b"Balancing the Responsibilityof Being on Ag BoardsWhen joining agriculture boards, the key is to be realistic about theduties and time involved.Ashley RobinsonJOINING AN AGRICULTUREboard can be a rewardingquestion the first time. Like, oh, fresh meat, new blood, let's go. process that gives you professional opportunities, but itsLet's moderate our excitement.also a lot of work. To succeed on the board, both you and theIf you are interested in joining a board you can always reach organization need to be realistic when it comes to what all isout to current board members to ask them about how to join involved.and what duties being a board member includes, Ammeter says.Managing expectations of the board, being really clear howThe American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) has a lead-committed you are, Ashley Knapton says on the April 27 episodeership structure made up of a full executive and then various of Seed Speaks. For me, I'm really seasonal, right? So, springcommittees. To train and help members into those positions planting coming up, corn silage harvest in the fall, those are someASTA runs a Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) of my really hectic times. And so just kind of making sure every- Committee, this provides members with opportunities to expand one's upfront at the beginning to know where things are at. their knowledge and gain experience in leadership skills. Knapton herself is a member of multiple ag boards includingWe really want to spend time training our members or giving the Lanark Federation of Agriculture, Lanark County Soil and Crop,education opportunities for our members, and with the goal of Ottawa Valley Seed Growers Association, Ontario Certified Cropthem being stronger leaders, not only in their own companies, Advisors and the Agricultural Adaptation Council. She also is thebut within the association as well, Wayne Gale, past chair of dairy strategic accounts manager with Corteva Agriscience forASTA, says during Seed Speaks.Ontario and the Maritimes and works on her familys dairy farm. Another important thing to remember is you dont always While she is happy to be involved with ag boards, she remindshave to say yes to joining boards either. Knapton, Ammeter and people not everyone in her younger generation is able to.Gale have all said no when asked to join boards in the past. Whether its due to them having to work fulltime non ag jobs onWhat I started trying to do is have some names in my back top of farming or starting to take on larger roles on their farms,pocket to recommend, Knapton adds. And that's kind of a there isnt always the time to take on extra roles in the industry. multisided thing that's to help the board that's looking for some-Mike Ammeter, chair of the Canadian Canola Growersone out to kind of say, No, I'm really flattered. Let's chat again in Association and a board member of the Alberta Canolathree to five years. But here's someone who might be able to fill Producers Commission understands time commitmentthat gap for you.SWrestraints. Ammeter operates a 1,400-acre grain farm in cen-ON THE WEBtral Alberta near Sylvan Lake. He first became involved with agWHERE boards after his children were older and he found himself with more time to spare. Want to watch the full Seed Speaks episode? Find it at youtube.com/watch?v=zgZ4s81mOgU It's tough when you have small kids at home, and you're trying to do everything on your own. But back to how do you do it? It's just you understand the commitment you made, you bal-ance it, he explains during the episode.For those on ag boards theres an ongoing struggle to find others to join. Ammeter says in his experience theyll reach out to people who like to be engaged with the group and then answer any questions they have to try and alleviate any concerns they may have. Board members also have hold back and not push people to join, Knapton adds.I think maybe the onus is also on us as more seasoned board people to sit back and say, let's not jump on anyone who asks a JUNE 2022SEEDWORLD.COM /11"