Who we are

Joerg Zimmermann, Chair – MB

Joerg was raised on a cash crop farm near Stuttgart, Germany. After internships on grain farms in France and Canada, he graduated from the University of Hohenheim, Germany majoring in Agricultural Economics. He completed his PhD in the area of management techniques for large farm enterprises at the same German university.

During his extensive research of management strategies and control systems employed by large scale agricultural enterprises in Eastern Europe and the CIS – mainly in Russia – he got to see a wide range of farm operations in this part of the world. Besides the work on his PhD thesis Joerg consulted large scale farms in Eastern Europe and the CIS in the area of Business Management for more than 7 years. Starting in 2002, he built up and co-owned a 2,000 ha (5,000 ac) farm in Samara, Russia, where valuable lessons about practical farm management were acquired.

Between 2005 and 2008 Joerg developed a seed sales network in Northern Kazakhstan and managed an affiliated 2,000 ha (~5,000 ac) demo farm in this area. Shortly after that, Joerg joined an US-based investment fund with large farm operations in Eastern Europe and the CIS, where he planned, analyzed and benchmarked the farms owned and operated by the fund.

His pioneering days in the agricultural sector of Eastern Europe and the CIS were concluded, when he and his family settled in Winnipeg, MB in 2009. After a position in International Sales with Ag Growth International Inc., he most recently was managing the International Sales Support Organization for the same company. He introduced new processes and built up a team responsible for the design and price estimation of grain handling and storage systems as well as order fulfillment and international logistics.

Joerg keeps close ties to German agriculture as he is involved in a 4,000 ha (10,000 ac) farming partnership in Eastern Germany operating several independent farms including his own.

Going back to his passion Farm Management, Joerg started his own Farm Management Advisory business GlobalAgAdvisors Ltd. in March 2013, where he works with his farm clients in Western Canada on strategic planning, goal setting, cash flow management, financial analysis, income projecting and more. Furthermore Joerg facilitates a peer group with farmers from North Dakota and Manitoba and holds a number of board positions with progressive farms. In his low season in August and September, he you can see Joerg operating a combine on his neighbor’s 6,000 ac farm.

Joerg is following the activities of Farm Management Canada since 2010 and is an active member since 2013. He believes, that Farm Management Canada contributes enormously to the excellence of the Canadian Farming Sector. He is thrilled to join Farm Management Canada’s Board of Directors while adding his unique skills and experience from Academia, Business Development, Farm Management and International Agriculture to position Farm Management Canada well to play a leading role in Canada’s Agricultural Sector now and in future.

Terry Aberhart, Vice-Chair – SK

Growing up on his family farm cultivated Terry Aberhart’s passion for agriculture and entrepreneurial growth. He worked in the agricultural industry before returning to manage farm and custom spraying operations in 2000. In 2005, Terry founded Sure Growth Technologies, a professional independent agronomy consulting company, affiliated with Agri-Trend. In 2009 Terry received the Business Builder of the Year award and was voted Canadian Agri-Coach of the Year from Agri-Trend from 2011-2012.

In 2015, Terry, along with his brother Dan and father Harvey, founded Aberhart Ag Solutions Inc. The marketing and distributing company has helped bring BioSul Premium Plus, a unique recycled sustainable elemental sulfur product to the agricultural market. Aberhart Ag solutions continues to see network expansion, innovative and sustainable solutions. In 2017 Terry and his wife Lichelle were nominated for the Saskatchewan Outstanding Young Farmers competition and were honored to participate as runners-up in the program.

Terry has a strong focus on advancing agronomy with precision agriculture through developing and leveraging new technologies. He constantly continues his professional development attending, and often speaking at, various conferences in North America and through attending training programs like The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers out of Texas A&M through 2015-2017, and Strategic Coach business program for entrepreneurs since 2017. Terry has worked extensively to develop precision technologies, farm research, and data management.

Terry, with his wife Lichelle, children Sarrikah, Asceline, Holden, Rydar, Haliee, and Octavia and father Harvey, operate Aberhart Farms, a progressive 15,000ac grain farm. Aberhart Farms Inc. is committed to their mission of “Growing the Future”, guided by their core values of innovation, family, passion, culture, and sustainability for future generations. Terry ensures the farm’s mission is upheld through his willingness to push boundaries and through his constant education of agricultural innovation. Terry also continues to be passionate about giving back to those in need through Learn Ag, Canadian Food Grains Bank and charity projects in the developing world. He loves agriculture, working with the farm team, and sharing his success and passion with his family.

