Advancing Women in Agriculture
March 27, 2025 – Earlier this month, the Faculty sponsored Cameron Donnelly, an Applied Biology student, to attend the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference (AWC). The conference offers researchers, entrepreneurs, and farmers the opportunity to network and learn more about the agriculture and food industries. After a weekend full of networking and workshops, Cameron shared her key takeaways from the trip.
What was the highlight of your AWC experience?
The highlight of my AWC experience was probably getting to meet other students and hearing what they are interested in. There was a great mix of undergraduate and graduate students in animal, plant, and food sciences, in addition to those in agribusiness and farm management. People were so nice and welcoming, and I hope I can go back to AWC sometime in the future!
Did anything from the trip surprise you?
I knew that agriculture was a big deal in the Prairies, but I didn’t realize how much larger scale it is compared to agriculture in British Columbia. It was interesting to learn about the differences in farming practices and crop types between each system. I was also surprised by how many business and financing groups were present at the conference. Having been to only academic research conferences, I didn’t realize what a large role entrepreneurship and business play in the agriculture industry. I liked getting a new perspective on the sector.
Networking is a major part of the conference. Did you connect with any interesting people?
This event was full of networking! I met so many interesting students and professional attendees over just a few days. I really enjoyed talking with some food science graduate students at the University of Alberta who are researching different types of fermentations for dairy alternatives and sourdough bread. I don’t know that much about the topic, and it was super cool to hear their perspectives on plant-based diets and food production. During the banquet, I also spoke with a woman involved with Industry Affairs & Sustainability at a large Crop Science company. She was so engaged and passionate about her work and shared many helpful tips for attending these types of conferences. Everyone I met was happy to talk with me and share their experiences or advice for students like me.
How did your studies apply to some of the workshops you attended?
Although a lot of the workshops were more focused on personal and professional growth, there were definitely connections with what I have studied. For example, I attended a workshop called Canada Reconciliation Through Collaborative Pathways Forward, presented by Kallie Wood, the President and CEO of the National Circle for Indigenous Agriculture and Food. Kallie discussed some of the challenges and solutions in advancing Indigenous agriculture in Canada and focused on shared histories, relationship building, reconciliation, and collaboration opportunities. I have discussed many of these topics in APBI 422: Indigenous Food Systems in Canada, taught by Dr. Tabitha Robin. Additionally, the session by Agriculture in the Classroom Canada covered topics of food literacy and sustainability education that I had learned about in LFS 250. It spoke of diverse agricultural careers and sustainability initiatives that can help bridge gaps in education and career awareness.
What’s next for you? Career, studies, anything!
I will be graduating in May and continuing to work in the Sustainable Agricultural Landscapes Lab as a research technician! I am planning to go to grad school after a couple of years of working and will likely focus on soil science or agroecology.
Tagged with: 2025, Applied Biology