Reg Steward was named the 2024 Scotiabank Champion of Agriculture during the BC Agriculture Council’s annual Agri-Food Industry Gala in Abbotsford, January 22.
Caught off-guard by the honour, Steward told the capacity-crowd of 450 he was speechless, then thanked “the people I work for, have worked for and work with.”
Steward has been boots-on-the-ground with AgSafeBC for nearly 30 years, providing safety and emergency management support to the province’s agriculture sector.
“Reg has worked tirelessly to ensure that the agricultural community is not only safer, but also more resilient,” said Scotiabank vice-president and national head of agriculture Janice Holzscherer. “His years as a rancher and former RCMP officer … have shaped his understanding of the challenges that farmers and ranchers face … whether he’s delivering livestock handling clinics, spending countless days in an EOC or sitting in a rancher’s kitchen. … It’s about ensuring that every farm worker and family member makes it home at the end of the day.”
The 23rd annual Gala was emceed by cherry grower Sukhpaul Bal and BC Young Farmers chair Rebecca Senicar. They welcomed BCAC president Jennifer Woike to the stage to introduce BC Agriculture Minister Lana Popham, who was delighted to be in front of a familiar and receptive audience.
“Do you know how much I’ve missed you?” she asked. “I feel like I know every person in this room, and it feels amazing.”
She assured her audience she understood the challenges BC’s agriculture industry is facing, noting the rising cost of production, climate change, access to water, extreme weather events and avian influenza.
“It really seems relentless at times,” she said, calling the tariff threat from the new U.S. administration the “elephant in the room” and an incentive to “double down on Buy BC,” a pet project during her first term as ag minister.
In a moving presentation, BC Cattlemen’s Association general manager Kevin Boon announced the launch of a fundraising campaign for the David Schmidt Legacy Award. A veteran farm journalist, Schmidt passed away suddenly in November 2023 after a 35-year career as “the face of Country Life in BC” and “tireless advocate” for BC agriculture.
The BC Farm Writers’ Association intends to raise at least $20,000 for an endowment that will be held by the Vancouver Foundation. It will fund an annual award for BC-based journalists, communicators and storytellers who follow in David’s footsteps by producing research-based stories that dig deep into the heart of BC agriculture.
Woike was brought back to the stage to introduce the BC Agriculture Council’s Excellence in Agriculture Leadership award to Langley berry grower and processor Rhonda Driediger.
A former BCAC chair and member of the board for almost 15 years, Driediger co-chaired the council’s labour committee to strengthen relationships between farm owners and workers and played a pivotal role in the formation of the Western Agriculture Labour Initiative.
“Whether engaging with media, government or stakeholders, she approaches every challenge with integrity and determination,” said Woike.
BC Agriculture in the Classroom program director Balreet Mandair presented the AITC Outstanding Teacher in Agriculture award to Fleetwood Park Secondary culinary arts teacher Shon De Vet.
The silent auction surpassed its goal of raising over $10,000 for BC Young Farmers, which will use the proceeds to support leadership development and provide peer networking opportunities, including the group’s popular Farm Fest in the fall.
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