Andrea Gal, Secretary/Treasurer – ON

Andrea M. Gal is the managing editor at Farms.com. Here, she oversees the creation of editorial content for Farms.com, Better Farming and Better Pork. Through these publications, Andrea and her team bring timely agronomic, societal and government updates to their readers. Andrea’s team also shares farm business management insights through the Better Business department of Better Farming.

Along side this work, Andrea farms with her family in Oxford County, Ontario. They run a cash crop and cow-calf operation, as well as seed and fertilizer dealerships. The Gals work closely as a team to manage the family business. Eight years ago, the Gals launched a research farm, through which they conduct field-sized trials focused on identifying environmentally responsible crop nutrition programs that feed the needs of the plants while providing a strong return on investment.

Andrea is experienced at contributing to organizations within the not-for-profit sector, having served on both rural and agricultural boards.

Since May 2017 until its cessation in 2019, Andrea served on the board of directors of the Agri-food Management Institute (AMI), which created and delivered programs and resources to help Ontario’s producers and processors strengthen their business management skills. Together, the AMI board and executive director decided to transfer the organization’s farm business management tools to Farm Management Canada so that producers can continue to benefit from them.

In the fall of 2017, Andrea started volunteering with the Ag Women’s Network, which cultivates and connects agricultural leaders. Inititally, she served as the organization’s Facebook moderator. In January 2019, she moved onto the leadership team, taking on the role of content manager.

For five years, Andrea also served on the board of the Norwich & District Historical Society, a not-for-profit organization which preserves and shares the local rural community’s history.

Andrea completed her Ph.D. with a focus on rural Ontario history at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2016. She completed the Advanced Farm Management Program in the winter of 2018-19.

Andrea is passionate about the development of sound business management practices and is eager to continue to advance the work in this field.

Brad Barton, Director – YK

Program Manager, Yukon Agriculture Business Program. Yukon Government, Energy Mines and Resources, Agriculture Branch.

Bradley Barton has been part of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Working Group providing input to FMC for over ten years. Brad administers the Canadian Agricultural Partnership Yukon Agriculture Business Program for the Yukon Agriculture branch. The program provides support to further Yukon farmers’ business skills and knowledge. Brad also directs Yukon farmers to business management resources. In a territory with a developing agriculture sector and consumers looking for opportunities to support local production, there is a need to support farmers to make educated business decision to assist in the development of a strong and vibrant agriculture industry. In addition to the FMC Working Group, Brad is part of the Federal- Provincial-Territorial Business Development Working Group that shares ideas and information related to business management practices and program development.

Derek Brewin, Director –MB

Derek Brewin began his agricultural career as a farmhand on his family’s mixed irrigation farm near Purple Springs, AB. In 1986 he graduated with a BSc in Agricultural Economics from the University of Alberta and began a position as a Credit Advisor to farmers with Farm Credit Corporation (FCC). In 1989 Derek took educational leave from FCC to pursue a MSc in Agricultural Economics at the University of Saskatchewan. After that he worked for Agriculture and Agri-food Canada as a Policy Economist and then worked a stint at the Canadian Wheat Board before returning to academics. In 2000, he moved to State College, PA, to pursue his PhD in Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Economics at Penn State University.

Since 2003, Derek has been working as a teacher and researcher in the Department of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics at the University of Manitoba. Starting in January 2017, he has served as Head of that department.

His recent research has focused on the economics of rotations, grain and oilseed markets, grain transportation and innovations in plant breeding. He is an award-winning teacher of agricultural finance, marketing and risk management. Derek has served on numerous boards and committees. He is a Past President of the Canadian Agricultural Economics Society. He has served as a Senator at the University of Manitoba, as a member of Manitoba’s Agricultural Risk Task Force and as a director of the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council.

Roberta Galbraith, Director – MB

Roberta Galbraith is a lifelong learner, connector of people, problem solver and self-proclaimed work-a-holic!

She is retiring from her full time role as Manager of Member Relations for the Manitoba Canola Growers Association in July 2019.

As a managing partner in RNR Galbraith Farms, she enthusiastically brings her passion for people and farm management to this role and will be transitioning to this opportunity full time this summer.

Other past experiences in the industry have been 16 years in the Agriculture finance sector as well as 16 years as Executive Director of a not-for-profit organization.

She is a graduate of the University of Manitoba Ag Diploma course. She believes strongly that we can always do better and that if we embrace opportunity there is little we can’t accomplish.

Annessa Good, Director – AB

Annessa Good was born and raised on a mixed farm in Cremona, AB, where her family raised purebred Simmental cattle, sheep, and exported Timothy-Alfalfa Hay to Japan. Annessa attended Mount Royal University, where she studied Business, specializing in Supply Chain Management, giving her a unique insight into Operational functionality. After graduation and working in Calgary for various industries, Annessa knew in her heart that she needed to return to the Agriculture Industry. She pursued a wonderful opportunity to work at Veterinary Agri-Health Services, a large clinic which services feedlot and cow/calf operations across western Canada. However, Annessa still felt removed from the area of agriculture that she is most passionate about – family farm sustainability and succession planning.

