GUEST SPEAKER, FEBRUARY 2025

Ana Badea

Dr. Ana Badea is a Research Scientist working in Barley Breeding and Genetics with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Brandon. Ana is a recognized plant breeder with the Canadian Seed Growers' Association (CSGA) and the Chair of the Prairie Grain Development Committee (PGDC). She is an Associate Editor for the Canadian Journal of Plant Science and the Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology as well as an Adjunct Professor with University of Manitoba and Brandon University. Ana was recognized as one of the six 2023 Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture (IWCA).

GUEST SPEAKER, FEBRUARY 2025

Leonardo Galindo-Gonzalez

Dr. Leonardo Galindo-Gonzalez works as a research scientist at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. His lab develops molecular biology and omic tools to identify and study noxious, invasive and regulated plants that can negatively impact the Canadian natural and agricultural environments. He is an Associate Editor for the Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 

GUEST SPEAKER, FEBRUARY 2025

Tim McAllister

Dr. Tim McAllister is Principal Research Scientist, Ruminant Nutrition and Microbiology with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lethbridge. Dr. McAllister has authored over 900 peer-reviewed manuscripts in the areas of food safety, rumen microbiology, enzymology, forages, feed grains, greenhouse gas emissions, prions, and One Health antimicrobial resistance. He is co-Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Animal Science.

GUEST SPEAKER, JANUARY 2025

Josh Cormack

Josh Cormack is a steward of a century-old family farm in Northwest Saskatchewan, where he combines traditional and regenerative farming practices to produce sustainable, grass-fed Angus beef. His mission is to provide nutritious, local food options while promoting the health of the land, soil, water, and livestock.

Through Brooksdale Coulee Farms, Josh raises cattle in natural and stress-free environments, ensuring the highest quality beef for his customers. His dedication to sustainable agriculture extends beyond the farm, as he works to connect consumers with their food sources and advocate for regenerative farming as a path to a healthier planet. Josh’s work is a testament to how traditional farming values can align with modern sustainability goals. 

GUEST SPEAKER, JANUARY 2025

Danille Dunn

Danille Dunn is a passionate and accomplished professional in the field of animal science, specializing in livestock feed manufacturing, quality assurance, and monogastric nutrition. Originally from Jamaica, Danille moved to Canada at the age of 17 and pursued her dream of studying agriculture. Her journey included overcoming challenges as an international student, earning a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Animal Science) from the University of Guelph, and completing a Master’s degree with a focus on animal nutrition.

Currently serving as the QA Supervisor and Monogastric Nutritionist at Floradale Feed Mill, Danille brings years of research and industry experience to the role. Her dedication to feed safety, quality control, and improving livestock nutrition exemplifies her commitment to advancing Canadian agriculture. 

moderatoR

Tacarra Birmingham

Tacarra Birmingham currently serves as an Attaché in the Office of Agricultural Affairs, Ottawa. She previously worked with USDA on global capacity building and scientific exchange programs in Africa. Tacarra went on to establish a small organization leading various initiatives in agribusiness, entrepreneurship, community development, and social empowerment. Tacarra returned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2021 and has served in diverse roles prior to her May 2024 arrival in Canada. A Chicago native, Tacarra is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale holding a bachelor’s in finance, Masters in Agribusiness Economics, and an MBA in International Business. She is passionate about the human experience and excited by people’s ability to make impact through exposure and mobilization. Tacarra is proudly serving in Ottawa with her husband and two children. 

moderatoR

Roseline Ogory

Roseline Ogory is a dedicated second-year master’s student at the University of Saskatchewan, specializing in animal nutrition. Her research focuses on utilizing ahiflower seed and its press cake as nutrient-rich ingredients in the diets of laying hens, aiming to enhance the nutritional quality of farm eggs.

Originally from Nigeria, Roseline has already made notable contributions to her field, including winning the oral presentation competition in the monogastric category at the 2024 Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada (ANCC). Her award-winning abstract, titled “Enriching the Omega-3 Fatty Acid Profile of Farm Eggs Using Ahiflower Seed and its Press Cake,” showcases her innovative approach to improving food systems through research.

