Lisa Ashton - Day 1 Opening Keynote
Lisa Ashton - Director of Agriculture Policy - RBC
Lisa’s passion for Canada’s agriculture sector—and its role as a global leader in production, innovation, and sustainability—was shaped by her upbringing on her family’s farm in Southwestern Ontario. This early interest led her to pursue post-graduate degrees in Ireland, Germany, and most recently at the University of Guelph, where she completed a PhD focused on the governance of scaling natural climate solutions in Canadian agriculture.
Currently, Lisa is the Director of Agriculture Policy at RBC Thought Leadership, where she leads agriculture and food research and stakeholder engagement. Prior to joining RBC, she was the Sustainability Lead at Grain Farmers of Ontario and worked as a consultant, helping not-for-profit organizations and companies develop and implement regenerative agriculture strategies.
Andrew Coyne - Day 1 Afternoon Keynote
Andrew Coyne - Columnist for The Globe and Mail
Andrew Coyne is a columnist for The Globe and Mail. Previously Comment Editor of The National Post and National Editor of Maclean’s, he has also written for a number of other publications in Canada and abroad, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, National Review, and The Walrus. He is the author of The Crisis of Canadian Democracy, published by Sutherland House Books.
Chris Scheetz - Closing Keynote
Chris Scheetz - Motivational Speaker | Awards Winner Radio Host | Fundraising Expert
Chris Scheetz has spent the past 34 years living his dream working at his favorite radio station in every role and influencing the community he lives in. He’s never forgotten his country “farm kid” roots and feels like they continue to have a great influence in is life and career. Chris has raised millions of dollars for charity in many unique ways, helping his community rally for people in need. He has a unique journey to share that will inspire audiences to reach for their dreams and never give up and also help them find creative ways to make this world a better place.
Closing Keynote: Small Towns and Big Dreams
Session Description: In this presentation, Chris will share how he’s applied lessons from his 35 year career in radio to have success. He will speak about the importance of working hard, patience, and setting goals in order to hit a homerun in life. Chris possesses incredible stories about how he put himself in the middle of a Stanley Cup run and spent 17 years on the sidelines watching high-level athletes compete. He tells you how to stand out from the crowd and rewards of treating people like you want to be treated. He also talks about balancing that hard work and determination with focusing on your family’s goals and dreams for true happiness. As Chris begins a new chapter in his life he discusses taking chances and betting on yourself.
Expert Session #1 - Farmers Leading the Way: On-Farm Innovation in Action
David Benjamin - Sade Farms
David Benjamin is a first-generation hay and forage farmer in Southern Alberta with a progressive mindset. From soil health to finding new and innovative equipment that best fits farming in Southern Alberta, David takes agricultural reality and relays it to his audiences in entertaining and engaging ways. David has a popular YouTube channel called Farmin’ Ain’t Easy, where he tests out foreign equipment, walks through the ups and downs of farming and shares educational agronomy-focused content.
Emily Ford - Quattro Ventures
Emily Ford is a senior agronomist at Quattro Ventures, a progressive farm venture growing a variety of crops across seven separate yet integrated divisions covering 24,000 acres. Based in Bow Island, Alberta, Emily has decades of experience in applied agricultural research, sustainable crop production and environmental compliance. With Quattro Farms, she oversees agronomic strategy, environmental stewardship and food safety for the variety of crops the venture grows: from cereals, pulses and seed canola to potatoes, sugar beets, mint and even catnip. Emily also chairs the research committee for the Potato Growers of Alberta.
Josh Fankhauser - Lamb Farms
Josh Fankhouser is a fifth-generation lamb farmer from outside of Claresholm, Alberta, where he farms alongside his wife Shauna and their five children. After attending high school in Claresholm, Josh set out to gain agriculture experience in various regions, from Quebec to Switzerland. He graduated from Lethbridge College with a diploma in Plant and Soil Science, which he utilizes today as an agronomic expert on his family farm, conducting research plots.
Expert Session #2 - Technology in the Field: What Farmers Need to Know Now
Executive Director - Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA). President of the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA)
Doug Miller serves as Executive Director of the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA) and as President of the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA). A trusted voice among seed growers and policymakers alike, he’s helped modernize Canada’s seed certification system while strengthening its connections to global standards.
Under his leadership, CSGA has embraced digital tools and collaborative policy development, reinforcing its role as both a national steward of seed quality and an international partner in advancing innovation across the ag sector.
Session Description: Technology and regulation are evolving quickly, and the impacts are already reaching the field. This fireside chat brings together public- and private-sector perspectives to help farmers, seed growers, and industry members understand what’s coming—and how to prepare.
Key Takeaways:
- Policy Meets Practice – Learn how upcoming regulatory and technological shifts will directly affect farms and seed businesses.
- Technology Integration – See real-world examples of new tools and breeding approaches being put to work today.
- Collaboration Across Sectors – Understand why public and private players both play a critical role in shaping the future.
- Practical Guidance – Walk away with clear, actionable insights on what to expect in the next few years.
Expert Session #3 - Master Your Farm Transition
Beth Kushnerick - Partner - Doane Grant Thornton LLP
Beth Kushnerick is a CPA and trusted advisor to owner-managed private businesses at Doane Grant Thornton LLP. She supports clients with financial statement preparation, tax filings, and strategic business and succession planning. As a dedicated professional, Beth is passionate about building lasting relationships with her clients. She takes pride in understanding their businesses and families, becoming a reliable partner in helping them achieve their goals. The joy of watching clients grow and succeed is what drives Beth in her work. Beth has practiced in Camrose throughout her entire professional career. She began at a local accounting firm that merged with Grant Thornton in 2011. With over 20 years of experience, Beth has worked with clients across a wide range of industries, including agriculture, oilfield services, construction, retail, and professional services.
Darcie Sabados - Partner - Doane Grant Thornton LLP
Darcie Sabados is a CPA and Partner specializing in tax at Doane Grant Thornton LLP. She assists clients with corporate reorganizations, estate and succession planning, and tax planning.
As a compassionate professional, Darcie is dedicated to delivering exceptional service and advice to clients. Her passion lies in collaborating with clients to optimize their tax solutions, enabling them to succeed. The sense of fulfillment derived from helping clients achieve their goals is truly rewarding for Darcie.
After achieving their CA designation in 2007, Darcie decided to specialize in taxation by completing the CICA In-Depth Tax program from 2007 to 2010. She continued their studies in taxation by completing CPA Canada's In-depth tax issues for the owner-managed business course during 2012 and 2019.
Melanie Harty - Partner - Doane Grant Thornton LLP
Melanie Harty is a CPA and certified Family Enterprise Advisor with Doane Grant Thornton LLP. She helps business owners build their family legacy and successfully transition their businesses to the next generation. Melanie assists with specialty tax work, farm succession, corporate reorganizations, and amalgamations.
Melanie leverages her broad experience to guide businesses and non-profits through their tax planning initiatives, estate and succession planning, accounting, auditing, and financial management. She has worked with clients across various industries, including agriculture, construction, oil and gas, retail, and family businesses.
Prior to joining forces with Doane Grant Thornton LLP, Melanie was a managing partner at BVA LLP and, before that, spent time working on her family farm. This experience allows her to provide clients with a real-world perspective for their businesses.
