Keystone Agricultural Producers has its first female president in the 39-year history of the organization.
Jill Verwey was elected president at KAP’s annual meeting in Winnipeg Jan. 24. She replaces Bill Campbell, who has served in the position since 2018.
Why it matters: Manitoba’s general farm policy organization has a new person at the head of the board table.
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Verwey, whose family farms near Portage la Prairie, got involved with KAP eight years ago, representing her home district first as a delegate, then as District 6 director. For the past four years, she has served as a vice-president on the KAP board. She faced off against fellow KAP vice-president Jake Ayer for the organization’s helm.
“She’s extremely competent and she brings a lot of experience to the table,” said Campbell. “She has a strong voice for agriculture and has quite an ability to listen and engage.”
Those skills will come in handy now that meetings and trade shows are again being held in person, and Verwey said she looks forward to the challenge.
“I was excited to get back to face-to-face meetings with producers and stakeholders.”
Virtual meetings during COVID-19 restrictions kept industry engaged, but getting back to in-person meetings was essential, she added.
“This ongoing engagement is necessary in order to discuss grassroots issues around the province affecting all producers and commodity groups.”
Her election speech offered insight on her priorities, including “advocacy, policy outreach and engagement and modernization,” which she said will guide development of the organization’s next five-year strategic plan.
“Underlying that is strong board governance,” she said. “KAP’s vision for a sustainable and profitable future for all Manitoba producers is the starting point of this strategic plan.”
Verwey said the organization must focus on leadership and consensus building, and she recognizes the challenges of that in such a diverse organization.
“Having the collaboration of all agriculture sectors and stakeholders is essential to continuing to elevate the importance and role of agriculture in Manitoba,” she said. “As producers, looking after our land, caring for animals and being efficient ensures that we have the opportunity to pass farming operations on to the next generation.”
Farewell to Campbell
KAP’s bylaws mandate that a president can serve a maximum of four one-year terms, necessitating Campbell’s move away from the chair. While the president role was off the table, he said he pondered other avenues for continued involvement but decided it had run its course.
“I felt [it was] for the benefit of the organization and myself to step back and allow for new voices and new leadership,” he said. “And it allows me time to gather my perspectives and my new frontiers as well.”
Campbell said he’s confident in the new board.
“I’m really encouraged by the new executive and where our organization is at now. We have some solid platforms to move from. There are a lot of moving targets and a lot of things happening, but KAP is organized to handle this stuff.”
Campbell is reluctant to use the word “retirement” when he describes his life post-KAP.
“I get a change in my life; it’s not a retirement per se,” he said.
But when asked to reflect on what that change means, aside from catching up on farm projects, it sounds an awful lot like retirement.
“I’ve never really had an opportunity to even investigate or explore options as to what else I may do,” he said. “Maybe explore new frontiers: hobbies, travel, you know, I want to have a bit of fun – maybe catch a Jets game.
“We have three grandchildren now, and they’re getting a little older. They’re actively involved in things, and so maybe I’ll be able to participate in some of their activities moving forward.”
Verwey had kind words for her predecessor.
“I’d like to thank Bill. He has been a mentor. For the past five years, we have served on the executive committee together, and I have relied on his guidance, direction and passion.”
