Youth Advisory Committee

Minister of Agriculture, Bob Bjornerud formed the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) in response to a growing need to attract and retain youth in the agriculture industry. The committee is composed of producers ages 18 to 35 who represent several regions across Saskatchewan and are involved in different sectors of the industry. The committee meets regularly to develop and provide recommendations regarding youth attraction and retention. In December, 2010, the YAC presented its report to the Minister. 

Mandate

The YAC's mandate was to provide recommendations on youth attraction and retention for the Saskatchewan agriculture industry. Working closely with organizations and industry representatives, the committee developed 12 recommendations for the Minister of Agriculture to consider. The Ministry of Agriculture has put many of its suggestions into action before the release of the official report.

Committee Member Biographies

April Nichol, Chair - Qu'Appelle, SK

April has confirmed agriculture as both a career and lifestyle choice and brings a wealth of experience to the committee. She was raised on a mixed farm near Qu'Appelle and has worked in the industry for over 10 years professionally as well as taking an active role in the everyday farm activities.

April holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan (2002) with a major in Plant Science and a minor in Agribusiness. April's interest in the family farm led her to pursue a career in agriculture. She has had experience working in the grain industry with Cargill Ag Horizons, in the crop protection industry with Syngenta Crop Protection, and is currently working for Blair's Crop and Livestock Nutrition in the areas of agronomy and business development.

April brings operational experience and a combination of management skills, program delivery expertise, financial insight and a sound understanding of agricultural issue management to the Committee.

Agriculture is foundational in April's personal life. Together with her husband Chad, they own and operate a 3,000 acre grain farm near Qu'Appelle. Although starting their own business in agriculture has had its challenges, it is an industry that April and her husband are passionately involved in. April is pleased to be a part of the Youth Advisory Committee.

April is also active within her community:

• Director/Secretary, Forever Friends of Hope Foundation Inc.;
• Canadian Western Agribition Grain and Forage Committee;
• Active volunteer in a variety of community activities, including 4-H Saskatchewan.

April and her husband have one daughter, Natalie.

Daryl Frank - Southey, SK

Daryl operates a 6,500 acre grain farm seven miles south of Southey overlooking the Qu'Appelle Valley. After completing the Agricultural Mechanics program at SIAST, he worked at Southey Farm Supply from 1997 to 2002. During this time Daryl was able to work on the family farm and in 2003 took over the third-generation operation. The grain and oilseed farm increased from 2,000 acres in 2003 to over 6,500 acres in 2010. He is always looking for more efficient and cost effective ways to run a successful operation.

Daryl is a member of the Western Farm Leadership Council and is the treasurer for the Saskatchewan Young Ag-Entrepreneurs. He believes the voice of young farmers will be an important factor to the future of farming in our province.

Max Halyk - Melville, SK

Max and his wife Janelle are fourth-generation farmers who are raising their family on the original family homestead west of Melville. The couple have a nine-month-old daughter, Jaylee, and another child on the way. They operate a mixed farm consisting of 350 cow/calf pairs and 4,000 acres of mixed farmland.

Max graduated from high school in 2001 and continued his education at Olds College. Upon graduation in 2004, he received a diploma in Agriculture Management with a major in Feedlot Management. In addition to operating the family farm, he is currently a division councillor for the RM of Stanley. 16

Jeff Prosko - Rose Valley, SK

Jeff grew up on a farm near Rose Valley in northeastern Saskatchewan. He attended K-12 schooling in Rose Valley, graduating in 2003. Afterward, Jeff moved to Saskatoon where he attended the University of Saskatchewan and completed his Diploma in Agriculture in the spring of 2005.

Jeff moved back to Rose Valley to help manage his family's farm, which consists of about 9,000 acres of cropland where they grow canola, oats, barley and wheat. Over the years the farm has grown and diversified, producing a variety of crops including alfalfa and organic crops. Jeff and his parents have also diversified into other areas including custom spraying, combining, trucking, seed production and other ventures.

Jeff is currently involved with the Saskatchewan Young Ag-Entrepreneurs. Throughout the year he is also involved in a variety of events in his local community and surrounding area. Jeff also enjoys attending trade shows, marketing seminars and other agricultural-related events whenever possible.

Landon Swityk - Spiritwood, SK

Landon currently runs a mixed farming operation with his father 50 km northwest of Spiritwood. The family farm is uniquely surrounded by the Northern Forest Reserve and consists of roughly 1,200 acres of cropland and 100 Black Angus cow/calf pairs.

After graduating from high school in June 2006, Landon spent one-and-a-half years working between the farm and Alberta's oil patch. Currently he is employed at Martodam Motors (1983) Ltd. in Spiritwood as an Agricultural Salesman.

Derek Tallon - Lafleche, SK

Derek resides on a farm in southern Saskatchewan near the town of Lafleche. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness from the University of Saskatchewan in 2009. Along with his father, he crops 6,500 acres of cereals, pulses and oilseeds, in addition to operating a custom spraying business.

Colin Wilgenbusch - Halbrite, SK

Colin grew up on the family farm near Halbrite where he now farms 350 head of cattle and 3,000 acres of cropland with his father and brother. When he is not working on the farm he is employed in the oilfields near Weyburn.

From 1997 to 2003, Colin successfully owned and operated a custom hauling livestock business where he learned the ins and outs of managing an agribusiness. He is enthusiastic about attracting youth to the agriculture industry and increasing awareness about the viable business options that exist through diversification and other strategies.