Successful Mentorship Program Continues

 

Who learns more, the mentor or the protégé? The best relationships are those where each party learns. The Agriculture Mentorship Initiative (AMI), a pilot program of the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan (ACS) in conjunction with the Business Mentorship Institute of Saskatchewan, is building those relationships by linking mentors and protégés in the agriculture and agri-food industry.

 

In its first year, the AMI has matched three mentors and protégés. Mark Pickard, owner of InfraReady Products in Saskatoon has been mentoring Tim and Carla Schultz, owners of The Green Ranch near Ogema, since the start of the program.

As relative newcomers to agribusiness Tim and Carla were eager to participate.

 

“There’s so much negativity in the agriculture sector,” Tim says. “This is like a breath of fresh air, and a great opportunity for young people to gain experience.”

 

They started The Green Ranch in 2007. Besides pasturing 450 head of cattle and operating greenhouses, they have become partners with other local producers. They market various products, all Saskatchewan grown, along with their own produce at the Regina Farmers Market and online.

 

Tim believes the future is bright, not only for his agriculture business, but also for his mentoring relationship. “I see the greatest potential yet ahead. Every time we meet with Mark our trust level builds, and we’re becoming better friends.”

 

InfraReady Products has been adding value to Saskatchewan agriculture since it was started by the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool in 1994. Mark Pickard bought the company in 1998 and has since expanded to its current line of about 250 products.

 

An experienced agribusiness entrepreneur, Mark was glad to help. He has learned from many people over the years, and also from this more formal mentorship experience. “It’s an opportunity to give something back,” he says, “and yet I’ve probably gotten more out of it than Tim. Every business person has their goals and aspirations and often there’s no one to talk to about them. I’m able to responsively listen and provide non-judgmental feedback.”

 

For Tim and Carla, talking to Mark is like having the knowledge of a CEO with years of experience in their own board meeting. “I don’t know if you can put a value on being paired with a professional like Mark, with so much business experience and wisdom,” Tim says, “It’s great to have his years of experience behind us.”

 

Bev Magill of ACS says plans are underway to build on the program’s success, with many current protégés poised to become mentors. “The most positive part of the program is that it can build on itself in an informal way. Any good idea,” she says, “will grow.”

 

For more information on the Agriculture Mentorship Initiative, please go to the AMI page.

 

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