Reading Time: 4 minutes When Melody Garner-Skiba was growing up on a ranch in southwestern Alberta, her parents gave her the same opportunities as her brothers. “I like to say I was the hired hand when my brothers left the ranch,” she said. “For me, agriculture has always been a part of my life.” That’s doubly true now. Garner-Skiba […] Read more
Awards not just about achievement but about encouraging others
Is it true Daddy? The sad truth about gender equality
Whether it’s pay, discounts on farm supplies, or career advancement, women are not equal with men
Reading Time: 3 minutes A little girl asks her father, ‘Daddy is it true I am worth less than my brother? Is it true that he will earn more than me, get better deals, and have easier access to money even if I am educated? Why?’ When a little girl is born with all her beauty and possibilities, she […] Read more
Will boys always be boys? Not if we teach them proper boundaries
Around the world, boys are taught that aggression towards females is OK — it’s not, and must not be accepted
Reading Time: 3 minutes I was at the beach and there was a family on either side of me. On my left was a father and his four boys. On my right was a father and his four girls. The four girls played quietly doing make believe and building sand castles. Their father listened to music and watched for […] Read more
Talent, not gender, is what matters in today’s agriculture
Whether running farms or taking a leadership role in ag businesses, women are breaking down the gender barrier
Reading Time: 3 minutes Agriculture may be considered a male-dominated industry, but more women are not only recognizing the many opportunities in this sector, they are also taking on leadership roles. Gone are the days when farming meant back-breaking physical labour. As well, the trend towards larger farm operations has meant a need for different skills and capabilities, including […] Read more
Talent trumps gender in today’s agriculture
Josie Van Lent says young women see the opportunities in agriculture and are reaching out to seize them
Reading Time: 3 minutes Josie Van Lent was “purposely naive” when she began her agriculture career more than 30 years ago. “There were times when the fact that I was female was probably less appreciated, but I was too stupid to see that,” Lakeland College’s dean of agriculture says with a laugh. “Definitely people would react to the fact […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
