussions around policy.

“It means a lot to have good relationships with government – and not just the politicians themselves, but also the staff – and being able to go to them when you have concerns,” says Peters.

“It is interesting how a lot of the asks are flipped the other way as well. Once you have a relationship with other organizations, or government or their staff, they will often come to KAP and ask, ‘What are your thoughts?’ The relationship works both ways, for us to ask for help and for them to ask as well. It’s mutually beneficial.”

If farmers are looking to get involved in their industry, where do they start?

Getting started

A lot of learning occurs on the job when board members first get involved in an organization.

“It starts with just showing up and listening. Go to some meetings – a lot of local meetings are open – and find something that interests you. Allow yourself to be challenged a bit,” says Peters.

“I’m not going to lie and say that I knew exactly what being vice-president was like. I was encouraged to let my name stand, and accepting that encouragement and assistance helped me understand and learn the role. There’s support there for you. You aren’t doing it alone.”

Hayes agrees that showing up is the best way to get started. If producers are concerned about not knowing enough or not wanting to take on a specific role, she encourages them to try to find their niche within the group.

“Just show up. You do not have to want to MC the annual general meeting or be interviewed on the radio to be on a board or be a member of an organization,” says Hayes.

“It takes all kinds to run an organization and some of the best board members I have met are the quiet type that ponder things and then have great points and ideas.

“If you are an outspoken and extroverted person, then put your name forward to chair a committee or do something that scares you a little, like being a panel moderator. No one is an expert before they try something for the first time. Don’t let the fear of not knowing prevent you from putting your hand up.”

Most organizations are continuously looking for new faces and perspectives. If you are interested in getting more involved, start reaching out to boards or attending meetings to learn more about the organization.

Serving on an agricultural board provides a voice for farmers, sharing their stories and advocating for the changes needed to continue producing food and commodities in Western Canada.

“I think it’s an important job. These are organizations that are working very hard to make agriculture more sustainable all the time, and we need these organizations to be there for farmers as their voice,” says Hodson.

“We want a unified voice when dealing with industry or government pressures, and I think the boards act as a good communicator of our story in agriculture. As time goes on, there are fewer people connected in urban areas to their past on farms, and these boards communicate what we do and how we do it and the value of our industry to the overall economy.” BF