b'9 BRIGHT MINDSThese influencers all have one thing in commonthey broke into the industry as young people with big ambitions and are all making their mark and inspiring others.Marc ZienkiewiczIT RUNS IN THE FAMILY Advice for others?Be persistent. I like this work. At one Name:Jake Ayre time, there were not many jobs in Org: Southern Seed/J&C Farmsforage, but I continued in this direc- (Manitoba) tion until I eventually found success. Job: Farm Manager/Sales Executive It takes a long time to develop a Age: 24 good variety, but it has a long-lasting impact.Why do you do what you do? JAKE AYREI went to the University of Manitoba.HIGH RESOLUTION AGRONOMYOne evening I was hanging out with those notorious aggies, and one ofName:Jeremy Boychynthem had left a test on the table. IOrg:Alberta Wheat & Barleypicked up the test and started flippingCommissionsthrough it. Hey, I know the answerTitle:Agronomy Research Extension to that one, I said. I know that one,Specialistand I know that one. It hit me thatAge: 33this was something I should study. How did you become an agronomist?What are some of your biggest accom- I grew up on a farm in Ontario. I plishments that youre most proud of? BILL BILIGETU went to the University of Guelph and In 2018 I was named a Canadiantook horticultural science there and Seed Trade Association Futurefollowed up with a masters in plant Influencer. In 2019 I grew my firstphysiology, and then I started with pedigreed seed crop under my ownJob:Forage breeder Cargill as a sales rep. Within four grower number. Im also vice-pres- Age: 42 months of being there, I quickly took ident of the Keystone Agriculturalthe agronomist role that had opened Producers and co-chair of theHow did you get into forage? because I knew that was kind of Manitoba Young Farmers. I grew up on a livestock and foragethe direction I wanted to go. I love farm, and that really helps me toconsulting with growers and help-What issue is most important for you? understand the whole forage world.ing solve their problems. Coming to Theres a massive disconnect betweenMy undergrad was done in forage sci- Alberta Wheat & Barley has really industry (which includes us farmers)ence; M.Sc. in grazing management,allowed me to spread my wings.and those eating the food that getsand my PhDs centred on perennial produced. That disconnect is affectingforage physiology and breeding.Why do you love it so much?our policies, government program- If I know that what Im doing may ming and trade.Why forage? have the impact of 1 per cent yield Im originally from Inner Mongolia,and profitability impact on a farm BE PERSISTENT China. Livestock and forage grass areand I know that Im helping to feed so important to me, and play a hugepeople, I can go home and feel Name: Bill Biligetu role in the culture of the Mongolianrewarded for what I do. Agronomy Org: Crop Development Centre,people, who traditionally have beenis like the resolution of a TV screen.University of Saskatchewan very nomadic. Many still are. When you work with low resolution, 6GERMINATION.CAJULY 2021'