2018 Leadership Summit
November 14 & 15, Fairfield Inn, St. John's
Registration is now open - Click Here
Pre-Conference Tour information
Draft Agenda
Keynote Speaker:
Lesley Kelly
Lesley is the head and heart behind the blog 'High Heels & Canola Fields'. She grew up on her family’s grain farm at Watrous, Saskatchewan and after gaining an education in marketing and accounting, went on to work in various marketing and branding positions in the ag sector, such as Cargill, ATB Financial, Farm Credit Canada and is currently the Brand Manager at WorkHorse Hub.
Using her entrepreneurial spirit and the skills developed through her agribusiness career, she created a snack food business using the barley grown on her farm. In December 2015, she started her blog in hopes to dispel myths and bring consumers and farmers together.
In 2017, she expanded her reach by joining as a co-host on the Farmer and the City Girl podcast which explores various topics in food and farming through real life conversations. She isn’t afraid to tackle tough conversations within agriculture and through storytelling, photography and her love of ag and food, she’s attracted a loyal fan base across the world. Her and her husband are active on the family farm and live with their two boys in Regina.
Kevin Stewart
Kevin Stewart shares a passion for leadership in agriculture. He draws his insights from three decades in Canadian media, growing up on the family farm, visiting hundreds of farm operations across Canada and spending many hours picking stones!
Kevin has hosted numerous agriculture, sports and leadership programs on television, radio, online and live events. He was appointed On-Air producer by the CTV Network for the Olympic Winter Games held in Norway.
After fifteen years in the television and radio industries, Kevin launched his own company called AGVISION Media. For twelve seasons the AGVISION television series was broadcast on twenty-two stations across Canada and the US. AGVISION became the first agricultural program to broadcast live on television and online. The company is now focused primarily on helping businesses reach out to their customers by leverage online media strategies. In recognition of these entrepreneurial efforts, Kevin was made an honourary member of the Ontario Institute of Agrologists.
Kevin has spoken to more than a thousand audiences across Canada and the United States about trends in communication and the value of maverick advice.
Kevin is the youngest of five brothers and sisters of Andy and Adele Stewart. He is a proud husband to Debbie and Dad to daughters Rachel, Jenna and Kaylee.
Kevin's presentation is sponsored in part by Farm Credit Canada (FCC).
Roary MacPherson
After a foray into food-service sales, Roary MacPherson decided that the commercial kitchen was his home. He’s known by many as “Mr. Newfoundland Food” and has worked tirelessly promoting and perfecting the cuisine.
Chef Roary was Executive Chef at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland from 2003-2016. He is a five-time James Beard Foundation presenter, culinary Olympic competitor (once with a bronze medal, two-time Gold Medal Plates St. John’s bronze medal winner), winner of the Good Food Innovations award for Food day Canada 2012, and 2011 'Best menu' award for Food day Canada. Roary is no stranger to competitions whether local, national, or international!
In 2005 he represented Canada in the first Canada vs. USA cook-off at the international culinary tourism conference in San Francisco, where as a member of a three person team which won gold. Roary has worked all across the country and continues to be a proud Newfoundlander.
Roary will also be on this year's chef panel!
Hotel Bookings
Fairfield Hotel, Kenmount Road, St. John's
The Fairfield has a block of rooms held for NL Young Farmers at a rate of $139.
Please make bookings by Monday, October 15.
For reservations, please call (709) 722-5540.