Gordon (left) and Katie Sobey present Jennifer (second from right) and Derek Campbell with the 2009 agriculture awareness award. The award is sponsored by the federation and the Sobey family.

Couple wins agriculture awareness award

One couple in this province making a difference by telling the farmer’s story has been Jennifer and Derrick Campbell.

They operate Farm Fresh Veggies, a certified organic vegetable farm on Route 13 in Brookvale. They were presented with the Agriculture Awareness Award during the Excellence in Agriculture banquet held by the federation. The award is co-sponsored by the federation and Gordon and Sandra Sobey.

During the past several years, they have been communicating with consumers through the direct marketing of their produce. They have a booth at the Summerside Farm Market and, for a portion of the year, at the Charlottetown Farmer’s Market.  They are proactive in keeping consumers updated on the seasonality and availability of produce. They write and distribute a weekly e-letter to their consumers, providing farm updates, their offerings at that weeks’ farm market, and photos.

During the 2009 growing season, Jen and Derrick allowed residents and tourists alike a glimpse of the commitment required to run a successful organic family farm.  Each week through the summer, Karen Mair of CBC Radio’s Island Morning visited with the couple and discussed with them the business of organic farming.  The interviews provided listeners with a clear understanding of the realities of modern day farming.

Jen and Derrick communicated the level of knowledge, skill, work and dedication required as they shared with listeners details of the tasks involved with the planting, caring for and harvesting of crops. They painted a picture of their farming activities so vividly that non-farming individuals said it was just like being there.

The Campbells did not shy away from controversial topics.  They provided a balanced, realistic overview of farming on a small scale. They emphasized the commitment that farmers and their families have toward producing safe, high quality food and leaving a healthy environment.

The 2009 growing season was an amazing time for Jen and Derrick. In addition to their busy schedule on the farm, Jen also gave birth to twin boys Ben and Jake-possibly the next generation of Campbell farmers.

Jen and Derrick Campbell have been very successful in promoting a positive image of farmers and agriculture on PEI and very deserve recipients of the Agriculture Awareness Award for 2009.

Dave Thompson, chair of the P.E.I. Agriculture Awareness Committee, presents the Teacher of the Year award to Jessica Reeves.

Jessica Reeves honoured for work in classroom

The P.E.I. Agriculture Awareness Committee has presented the 2009 Teacher Recognition Award to Jessica Reeves, a teacher at Kensington Intermediate Senior High School.

This award recognizes a teacher, class, or school that has demonstrated efforts to incorporate agriculture into their classroom activities, above and beyond the normal curriculum standards or their responsibility as a teacher.

Jessica teaches the Agri-Science 801 course and the Agriculture 621 course at the high school level.  Through her work in these courses, she immerses the students in the agriculture industry by teaching them about primary production as well as the other components of the value chain.  She promotes agriculture as a career and gives the students an opportunity explore the colleges and universities in Canada where they could further develop a career in agriculture.  Jessica collaborates well with the agriculture industry frequently having industry representatives join her class as guest speakers.

In addition, Jessica has been instrumental in providing a high quality Agriculture Certificate Program to the students in grades 10, 11, and 12, through her work as the program coordinator.  As coordinator, she organizes agriculture activities for both inside and outside of the classroom environment including: the Farmer’s Share Meal, the Drive Away Hunger campaign to support local food banks, the Living Nativity Scene, the grade 10 Eastern tour, the grade 11 Western tour, the Nova Scotia tour, a trip to the Nova Scotia Agriculture College, a trip to the P.E.I. Easter Beef Show, a trip to the Atlantic Farm Mechanization Show, as well as attendance at various local agriculture events.  Jessica uses every opportunity to mentor and encourage her students.  She is a positive, pro-active person; a true agriculture ambassador; and a valuable resource and role model for her students.

Jessica was nominated for this award by her colleagues: George Aiken, school principal, and Heather Carver, Travel and Tourism Certificate Program Coordinator.