Winnipeg, Manitoba – September 22, 2025 – At the annual conference of the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation (CFWF) in Winnipeg on Saturday, hometown editor and journalist Laura Rance was presented with the CFWF Lifetime Achievement Award.

Laura was raised on a grain and livestock farm near Sperling, Manitoba, where her father was one of the early adopters of zero tillage. After high school, she studied journalism at Red River Community College, graduating in 1981.

Laura got her reporting start with community weeklies in Manitoba’s Interlake region, later moving to Brandon as a reporter for the Brandon Sun. Her next stop was the Calgary Herald, but she was attracted home to Manitoba to become the agricultural reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. 

Her skill in that role later brought an offer to be the Manitoba reporter for the Western Producer, where she spent several years before accepting an offer to be associate editor of the Manitoba Co-operator.

Over the years she has contributed regularly to regional activities of the Manitoba Farm Writers and Broadcasters Association. She has served on the CFWF organizing committee multiple times when MFWBA has hosted, heading up tour and professional development planning. She was particularly involved in the Canadian-hosted IFAJ 2023, co-chairing a highly successful professional development program.

Following the Co-operator’s change of ownership in April 2002, Laura and four colleagues were terminated. The following June, they started a new publication, Farmers Independent Weekly, which ran successfully for five years. In 2007, Laura and her colleagues were welcomed back by Glacier Media, the new owner of Farm Business Communications, and she returned as editor of the Co-operator.

In 2016, Laura was appointed editorial director of Glacier FarmMedia, and is now executive editor, production content lead for all print and online publications. In addition to her writing for farmers, for which she has won several awards, Laura has for 25 years explained agriculture to an urban audience through a weekly column in the Saturday business section of the Winnipeg Free Press.

Laura lives in Carman, Manitoba with her husband Gord, and with her horse — a lifetime enthusiasm for equines is one she shares with her daughter Kathlyn.

The nomination was submitted by Crystal Jorgenson, Gord Gilmour, and Trevor Bacque, all members of the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation.

The pair have had careers, achievements and contributions to Canadian agricultural journalism that have been intertwined since they met as colleagues working at Farm & Country magazine in the late 1980s. When that publication folded in 1999, a group of its employees quickly regrouped, producing the first edition of Better Farming magazine only four months later.

Irwin and Stoneman developed a reputation for leading a team of strong, investigative journalists that covered stories across the spectrum including farm animal welfare, stray voltage and its effects on livestock, the Ontario government’s decision to end the Slots at Racetrack program, the role of women in farming, neonicotinoids, sewage spills and bypasses from urban sources and more. They also covered farmer mental health issues years before it was given a place of prominence in mainstream farm discussions. Among the magazine’s best known pieces was a series on Lyme disease that won both national and international awards.

In 2007, they broke the story that later became known as the ‘Pigeon King’ scheme with coverage containing more than 50 stories as the issue was first publicized, charges laid and through the court case. In years since, it has been used as the basis for both a play and a feature on CBC’s Farm Crime series.

Former colleague Mary Baxter said, “They worked hard to uphold the principles of good, investigative journalism and they gave their staff the chance to dig deep into really important issues.”

The nomination was submitted by Kelly Daynard, Bernard Tobin and John Muggeridge, all members of the Eastern Canada Farm Writers’ Association with letters of support submitted by Baxter and other agricultural journalists and communications professionals from across the country.  The award was co-presented to the recipients by Kelly Daynard and CFWF president Allison Finnamore.

For further information: 

Allison Finnamore, President, CFWF (506)-863-8797; finnamor@nbnet.nb.ca

Robert Irwin: rirwin@canadianrecreation.ca

Don Stoneman: don.stoneman55@gmail.com

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ABOUT CFWF: 

The Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation (CFWF) serves the common interests of agricultural journalists, including reporters, editors and broadcasters as well as those in business and government whose primary responsibility is agricultural communications.

The CFWF periodically honours long-serving members of the association who have made outstanding contributions to the federation and the media and agricultural communications industries.

In her career, Finnamore is the consummate professional, from her agriculture writing and communications business, to her volunteer service on various farm writers boards and committees. She remains highly aware of the importance of agricultural communications across Canada and the world.

