Article published on September 28, 2020
Long-time agricultural communications specialist Trish Jordan of Winnipeg was presented with the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the federation’s annual awards celebration, held on September 24, 2020 as an online event due to the postponement of CFWF’s annual conference.
The Lifetime Achievement Award honours long-serving members who have made outstanding contributions to the federation and to the agricultural communications or media industries.
Jordan’s award was presented by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and CFWF senators Crystal Jorgenson and Owen Roberts.
“Trish Jordan has been a cornerstone of the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation for many years and has been pivotal in the organization’s professional development and education efforts — particularly efforts to connect Canadian agricultural journalists to their colleagues throughout the world,” said Bibeau. “She has repeatedly demonstrated a true understanding of the intrinsic role of both journalists and communications professionals to the federation, and how producers are best served when all sides of a story are heard. She knows the free flow of information is a key to profitability and sustainability for the entire agri-food sector, which relies heavily on clear, balanced, well-presented knowledge to succeed provincially, nationally and globally.”
Roberts said through her understanding of international matters, Jordan understands that agricultural journalists’ perspectives and their contact bases are broadened appreciably when they have global professional development opportunities. Her company, Bayer Crop Science, supports a CFWF member’s participation in the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists’ annual congress, wherever it is in the world.
“Trish knows our stories have the widest perspective possible when we have connections with agricultural journalists in countries with which we trade and can gather and exchange information from a wide range of sources including our colleagues in other nations,” said Roberts. “She knows that the best stories are balanced stories with informed perspectives, so on behalf of her company, she answers everyone’s questions in the hopes that ultimately, balance will be achieved.”
Fellow Manitoba Farm Writers and Broadcasters Association member Jorgenson has worked with Jordan through provincial association and through CFWF. “Trish has been a staunch supporter of our provincial organization and of CFWF,” she says. “She is passionate about talking to the public about agriculture and is committed to enabling professional development opportunities for Canadian farm writers and communicators.”
Jordan’s 36-year career in agricultural communications spans several roles and organizations, including the Alberta Wheat Pool, Canadian Foodgrains Bank, and the Canadian Wheat Board. In 2001 she joined Monsanto Canada, now Bayer Crop Science, where she has capably provided strategic communications support, media relations and issues management. Jordan has managed corporate giving activities, farmer and industry relations and the company’s efforts to share the story of modern agriculture with Canadian consumer audiences.
She donates her time to several boards and committees, including Agriculture in the Classroom-Manitoba, the Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame, Cereals Canada, Clean Farms, Council for Biotechnology Information, and CropLife Canada’s Advocacy, Communications and Trust Committee.
CFWF (www.cfwf.ca) represents almost 350 English-speaking agricultural journalists, broadcasters and communicators from across Canada through six regional associations in Atlantic Canada, Eastern Canada, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.