The Alberta Government has established an industry advisory committee to act as Champions of Agriculture.  

The group will provide strategic advice and recommendations on emerging issues and priorities relating to consumer confidence.

Agriculture and Forestry Minister Devin Dreeshen says these Champions of Agriculture will help break down myths and misunderstanding of our sustainable agriculture practices.

Jill Harvie, a rancher from Olds, is one of the committee co-chairs for the new Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee.

She’s pleased to be a part of the committee which is made up of a cross-section of agricultural representatives that can provide an advisory role to the Minister in terms of agriculture and agri-food.

Harvie says they want to help elevate, and really provide a platform for agriculture in a broader sense.

“Providing more insights and more stories. I guess more information about where our food comes from. Food has a great way of bringing people together and we can help them experience it in a way of knowing all of the hands that were a part of growing the food and getting it to our plate.”

The Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee includes:

Jill Harvie – committee co-chair and  owner/operator of Harvie Ranching

Nichole Neubauer – committee co-chair and owner/operator of Neubauer Farms

Allison Ammeter – chair, Plant Protein Alliance of Alberta, and farmer

David Colwell – president and CEO, JBS Foods Canada

Jeff Fitzpatrick-Stilwell – sustainability and agriculture lead, McDonald’s Canada

Bob Lowe – President, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association

Jean-Marc Ruest – senior vice-president, Corporate Affairs and General Counsel, Richardson International Limited

John Simpson – chair, CANA group of companies and owner/operator of Simpson Ranching

Baljit Singh – Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary

Gary Stanford – grain farmer and past-chair, Alberta Wheat Commission