About Us

Mary Thornley

Mary Thornley Management

• Former Account Executive, AdFarm & Kahntact Marketing
• Executive Director, CAMA (Canadian Agri-food Marketers Alliance)
• Member, National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA)

Becky Parker

Industry Relations Manager, FCC

FCC is a federal Crown corporation reporting to Canadians and Parliament through the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. We provide financing and other services to more than 102,000 customers. We’re a team of more than 2,300 employees operating from 103 offices located primarily in rural Canada and our corporate office in Regina, Saskatchewan.

• 12+ years experience working with companies such as Agriculture in the Classroom Canada, BC Agriculture Council and CropLife Canada
• Nuffield Canada Scholar (2015), studying agriculture career education
• Member of Agriculture in the Classroom Canada’s Board Advisory Committee

Michelle Bertholet

Group Publisher, Agriculture & Content Studio Director, Annex Business Media

Annex Business Media’s agricultural suite of brands produces quality content that is relevant, educational, and informative to our subscribers. We provide farmers, agronomists, contractors, applicators, and industry stakeholders with information beneficial to their operations in the face of continually evolving marketplaces.

• Ag-Media professional for 9+ years
• Current member of CAMA, Manitoba chapter
• ACC graduate – Agribusiness and Business Administration

Kalysha Hanrahan

thinkAG Manager, Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C)

Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) is a Canadian charitable organization with a vision to bring agriculture to every classroom, inspiring every student. 

Food connects us ALL to agriculture. In a complex and changing world, it is more important than ever to inspire the next generation to care about the food they eat, where it comes from, and how it gets to their plates.

• Project Manager with over 8+ years in the agriculture industry.
• Member of Minister Bibeau’s first cohort of the Canadian Agriculture Youth Council (2020-2022)
• Strong advocate for the importance agriculture education and resources within the province of NL.

Laura Lennox

Independent Marketing and Communications Lead

• Current member, CAMA Ontario Chapter
• University of Guelph CAMA Student Chapter President, 2018/2019
• Volunteer social media coordinator with experience working with several agriculture and community organizations

Craig Lester

Owner, Rural Roots Canada

Rural Roots Canada gets to the Stem and Meat of Agriculture.

Rural Roots Canada strives to tell unique stories from the agriculture community that show the true roots of the industry. It will also show off new products and ideas from the ever evolving industry.

• Winner of the 2021 IFAJ – Alltech International Award for Leadership in Agricultural Journalism
• President – Alberta Farm Writers Association / Director – Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation
• President – Alberta Young Speakers for Agriculture
• 1^st Vice Chair – Calgary Stampede Agriculture and Western Event Media Committee
• Cattle Producer

Milan Lukes

Graduate Student, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba

Universities around the world provide mentorship and resources to create change through innovation and discovery. The agricultural sector has rapidly changed in the past decades – with revolutionary innovations such as Canola, glyphosate-resistant crops and the incorporation of disease and drought resistance genes in state-of-the-art breeding programs. The University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences remains committed to advancing our understanding of the natural sciences to ameliorate the agricultural sector – within Canada’s borders and beyond.

• 2023 CABEF Scholarship Recipient
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Graduate Scholarship Recipient – CGS M
• University of Manitoba graduate – Plant Biotechnology (Lieutenant Governor’s Gold Medal)

Brad Martin

President and Owner, TCN Consulting Inc

Over 25 years of experience in marketing and advertising to deliver innovative and effective solutions. A Bachelor of Business Administration from Assiniboine Community College and an Auction Marketing Management certification from the National Auctioneers Association, which equip me with the skills and knowledge to navigate the dynamic and competitive agribusiness landscape.

• Current member of Canadian Agri-food Marketers Alliance (CAMA) – Manitoba Chapter
• ACC graduate – Business Administration
• Dad, mentor and car enthusiast

Eugenie Officer

Content Marketing Program Manager, FCC

FCC is a federal Crown corporation reporting to Canadians and Parliament through the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. We provide financing and other services to more than 102,000 customers. We’re a team of more than 2,300 employees operating from 103 offices located primarily in rural Canada and our corporate office in Regina, Saskatchewan.

• Bilingual agriculture marketing, communications, and media relations consultant
• Agriculture Journalist
• 4-H Canada Board Member 2017-2020
• Lang School of Business Scholar

Sarah van Heeswijk

Senior Manager – Youth Development, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food

The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food is responsible for the production, marketing, processing and merchandising of agriculture and seafood products in BC, as well as supporting the province’s food security, and developing a resilient food system and economy. The Ministry’s Youth Development Team leads programs and services engage youth in agriculture learning, and introduce them to careers in the agriculture and food sectors.

• 20+ years experience working with the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food in partnership with organizations including 4-H BC, and the BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation
• Member of the 4-H British Columbia Board
• Member of the BC Outstanding Young Farmers Board