2023-24
Annual Report
A prosperous future for all Manitoba farmers.
Our core mission is to be the voice for farmers, addressing their most important issues. KAP is dedicated to leading progress, promoting transparency, and showcasing farmers' true impact and contribution to key audiences.
2023-2024 Outcomes
We aim to be the unwavering voice for farmers, addressing your most pressing issues with tenacity and resolve.
"KAP's new strategic plan for 2024-27 was a highlight of this past year. Our mission is simple, yet profound. We aim to be the unwavering voice for farmers, addressing your most pressing issues with tenacity and resolve."
― Jill Verwey, KAP President
Our Priority Pillars
Advocacy
Agriculture Matters
KAP strives to achieve a sustainable and profitable future for Manitoba farmers by advocating for unity within the primary agricultural sector, with shared goals and objectives. Acting as the authoritative voice, KAP leads the way, fostering consensus and providing unified representation to farmer members, stakeholders, and all levels of government, highlighting the significance of agriculture and advancing key policy objectives. Recognizing agriculture's vital role in our society, we aim to convey the importance of agriculture to our communities, economy, and food system.
Engagement and Outreach
Relationships Matter
We work everyday to develop a unified narrative focused on building trust in Manitoba farmers and modern agriculture. This narrative is designed to expand over time to improve its relevance and create connections between government, the public, agricultural stakeholders, and Manitoba farmers.
Regulatory Modernization
Preserving Market Access
KAP's primary goal is to minimize regulatory risk associated with future legislation and oversight for Manitoba farmers. Our value proposition to members is centered around working towards a stable regulatory future. Through collaborative initiatives led by KAP, our focus is not only on rectifying restrictive or misguided regulations, but also on advocating for smart regulations that will drive progress and growth in Manitoba's agriculture sector.
Governance and Funding
Future-Focused Oversight
In order to operate effectively in all other key areas and to achieve our strategic objectives, it is imperative that we foster a solid foundation of governance and funding. To ensure long-term delivery of value to our members, our approach is to continue modernizing KAP's governance and develop systems to ensure compliance. As we work in this area, modernizing our structure and funding model to be reflective of modern farming operations must be a priority to ensure financial sustainability for the long-run.
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KAP 2024-2027 Strategic Plan
Collaboration is at the heart of what we do – and the process to set our organization’s roadmap to 2027 was no different.
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This roadmap reflects the shared vision and expertise of KAP’s Board of Directors, members, and staff, aiming to facilitate a unified strategy to address the priorities identified by Manitoba producers and the broader agricultural industry. It focuses on tackling key challenges and leveraging opportunities.
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Continued advancements in advocacy and innovation will empower Manitoba farmers by reducing risks, meeting market demands, and enhancing productivity and competitiveness on a global scale.
Mission
Vision
Our core mission is to be the voice for farmers, addressing their most important issues. KAP is dedicated to leading progress, promoting transparency, and showcasing farmers' true impact and contribution to key audiences.
A prosperous future for all Manitoba farmers.
Our Values
Integrity
We speak and act with honesty and apply high ethical standards for everything we do.
Evidence Based and Solutions Oriented
We ensure that our decisions, advocacy and actions are grounded in factbased, reliable evidence. We take a proactive approach, focusing on finding solutions to challenges faced by farmers, rather than dwelling on problems.
Collaborative
We cultivate positive relationships with our members, stakeholders, and the broader community and cooperate with others to multiply the impact of our efforts.
Strategic Key Result Areas
01
Advocacy
Provide a unified voice for Manitoba’s
farmers and advance the key policy
objectives in the sector by working
with members, stakeholders and all
levels of government.
03
Regulatory Modernization
Develop initiatives that will potentially
mitigate regulatory risk related to
further legislation and oversight for
Manitoba farmers.
02
Engagement and Outreach
Develop a cohesive narrative centred on fostering trust in Manitoba farmers and in the agricultural community.
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04
Governance and Funding
Develop and implement a plan that stabilizes KAP to ensure long-term delivery of value to it's members.
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Message from the President
Jill Verwey, President of Keystone Agricultural Producers
It's hard to believe we are already entering another year! Looking back on a busy 2024, many things stood out. Above all, though, was the first year under KAP's new strategic plan for 2024-27. This plan has provided us with the foundation and framework to continue advancing KAP’s modernization as we work to continually improve and be positioned to respond to issues that impact our members, both as they arise and to use our foresight to see what’s on the horizon.
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As a Board of Directors, our focus on the modernization of KAP and continuing to make strides in our governance have been central to everything we do. With the strategic plan that was developed, clear direction was articulated for the dedicated and high quality team at our office to enable their success. We are proud of the team and entrust them to carry out the day-to-day operations that will ultimately accomplish our strategic vision.
