It’s Colin Hornby’s first time at Manitoba Ag Days since being named general manager of the Keystone Agricultural Producers. He’s using the time to get in front of farmers.
Taking a break from greeting show attendees to speak to the Manitoba Co-operator, Hornby expressed excitement over the new role. One of the most important roles of farm organizations is advocacy and “making sure the farmer perspective isn’t lost,” he said.
“We’ve always got to make sure we check back with farmers, the men and women who are working on the farm for long, long, long hours, and ensure their interests and their concerns are brought forward.”
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Hornby is a familiar face for many KAP members, having worked for the past several years at the group’s communication manager.
On the radar
In Hornby’s view, the biggest current issue facing Manitoba agriculture is trade, and ensuring unimpeded trade with the U.S. is key.
“We want to make sure we can protect that relationship and ensure that it’s valued by both Americans and Canadians,” he said.
He also cited food affordability for consumers, rising costs for farmers and uncertainty in the Canadian federal political landscape.
Longer term, he said he hopes to contribute to helping Manitoba farmers thrive and grow.
“I don’t want to look at problems, I want to look for solutions,” he said. “I’ve always been solution oriented, let’s collaborate. And if you’re another ag group or another organization that serves farmers as customers, give us a call. We want to work with anyone we can and advance a lot of these key issues that affect us all.”
Manitoba Ag Days runs from Jan. 21-23 at Brandon’s Keystone Centre. For more news, previews and videos, see our Manitoba Ag Days 2025 landing page.
