MARCH 2020 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC
11
Sold-out gala honours the best of agriculture Industry leaders win recognition, youth programs receive cash
by DAVID SCHMIDT
ABBOTSFORD – The close to 500 guests who attended the 18th annual BC agrifood gala in Abbotsford, January 29, included both BC Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham and one of her predecessors, Steve Thomson. While one came bearing gifts, the other left with a gift. Popham was the one bearing gifts, announcing a $50,000 grant for BC 4-Hers, some of whom she invited to be her special guests at the gala. This is on top of $155,000 the government announced previously. Popham also announced a
grant of $25,000 to the BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation, in support of the Take a Bite of BC program. It was not the only money BCAITC received that night, as it also received $11,113 from the BC Agriculture Council, the proceeds of the gala’s silent auction. BCAC communications manager Cassy James noted the amount “surpassed our goal” for the evening. For its part, BCAITC executive director Pat Tonn announced Monica Bradbury
as the foundation’s 2020 outstanding teacher. A home economics teacher at École Ballenas Secondary in Parksville, Bradbury recently became a BCAITC
ambassador on Vancouver Island. She was lauded for developing a native plant garden for the students as well as creating an environmental club focused on reducing food waste. Thomson, the BCAC’s first
executive director and originator of the annual gala, received the Scotiabank Champion of Agriculture award. “It’s a pleasure to see how much success (the gala) has had,” Thomson told the crowd, saying agriculture “is such a great industry to be a champion for.” The evening’s biggest
Janice Holzscherer, national head of Scotiabank, left, and BC Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham congratulate Steve Thomson, awarded the Scotiabank Champion of Agriculture award at this year’s gala.
award, the BCAC Excellence in Agriculture Award, was given to Christine Dendy of Dendy Orchards in Kelowna. The former president of the BC Cherry Association was lauded for her leadership of the BC cherry industry. BCAC chair Stan Vander Waal credited Dendy for not only developing innovative growing practices but being the driving force behind securing Chinese market access for BC cherries.
“China is now the second-largest export market for BC cherries,” he noted. Although unable to attend the gala in person, Dendy sent a note saying she was “honoured and humbled” to receive the prestigious award.
GIVE YOURSELF THE AVENUE
With farm equipment there is no one size 昀ts all. An array of build specs let us con昀gure Massey Ferguson tractors to give you the unique Advantage you need.
ABBOTSFORD 1-888-283-3276
VERNON 1-800-551-6411
EFFICIENCY
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
