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!

Registration is open for the CFWF 2025, September 18-20 in Winnipeg. Early bird pricing runs until July 31.

See all the details here

Jay, a freelance writer, podcaster and editor/chief content producer for Canola Digest, will receive a $2,500 stipend towards costs to attend the 2025 IFAJ Congress in Kenya. He’s also a past president of the Manitoba Farm Writers and Broadcasters Association and has just recently re-joined the MFWBA board as a director.

“I have never been to an IFAJ conference and have never been to Africa. The 2025 IFAJ gathering in Kenya is the perfect opportunity to achieve two firsts with one bursary,” says Jay. “I try many tools to communicate farming best practices and always seek new ones. I want to explore the African approach to extension, and I’m looking forward to doing so through the experience of attending the congress.”

Bayer’s valuable continuing support of this bursary recognizes the important role journalists and communicators play in the agriculture industry and CFWF appreciates its long-time partnership with the company.

“We’re thrilled to sponsor this International Bursary, as it’s a great opportunity to put Canadian agriculture on the global stage” says Ginger Rozmus, Bayer’s Senior Communications Lead. “Bayer is proud to support one of Canada’s incredible farm writers through helping them attend the upcoming congress. We know that they will have an unforgettable experience getting to learn and network with other farm writers from around the world. Congratulations Jay Whetter on this fantastic achievement!”

Annually, CFWF supports the travel costs of its IFAJ executive member – currently Alberta’s Craig Lester – to attend both the IFAJ congress and the annual executive meeting. As not all those funds will be needed by Craig this year, the CFWF board has voted to redirect some of that budget to create a second IFAJ congress bursary for 2025.

This means the judging committee – Clare Stanfield, John Greig and Lilian Schaer – were able to select a second winner, who will also receive a $2,500 travel stipend.

The second travel bursary has been awarded to Julia Smith from British Columbia. Julia, a livestock farmer, is on the board of the BC Farm Writers’ Association, as well as Executive Director of the Small-Scale Meat Producers’ Association.

“I’m honoured and delighted to receive this bursary. Attending the IFAJ Congress in Kenya is an incredible opportunity to explore innovative global approaches to climate-smart livestock agriculture and to learn from fellow communicators and farmers around the world,” says Julia. “Given my personal experience with climate challenges and small-scale farming, I’m particularly excited to exchange ideas, gain fresh perspectives, and build relationships that will amplify our efforts in Canada, while fostering meaningful
collaborations with like-minded colleagues globally.”

The 2025 IFAJ Congress will be held October 14 to 18 in Nairobi, Kenya. Registration is now open.