Currently holding the position of president of the CFWF, Finnamore has also served as the CFWF representative on the IFAJ executive committee for eight years, bringing the CFWF into clearer focus for IFAJ colleagues. Indeed, Finnamore’s outstanding leadership roles are partly responsible for bringing the CFWF and the IFAJ into the 21^st century, to making them both viable groups of professionals who are admired around the world.

Today, Finnamore continues to keep the Atlantic Canada Farm Writers’ Association (ACFWA) afloat – an association she took the lead role in creating – and she continues with her business, Cultivating Communications, a full-service communications company committed to helping the agricultural sector reach the people it needs to reach. She also remains very active at CFWF and IFAJ levels.

A member of the CFWF since 2001, Finnamore was co-chair of the CFWF 2014 PEI conference, and a member of the CFWF (2001) 2002 NB conference. Her obvious passion for agriculture has benefitted her personally and professionally, and, in turn, benefitted all Canadian farm writers in the process.

Finnamore says she is honoured by the award, and the support by her nominator and supporters. She adds that the strength of the three levels of farm writer organizations is what called her to be involved and maintains her active commitment to the organizations.

“The strength of ACFWA, CFWF and IFAJ comes from within us,” Finnamore says. “We discuss, support, encourage and brainstorm, raising each other up. In addition to learning about agriculture and refining the various angles of our craft, you’ve taught me patience, grace, professionalism and so much more. I hope you’ve learned from me too.”

Kevin and Marlene Hursh were presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. They were recognized for their complete and total dedication to agricultural journalism and communications. 

Kevin’s name has practically been synonymous with farm journalism in Saskatchewan for decades. Saskatchewan audiences were first introduced to Kevin through his early work as the Agriculture News Editor with CTV in Saskatoon into the early 1990’s. Since then he was a long-time editor with FCC’s AgriSuccess magazine, and his work has been published in many publications. 

He has always had a strong involvement with the agriculture industry and commodity associations. In addition to operating his own farm, he was the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Mustard  Development Commission for many years and still holds this position with the Canary Seed Development Commission of Saskatchewan and the Inland Terminal Association of Canada. He has also been very active in the Saskatchewan Farm Writers Association (SFWA), being the president of the organization for many years. 

Marlene has been right by Kevin in all these adventures and has been the SFWA Treasurer for almost the entire 21st Century. Her work ethic is like no other, and the SFWA and CFWF are extremely grateful for all her efforts and contributions on the part of the organizations. Her work includes serving on the SFWA Board as well as putting her organizing skills behind several CFWF conferences hosted in Saskatchewan over the years. 

Both Kevin and Marlene are very deserving of this award. We would like to thank them both for their time and commitment they have put in over the years. 

Congratulations to both of you!

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.

Amongst his accomplishments, Owen was a moving force in generating the legacy funds from the 2011 IFAJ congress in Canada, of which he was co-chair of the organizing committee, that led to the creation of the CFWF Professional Development fund; today, members of CFWF can apply for financial support for individual professional development activities they might otherwise not be able to undertake. It’s also worth noting that Canadian farm writers’ ongoing enthusiasm for IFAJ, stimulated by Owen, shows no sign of abating as Canada has once again volunteered to host the IFAJ congress in 2023 in Calgary.

Outside of CFWF and IFAJ, Owen is adjunct professor in the Department of Animal Biosciences and Director of Research Communications at the University of Guelph. As well, he serves as editor of the University’s research magazine. Owen created the popular student-research writing program, Students Promoting Awareness in Research Knowledge (SPARK), which has been running for over 25 years. Many of Owen’s former students are active in journalism, communications and marketing in Ontario and beyond. Owen holds a Bachelor of Arts (communications) from the University of Windsor, a Master of Science (rural extension studies) from the University of Guelph and an Ed.D. in agricultural education and communications from Texas Tech University and Texas A&M University.

Owen’s decades-long commitment to the profession of agricultural journalism, to Canadian farm writers and to the IFAJ have made a difference in the careers of many agricultural writers and communicators in Canada and around the globe.