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This strategic plan was developed through extensive consultation with board members, farmers, and other key stakeholders. Crafted with Manitoba farmers' needs and aspirations at its core, this plan embodies our unwavering commitment to shaping a prosperous future for all.
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At KAP, our vision is crystal clear: a prosperous future for each and every Manitoba farmer. We envision thriving farms, resilient communities, and a sustainable agricultural sector that stands as a beacon of excellence on the global stage. This is the North Star that guides everything we do at KAP.
Our mission is simple yet profound. We aim to be the unwavering voice for farmers, addressing your most pressing issues with tenacity and resolve. We are dedicated to leading progress, promoting transparency, and showcasing the true impact and contribution of farmers to key audiences. This cannot occur without the engagement of our grassroots members from across the province, who provide us with the on-farm insights that inform our ability to be the unified voice for all Manitoba farmers.
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Integrity, evidence-based action, collaboration, communication, and transparency are the cornerstones of our approach. We pledge to uphold the highest ethical standards, ground our decisions in reliable evidence, foster positive relationships, and ensure that communication and transparency permeate everything we do.
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KAP has worked over the past year to truly live up to being a unified voice for Manitoba's farmers, advocating tirelessly for key policy objectives and fostering strong government and industry relations. This advocacy has resulted in wins across many areas, which you can explore further in this report. We are committed to remaining adaptable and nimble, ready to respond to key issues that impact your farm operations as they arise.
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With the KAP Strategic Plan 2024-2027 as our compass for this past year and those to come, we will navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and chart a course towards a future where Manitoba farmers thrive.
Get to Know Your Representatives
Jill Verwey
President
Scott Melvin
District 2
Charles Fossay
District 6
Kristy-Layne Carr
Supply Managed Commodity Groups
Jake Ayre
Vice President
Colin Penner
District 3
Jason Smith
District 8
Alex Burgess
Grains, Oilseeds and Pulses
Kevin Stott
Vice President
Kevin Peters
District 4
Keith Syslak
District 9
Marg Rempel
Red Meat Commodity Groups
Carter McKinney
District 1
Jenneth Johanson
District 5
Shannon Pyziak
District 10
Sam Connery-Nichol
Special Interest Groups
Vacancies
District 7
District 11
District 12
General Manager's Report
Brenna Mahoney, KAP General Manager
As I reflect on the past year at KAP, I am incredibly proud of the strides we have made in delivering value to Manitoba farmers. KAP has always stood for fact-based, solution-oriented leadership, and this year has been no exception. Together, we have laid the foundation for a stronger, more modern organization to meet the evolving needs of farmers today and tomorrow.
In January 2024, the KAP board approved our new strategic plan, a pivotal moment that set the direction for our work this year and beyond. This plan has served as our guiding framework, enabling us to focus on priorities that matter most to farmers: strengthening our advocacy, fostering meaningful partnerships, and delivering tangible results. The board and team have worked to align our operations with clear goals, and we have been able to measure our progress and hold ourselves accountable to the producers we serve.
Our success has been amplified by our ability to grow partnerships and position KAP as a trusted voice for agriculture. One highlight of the year was hosting Governor of the Bank of Canada, Tiff Macklem, for an industry roundtable. This event underscored the importance of agriculture in Canada’s economic landscape and gave Manitoba farmers a seat at the table in shaping the conversation around economic policy and financial stability. Such opportunities reflect the credibility and respect KAP has built over the years.
Another key focus has been our work on the labour strategy, addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing our industry. This has all been achieved by collaborating with stakeholders and decision-makers, together we have been working toward long-term solutions to ensure Manitoba’s agriculture sector has the skilled workforce it needs to thrive.
I am also pleased to share that in 2024, KAP’s membership has grown. This growth reflects the trust producers place in us to advocate on their behalf and deliver value that matters. It is a testament to the tireless work of our team, who continue to build relationships and engage producers across the province. Strengthening our membership means amplifying the voice of Manitoba farmers and ensuring that their concerns and ideas shape the future of agriculture.
Our collective efforts to modernize KAP have been instrumental in preparing the organization for the challenges and opportunities ahead. Whether through improving our communications, enhancing stakeholder engagement, or refining our operations, we are ensuring that KAP remains agile, relevant, and impactful for the next generation of farmers.
On a personal note, I recently made the difficult decision to step down as General Manager of KAP. While this chapter of my career is coming to a close, I remain deeply committed to agriculture and will continue to work in the sector. It has been an honour to serve Manitoba farmers and contribute to an organization that has such a meaningful impact on the industry and the province.
As I look back, I see a year defined by progress, collaboration, and resilience. KAP has remained steadfast in driving value for our members, advocating for practical solutions, and positioning Manitoba agriculture for long-term success. I am confident that the momentum we have built will carry forward, and KAP will continue to lead with purpose and innovation.
Thank you to the board, staff, members, and partners who made this year one of achievement and growth. Together, we are ensuring a bright future for Manitoba farmers.