Beyond her academic achievements, Roseline is actively involved in her local community. She enjoys volunteering, meeting new people, and sharing her love for music as a member of her church. Passionate about advancing the field of animal nutrition, Roseline is committed to making meaningful contributions through her research and dedication. 

panelist, DECEMBER 2024

Fisayo Oretomiloye

Dr. Fisayo Oretomiloye is a dedicated professional in the agri-food industry with extensive expertise in applied animal health and nutrition research. She earned her Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences, focusing her dissertation on innovative dietary strategies to mitigate thermal stress in chickens, addressing critical challenges in poultry production.

Currently, Fisayo is a key contributor at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge Research and Development Centre in Alberta. Her research centers on developing nutritional strategies to reduce methane emissions in ruminants, a groundbreaking effort aimed at advancing sustainable agricultural practices. Her work reflects a deep commitment to mitigating environmental impacts while enhancing livestock health and productivity.

Fisayo’s contributions are instrumental in shaping the future of sustainable agriculture and driving impactful solutions in animal nutrition and environmental stewardship.

GUEST SPEAKER, nOVEMBER 2024

Barb Stefanyshyn-Coté

Barb Stefanyshyn-Coté, MSc, NSch, P.Ag., is the co-founder and CEO of Black Fox Farm and Distillery, crafting award-winning ultra-premium gins and whiskies that encapsulate Saskatchewan’s unique terroir. Black Fox spirits can be found around the globe from Canada to the UK, Europe, China and most recently, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Guests are welcomed to the distillery for an immersive experience with year-round tastings, tours and events. Visitors can also enjoy handpicking pumpkins or buckets of flowers from the farms’ abundant fields.

moderator

Kenneth Eteme Anku

Dr. Kenneth Eteme Kwame Anku is one of our distinguished moderators for the International Youths in Canadian Agriculture (IYCA) webinar series. Hailing from Gbadzeme in the Volta region of Ghana, Kenneth has dedicated his academic journey to the field of plant science. He holds a bachelor's degree in Crop Science and a master's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, during which he conducted innovative research on topics including "Wound Healing in Different Wounds of White Yam (Dioscorea spp.)" and "Identification of Dehydrins and Metabolite Response of Maize (Zea mays) Seedlings to Drought and Heat Stress."

His Ph.D., Kenneth's research focused on the "Remote Assessment of Diseases, Phenology, Phenotypes, and Nitrogen in Wild Blueberry Fields," guided by the expertise of Dr. David Percival. He is further contributing to the field as part of a project aimed at "Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Improving the Carbon Sequestration Potential of Nova Scotia’s Wild Blueberry Industry" through his postdoctoral fellowship for the Net Zero Atlantic ECT Program.

Beyond his academic pursuits, Kenneth is a dedicated Christian who is passionate about coaching and mentoring the youth, as well as engaging in community outreach to support the less privileged. He actively volunteers with Rehoboth Spring and IYCA, exemplifying his commitment to uplifting others. Kenneth enjoys art, playing the piano, volleyball, reading, writing, watching movies, and cooking in his free time. We are excited to have Kenneth lead this webinar series and inspire a new generation of leaders in agriculture. You can connect with him on LinkedIn for more insights into his professional journey.

GUEST SPEAKEr, NOVEMBER 2024

Clinton Monchuk

Clinton Monchuk grew up on a mixed dairy, beef and grain family farm outside of Lanigan, Saskatchewan. He received his Bachelors of Science in Agriculture majoring in Agricultural Economics from the University of Saskatchewan and Masters of Business Administration in Agriculture from the University of Guelph. Clinton has enjoyed numerous roles across Canada, the United States and Mexico as a researcher, educator, manager, economist and director of trade policy. In 2016 Clinton accepted the role of Executive Director with Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan to promote farming and ranching to consumers. Clinton understands the value of increasing public trust in agriculture and actively promotes engagement between the agriculture industry and consumers. He also gives back to the agriculture community as a board member, serving on the Agri-Food Council of Saskatchewan and Pound-Maker Agventures Ltd. Clinton, Laura and their children Jackson and Katelyn, continue to be active partners on their family grain and layer farm in Saskatchewan and cattle ranch in Oklahoma.

