Certificate of Merit recipient Bill Toews with family and friends (Photo: Mya Kraft)
Agricultural and food sciences alumni recognized for service
Two alumni of the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences were honoured Friday, May 3, for their outstanding contributions to Manitoba’s agricultural community.
Roberta Galbraith and Bill Toews received Certificates of Merit from the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the recent School of Agriculture convocation in recognition of their leadership with agricultural organizations and outstanding service to the community at large.
Certificate of Merit recipient Roberta Galbraith and family (Photo: Mya Kraft)
Roberta Galbraith was raised on her family farm north of Minnedosa, MB, and graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Diploma in Agriculture in 1983.
Roberta’s career in agricultural finance included positions with Farm Credit Canada, Manitoba Agriculture Credit Corporation and Minnedosa Credit Union. She is currently serving as the member relations manager for Manitoba Canola Growers, where she is responsible for professional development programs for Manitoba farmers such as CropConnect, CanolaPALOOZA and Canolab.
Roberta has been a strong advocate for farm safety contributing to the formation of the Manitoba Farm Safety Program and is a supporter of STARS Air Ambulance. She has been a tireless volunteer for organizations such as Agriculture in the Classroom and 4H, and has mentored high school students in world-wide charitable events and youth sports teams. She has been a long-time member of the Minnedosa Rotary Club serving in several leadership positions.
Roberta has farmed for 30 years with husband Neil on their 4100-acre grain and oilseeds operation, and now also with sons Jason and Ryan. Neil and Roberta also have three daughters Lauren, Tizita and Fikira.
Bill Toews grew up on his family farm near Kane, MB, and graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Honours Degree in 1968 and a Master of Science in Soil Science in 1971.
Over his career, Bill was employed as a soil management specialist for Alberta Agriculture and an international development agronomist for the Canadian International Development Agency in Kenya and in Pakistan. In the mid-1970s, he returned to Kane where he and his wife Barb operated their grain and oilseeds farm. While farming he served as the associate director of the School and taught courses in the Agriculture Diploma Program.
Bill has provided extensive leadership to the agricultural industry and the community through roles with the Canadian Wheat Board, the Canadian International Grains Institute, the Western Grains Research Foundation, the Manitoba Farm Products Marketing Council, the Canada-Manitoba Agri-Food Research and Development Initiative, Keystone Agricultural Producers and Lowe Farm Credit Union.
Bill and his wife Barb have a daughter Shawna, two sons, Darryl and Ryan and two grandchildren Mira and Ty.