Farm policy: a family heirloom

First, I must open my address with how big of an honour it is to step in to this role as Alberta Barley chair. For those who don’t know me, I am Tara Sawyer, director-at-large and the newly elected chair for Alberta Barley. I farm near Acme, Alberta with my husband Matt and our three children Emmett, Cassidy and Quinton.

My connection to Alberta Barley and farm policy goes way back. My journey with Alberta Barley started many years ago as my husband Matt is a former board member and chair for the commission. I have a long history of involvement with Canadian agriculture groups and associations as I am a past director with Alberta’s Canadian Agri-Marketing Association (CAMA) and Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers. Plus, I am the current chair of Alberta’s Outstanding Young Farmers.

You could say farm policy runs in our family as my son Emmett appears to be finding a passion for farm policy as well. Ag policy is routinely table talk in the Sawyer household!

I am a firm believer that good policy is essential and vital for Canadian farms to survive, as it allows farmers to operate their businesses at optimum levels. I also take an interest in market development as our industry is being asked to feed a growing global population. We are fortunate enough to have the land mass, the clean air, soil and water, not to mention sound and sustainable farming practices. We need to ensure farmers have market access and strong trade agreements in place that allow us to market our products to the world.

I am excited to have the opportunity to exercise my passion for policy and market development at the federal level as a new director with the Grain Growers of Canada (GGC), the national voice of Canadian grain farmers. I am eager to collaborate with farmers from coast to coast, alongside the GGC staff on federal policy issues that impact Canadian producers.

Throughout my involvement with the commission over the years, I am proud to have witnessed Alberta Barley’s substantial growth, and I believe the best is yet to come. If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that challenges may arise in the blink of an eye, and Alberta Barley has proven to rise to any occasion. I look forward to serving barley farmers in my new role.

Looking ahead, Alberta Barley will be focusing on the ongoing amalgamation exploration work with the Alberta Wheat Commission. In the coming months, farmer stakeholders can expect communication and more information on the next steps in this process. Stay tuned!

Lastly, I would like to thank three former Alberta Barley board members; Dave Bishop, Jeff Nielsen, and Terry James. Thank you, Dave, Jeff and Terry for your years of dedication to Alberta Barley, and for shaping the Canadian agriculture policy and research landscape in to what it is today.