PANELIST/MODERATOR

Samuel Ariyibi

Samuel Ariyibi is a dedicated and skilled animal science professional with over 10 years of experience in animal production and nutrition research. Samuel holds a Master of Science degree in Animal science from the University of Manitoba and currently works with the University of Manitoba, where he excels in livestock management and nutrition support. Known for his compassionate approach and innovative thinking, Samuel has contributed to several successful standard operating procedures around animal health, welfare and nutrition. Outside of work, Samuel enjoys spending time with family, volunteering at his local church and as the Manitoba provincial coordinator of IYCA. He is dedicated to advancing animal health and nutrition through ongoing education and hands-on experience. 

guest speaker, october 2024

Timi Ojo

Dr. Timi Ojo obtained both his MSc and PhD in Agrometeorology from the Department of Soil Science at the University of Manitoba where he focused on in-situ, proximal and remote sensing determination of soil moisture. His bachelor’s degree was in Soil Science and Land Management at the University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria. Before the completion of his PhD program, Timi started working with Manitoba Agriculture as the Provincial Agriculture Meteorology Specialist in 2015 and led the growth of the Manitoba Agriculture Weather Program from 48 weather stations to over 100. He is currently the acting Manager of Crop Production with Manitoba Agriculture. He is an adjunct professor in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Manitoba where he currently co-supervises three graduate students and previously taught courses on Soil Fertility, Soil and Water Management; Agro-ecology; and Soil Physical Processes. Timi regularly gives scientific and extension presentations to a wide range of audiences, from farmer groups to invited presentations at conferences. He was a past president of the Manitoba Soil Science Society as well as the Canadian Society of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology.  

guest speaker, september 2024

Markus Weber

There are hundreds of uses for drones as a tool on the farm, from scouting crops or finding livestock to mapping missions for data gathering. And now they are starting to be used for large-scale product applications. This webinar will be brought to you by Markus Weber of LandView Drones. He grew up on a grain and cattle farm near Camrose, Alberta. Markus earned agriculture, law and MBA degrees from the University of Alberta. He is a Professional Agrologist and has been leading LandView Drones since 2015 and creates customized training for agricultural drone users through their Ag Drone School and Drone Spraying Clinic. 

guest speaker, september 2024

Elyas Tesfaye

Elyas was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He has always loved agriculture in general and animals in particular. Upon realizing this passion, his parents decided to have him spend his summer in the country with his grandparents at the age of 16. His grandparents raised their own livestock in addition to having a large coffee processing operation. It was at that point that he realized he wanted to potentially consider animal science as a major. Fate met destiny when he was assigned to a university offering it as a major (Haramaya University, then Alemaya Agricultural University). After graduating from Haramaya in 2004 with a BSc, he went on to get his ruminant nutrition MSc in 2009 from the University of Georgia. He is currently employed as the dairy (ruminant) business development manager at Agribution Canada Ltd. 

guest speaker, OCTOBER 2024

Olufemi Babatunde

Dr. Olufemi ‘Femi’ Babatunde is originally from Nigeria and currently serves as a Technical Specialist in swine and poultry nutrition at Jefo Nutrition Inc., Canada, supporting clients across North America. With over 10 years of experience in monogastric animal nutrition, Femi holds a Master’s and PhD from Purdue University, where he specialized in cutting-edge enzyme technologies to enhance poultry and swine performance. He completed his postdoctoral research at the Prairie Swine Centre and the University of Saskatchewan, focusing on optimizing protein nutrition to improve gut health in young pigs.

Femi’s expertise is centered on developing advanced enzyme strategies and early life nutrition protocols, aimed at enhancing feed efficiency, gut health, and overall animal performance. As an African professional thriving in Canadian agriculture, he is passionate about inspiring young Africans to explore opportunities in the sector.

Outside of work, Femi enjoys reading, singing, cooking, traveling, and spending quality time with his family.