PEI’s Colleen Younie Recognized for her Contribution to Farm Management Excellence with Prestigious Wilson Loree Award
December 3, 2021, Ottawa, ON – Farm Management Canada recently held its national annual Agricultural Excellence Conference where Colleen Younie was announced as the 2021 recipient of the prestigious Wilson Loree Award. Now in its nineteenth year, the Award honours individuals or groups who have made an extraordinary contribution to advancing agricultural business management practices in Canada.
Colleen has served Prince Edward Island farm families as a district extension worker since 1972 and has taken on leadership roles within the PEI Department of Agriculture and Land Access.
With her extensive knowledge of farm business management, Colleen has provided guidance to farm families, as she helped them with decisions involving expansion, the inclusion of a child as an owner, or other turning points in the business that required extensive analysis. Colleen retired in 2016 from the PEI Department of Agriculture after 37 years of service.
Pictured (L-R): Colleen Younie accepting the 2021 Wilson Loree Award from Suzanne MacNeill, PEI Department of Agriculture and Land Access.
Through her involvement on a multitude of local boards and 4-H, she fosters pride in agriculture at any age. She was the leader of the Morell & Area 4-H Club for many years and implemented many initiatives that created an interest and knowledge in agriculture. She sat on the PEI Agriculture Sector Council Board as an ex officio for the PEI Department of Agriculture. She also played an integral role in the development of the PEI Farm Technician Apprenticeship Blue Seal Program, now in it’s 22nd year.
Colleen was nominated by Lynda Ramsay, Brian Matheson, and Sandra MacKinnon to receive the 2021 Wilson Loree Award.
This is some of what Colleen’s colleagues had to say about her contributions to affecting positive change in farm business management:
“As an active woman in Agriculture, Colleen was an influencer and she was someone to look up to for her knowledge and overall kindness.”
“She was a leader without force; her dedication to her passion of agriculture made everyone want to be a part of it with her.”
“Colleen’s empathy and passion for farm families was well received by PEI farms across the province.”
“Working with Colleen has been an honor as she has always earned the respect of her peers, financial advisors and farmers. Colleen is highly committed to her work, farmers, volunteering and her family.”
“I am confident in stating that without Colleen’s expertise and strong voice promoting farm management that the PEI Department of Agriculture would not have had such a strong commitment to this comprehensive approach to assessing and managing risk.”
“Colleen has had a remarkable career in this province as a strong promoter of agricultural business management working with farm families, financial institutions and farm organizations.”
“Her extension efforts provided useful, practical, and easy to follow tools and techniques to support farmers in managing their bottom line. She provided much needed support and assistance to young and new farmers to identify their critical development areas.”
This award is especially dear to us at Farm Management Canada, as Colleen was part of the creation of the organization, formerly the Canadian Farm Business Management Council, in 1992. Colleen remained an active member of the Farm Management Canada Board of Directors for a number of years and as our Provincial/Territorial representative to PEI.
Wilson Loree presented the award to Colleen during the Agricultural Excellence Conference on November 24th saying “Colleen, your commitment and constant focus on farm families in PEI and across Canada with practical strategies that address their issues and opportunities has gained membership for you in the group of award winners. Congratulations on behalf of Farm Management Canada and myself!”
“I feel deeply humbled, yet truly honoured, to have been selected for the 2021 Wilson Loree Award. It is an award to which I have aspired, never thinking that I could possibly be considered. This recognition holds great value for me. Thank you so much. Wilson has been a mentor to me throughout my career, so to have him present the award enhances its meaningfulness,” said Colleen upon accepting the Award.
Wilson Loree retired as Branch Head of Agriculture Business Management after 27 years with Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. The Award was created in 2002 in Wilson’s name by Farm Management Canada. Wilson is cited as “an individual who exemplifies innovation, wisdom, and a constant focus on the farm manager and the farm family.” Currently Wilson resides in Calgary, Alberta.
Our congratulations to Colleen!
About Farm Management Canada
A national umbrella for Canadian farm business management activity, Farm Management Canada is the only organization devoted exclusively to the development and delivery of advanced business management information, tools and resources to position Canada’s farmers for success. Farm Management Canada’s programs and activities are made possible through support from generous sponsors and supporters.
-30-
For more information contact:
Heather Oakley, Project Manager
Farm Management Canada
21 Florence St. 2nd Fl, Ottawa (Ontario) K2P 0W6
Telephone: 1-888-232-3262
Email: info(at)fmc-gac.com
www.FMC-GAC.com