Annessa has since moved home to her family’s farm and is slowly starting to re-build her cow herd. Annessa is also very excited to give back to her community through volunteering as an Assistant 4H Horse Leader for the local Cremona Club. Annessa also has the honour of being selected as a 2019 Finalist for the National program, Cattleman’s Young Leaders.

Annessa previously worked for GRS Consulting Ltd., her family’s succession planning consulting company. It was here that Annessa found her niche, providing a voice for the Younger Generation at the Succession Planning Table. Annessa now works for Farm Credit Canada as the Southern Alberta Agriculture Transition Specialist. Annessa specializes in transition conversations, focusing on sharing unique business structures, family dynamics, estate planning processes and innovative tools that can make this difficult process easier. Annessa and her family are currently going through the Succession Rollercoaster themselves, which provides excellent personal insight within her consulting career.

Larry Martin, Director – ON

Larry Martin is currently a principal in Agri-Food Management Excellence, Inc a management training company and Dr. Larry Martin and Associates, a consulting operation. He teaches and coaches managers of farms, agribusiness and food companies from both Canada and the United States. Larry is the principal instructor and teaches: CTEAM, CFAME, AME Alumni, Price Risk Management Courses and Custom Courses.He also writes and consults on agri-food policy, commodity markets and strategy. He has worked with a wide array of companies and organizations in developing their strategic and operational, and/or risk management plans. He writes a monthly column on commodity markets for Food in Canada magazine.

His work has garnered him the awards of Fellow of the Canadian Agricultural Economics Society, the Wilson Loree Award for Excellence in Farm Business Management, and the Ontario Agricultural College Alumni Award for Excellence in Research. He was awarded a Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for his contributions to Canada.

Larry holds Bachelors, Masters, and PhD degrees in agricultural economics. He was Professor and Chair in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Business at the University of Guelph. He was the founding Executive Director and subsequently CEO of the George Morris Centre, an independent think tank on agricultural issues and policies located in Guelph. He chaired a national task force on competitiveness in the agri-food sector for the federal Minister of Agriculture. He is responsible for the highly acclaimed management and industry training programs that were run by the George Morris Centre and now by Agri-Food Management Excellence. He has a substantial body of refereed and non-refereed research on economic issues in the agri-food sector.

Larry is or has been a director of Ridley Canada, Lake Erie Farms, Taps Breweries Incorporated, Big Sky Farms, Coldspring Farms and a member of advisory boards for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Agriculture and Biotechnology Division of the Saskatchewan Research Council and of Burnbrae Farms. He is also a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Henry Vos, Director – AB

Henry Vos is from Fairview, Alberta where he and his wife have operated a grain farm for 35 years. A lifelong learner with a passion for agriculture and good agricultural policy, Henry has a BSc in Ag. and a governance designation as Charter Director (C.Dir.). Over the years he served on numerous not-for-profit and for-profit Board. He continues to make contributions to agriculture in different ways such as governance, management and farm transitions.

Currently his career and business activities include Farm support, Farm and Ranch real estate, Governance and as a hobby, flight training. Henry’s previous endevours include:

• Partner in 10,000 ac grain farm
• Founder/manager Peace Pedigreed Seed Ltd. A Seed production, processing and retail business.
• Founder/manager Three Links AgResearch Inc. A private agricultural research company.
• Founder/owner Eco Seeds Ltd. A farm input retail outlet.
• Founder/Director Canterra Seeds Ltd. A Canadian genetic and seed supply company.

Over the years, Henry has served on several Boards. He was the Founding Director of the Alberta Wheat Commission, Alberta Canola Producers Commission and Canterra Seeds Ltd. He sat on the Canadian Wheat Board, Canadian Seeds Institute, Canadian International Grains Institute, the Alberta Branch of the Canadian Seed Growers Association, and the Canola Council of Canada as a Director. He was the Governor of the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange (now ICE Canada) and Fairview College. Henry is currently serving as a director on the Board of Directors United Farmers of Alberta Cooperative.

Henry has kept himself busy being a Seasonal Instructor for the Farm Financial Management Course at Fairview College, taken several courses in Rural Real Estate, Farm Management, and Marketing and Risk Management. He has been on Audit, Finance, Governance, and Risk Management Committees, and has several personal development achievements sush as the successful completion of the 21st Century Leadership course, the lessons in the Pursuit of Excellence, the Dale Carnegie course, and the Leadership Accelerator.