Farming Forward - Director - Tacey Robertson
Tacey Robertson grew up on a multigenerational cow/calf operation near Gainford, AB which sparked her passion for agriculture and animals. Along with her sisters and parents, Jeff and Jenise, they raise Black and Red Angus bred to Charolais. They also grow forage and crops to provide for their livestock. Tacey is currently studying at the University of Alberta’s Augustana campus in Camrose majoring in Sustainability Studies - a combination of politics, economics, and environmental science. In addition to her studies, she works as an advisor in the university’s Career Centre. Tacey aims to apply the knowledge from her academics to agriculture and local governmental policy affecting the industry. When not in school she’s back home helping out her family with the operation, working with her horses, and managing her various chicken and garden projects. She’s proud to be a board member for Farming Forward and looks forward to being involved in upcoming initiatives.
What drew you to an Applied Agricultural Research Association like Farming Forward, and why are you interested in serving on this board?
- As a big believer in small family farms and with the general trend of this type of operation on the decline, I believe that introducing new people to the world of agriculture is important for Alberta’s future. One of the things I love about the work Farming Forward does is break down barriers for new people to be exposed to agriculture. It also exposes those already in the industry to new areas of knowledge. For example, although I grew up raising cattle, I knew nothing about poultry but attending the Chicken 101 seminar gave me the foundational knowledge to begin my chicken journey. Also, as a sustainability major, I know there are a lot of necessary developments in agriculture’s future, and Farming Forward’s staff always seem to be thinking outside the box in terms of research ideas. These will be essential going forward and I hope that with my position on the board, I will be able to contribute to and learn from these research initiatives.
What do you believe are the key qualities of an effective board member?
- An effective board member is not afraid to speak up and share their opinions, while simultaneously being an active listener to all other board members and being mindful of their commitments.
How can we build stronger partnerships with government, industry, and other organizations?
- We need to keep exploring effective ways to convey our value as an organization by incorporating testimonials from local members and producers that we collaborate with. These testimonials can highlight how their operations have benefited from our research and how its applicability can enhance other operations. By showcasing what we have to offer with both our past achievements and future ambitions, other organizations will recognize our value and want to work together.
What criteria should we use to evaluate the success of our research initiatives?
- I think there are two main aspects to consider in terms of determining the success of research. The first is whether or not we’ve learned something new, if we’ve created new results, or are just reproducing the results of other research/experiments. The second is the response from our community of members/producers. They are at the heart of why this organization exists, and I think that improving two-way communication with them to see if they find the findings of the research helpful, should be a determining factor of the success of research initiatives.
