dealership in Melita. He’s also ramped up his participation
with KAP, recently becoming chair of the District 1 Young
Farmers Committee. Since it’s a new experience for him, it’s a
learning curve, he said.
He holds KAP in high regard, valuing most how it provides
farmers a hand in potentially shaping their own future.
“I play old-timers hockey with people from around this
area and most of them are farmers,” said Carter. “We sit
around and complain about this, that and the other thing.
But being part of KAP, instead of just sitting around and
complaining about it and then going on with your day, you
can actually have a hand in making a change for the better
for your operation or other local operations or agriculture
as a whole.”
Jake Ayre’s life has had no shortage of adventure since he
graduated as a valedictorian two years ago.
His first summer out of school, he worked as an agronomy
engagement intern for the Manitoba Pulse and Soybean
Growers, traveling over 18,000 kilometres around the province,
making 87 stops.
“I got to see a lot of Manitoba fields and crops, and meet a
whole bunch of people,” Jake said.
He also got to see first hand how check-off dollars were
being spent, an area of agriculture he had little understanding
about until then.
That fall, Jake returned to university, with the aim of completing
the agribusiness
degree program – but that was interrupted when a lifethreatening
illness forced him to put school plans on hold.
He made a full recovery, but having missed about a month of
school, he decided to return home where he could be closer to
his family and dive into the family farm operations.
But that short stint back at school was what led Jake to
a golden opportunity. He had heard through the university
grapevine about a national contest called Future Influencer
– launched by the Canadian Seed Trade Association – and on
a whim he applied. Two winners, after submitting
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Jake Ayre, pictured with his sister Caitlin, has had no shortage of adventure since
graduation. He worked for the Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers, was
the executive assistant for Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler, and now farms a
quarter section along with helping his dad on the family farm.
❯❯
Manitoba Farmers’ Voice § Spring 2019 § 13
/www.tillagetools.com
/YoungFarmer
