Meet our members
David Schmidt
Treasurer and past president of the B.C. Farm Writers Association and a director and past president of the Canadian Farm Writers Federation, David Schmidt is associate editor of Country Life in B.C. and contributes to various other regional and national agricultural magazines. David grew up on a mixed/dairy farm in B.C.'s Fraser Valley and still lives within 30 km of where he grew up. He has a BA in creative writing from the University of B.C. and has been covering agriculture since 1985. He has won numerous awards including being named B.C.'s Agriculturist of the Year for 2000. He calls agricultural reporting the best job in the world as it involves "all the fun of farming without any of the work - or risk!" When not involved in agriculture, David provides personal and small business tax services and plays Tournament Bridge. He is a director and past president of the B.C.-Washington-Alaska District of the American Contract Bridge League.
Tamara Leigh
Tamara Leigh is a writer and communications consultant based on Vancouver Island. She currently serves as BC representative on the board of the CFWF. Tamara grew up mucking out barns and mending fences. A transplanted Prairie girl, she has a great appreciation for the diversity, geography and nuances of the agriculture sector in BC. Tamara has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Drama from the University of Alberta, and a Graduate Certificate in Public Relations Management from Royal Roads University.
Sarah Godin
Sarah Godin is part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's regional communications team in BC. She combines her love of writing and science by working with scientists at AAFC's research centres in Agassiz and Summerland to spread the news of their exciting discoveries. Born and raised on a hobby farm in rural New Brunswick, Sarah experienced the Zero Mile diet long before the 100 Mile diet became popular. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science in industrial engineering from Université de Moncton and a certificate in public relations from Langara College.
Madeleine Baerg
Madeleine Baerg is a freelance writer and communications consultant whose specialty and passion is all things agriculture. Whether she is profiling a start-up agribusiness, outlining cutting edge agronomics, or writing a product advertorial, Madeleine’s knack is capturing the heart behind the story, helping readers understand why they need to care about the topic too.
After spending a decade in the corporate world, Madeleine traded a high-rise window for a home office overlooking the family farm’s acres of peach trees and green fields of sheep. She currently writes regularly for half a dozen agricultural companies and publications, and takes on internal and external communications projects for a broad range of clients.
Tom Henry
Tom Henry is the editor of Small Farm Canada magazine.
Fran Bach
Fran is the editor of Agri Digest Online, the pan-Canadian journal of issues in agriculture.
Nadia Shah
Nadia Shah holds a degree in Communication from Simon Fraser University. She has considerable experience in the agriculture industry through her previous work with BC Frozen Foods Ltd. Nadia holds the position of Project Manager at the BC Dairy and heads the Mobile Dairy Classroom Experience, animal welfare initiatives, and the BC Milk Blast newsletter. In her spare time Nadia enjoys painting, singing and spending time with her family.
Holly Jackson
Holly Jackson was raised on a ranch south of Kamloops, BC. After living all over the province from Victoria to Fort Nelson, she has returned to her hometown and recently become the Communications Co-ordinator for BC Cattlemen's Association and Editor of Beef in BC. Holly has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from the University of Victoria.
Ronda Payne
A writer since she could hold a pen, Ronda Payne is passionate about her craft. A regular contributor to IHR (Integrated Health Retailer) and Country Life in BC, Ronda continues to grow in her writing career. She joyfully lives in Maple Ridge, BC in "yet another" renovation project home with her husband and pets.
Barbara Johnstone Grimmer
Barbara Johnstone Grimmer is an agrologist who lives and writes from the Gulf Islands. She writes a regular column on farm life and farm issues for the Islands Independent community newspaper called "The Farmer's Stand". She is also a regular contributor to the BC Sheep Federation's publication The N'Ewes. Her writings are reproduced with photos, videos and added thoughts and gleanings in her blog.
Gary and Karen Booy
For the last fourteen years, Gary and Karen Booy have been operating BC Holstein News from their beautiful farm, Dream Acres Dairy, in the heart of BC dairy land. Under their ownership, the paper, like the industry, has thrived and grown, more than doubling in size from the original paper. Karen and Gary also own a little "Piece of Heaven," their beautiful property located in the majestic Rockies, just a few hours from Dream Acres. Their friendly personalities infuse both of their homes with a sunshine warmth that welcomes everyone to feel right at home. The four-legged family members from the prized Holsteins to the independent felines thrive in this loving environment. Home and work blend easily, well, almost always, (deadlines can be crazy times) but they would have it no other way loving their lives and living their dream.
Judie Steeves
Judie has been in journalism since her first job at the Penticton Herald in 1967, while she was finishing high school. She's written for dailies and edited weeklies, but has been writing particularly about agriculture for the past 25 years or so in the Okanagan, including for the Kelowna Capital News, Country Life in B.C., the Agri-Success Express, B.C. Berry Grower and B.C. Fruit Grower magazines.
In addition, she writes a weekly outdoors column called Trail Mix (since 1992) and a weekly food column called Jude's Kitchen (since 1988) and is coauthor of Okanagan Trips and Trails, first published in 1999 with a revised edition coming out this summer, and is author of Jude's Kitchen, which was published in 2011.
Megan Ward
Megan Ward is the Manager of Web & Media Relations for the BC Egg Marketing Board. Her experiences include over 25 years of managing teams over a variety of disciplines and throughout several industries. She has a strong background in community outreach and in developing communications plans and programs. In her current role she builds relationships with community stakeholders, agencies and consultants to advance the vision, mission and values of the organization. In order to achieve this, she utilizes social media to effectively communicate the image of BC Egg by providing interactive experiences for consumers and producer members alike.
Kaitlyn Gisler
Kaitlyn Gisler grew up on her parents’ dairy farm in the beautiful Fraser Valley. With a passion for agriculture and an affinity for writing, she is a staff writer for the BC Holstein News and regular contributor to Modern Agriculture Magazine.
Alysha Thomas
Alysha Thomas is a first-time writer with BC Holstein News. Three years ago, she started taking writing classes at both Vernon and Salmon Arm Okanagan College campuses; all the while working on dairy farms in the North Okanagan. Recently travelling to England to work on a large dairy farm, her interest in the farming industry has come to feel more like a hobby than an occupation. "Working abroad has opened my eyes to how incredibly well Canadian farmers do their jobs, and I would love to be part of the team that tells their stories," she says. "With my knowledge of how the farms work day to day, my passion for writing and my desire to combine the two, I hope to have a future with the British Columbia Farm Writers' Association."
Agricultural Publications
Members of the BC Farm Writers Association contribute to the following publications:
BC Agriculture Media
Agri-Digest Online
BC Berry Grower
BC Fruit Grower
BC Holstein News
BC Milk Blast
Beef in BC
British Columbia Organic Grower
Country Life in BC
Farmwest.com
Grapes to Wine Magazine
Orchard & Vine Magazine
Modern Agriculture Magazine
West Coast Farmer
Canadian Agriculture Media
AgKnowledge Magazine
AgriSuccess Express
AgriSuccess Journal
Alberta Farmer Express
Canadian Farm Manager
Canadian Organic Grower
Canadian Poultry Magazine
Country Guide
Farming for Tomorrow
Fruit & Vegetable Magazine
Grainews
Greenhouse Canada
Growing Tomorrow
Holstein Journal
Prairie Hog Country
Small Farm Canada
The Western Producer
Top Crop Manager
Western Dairy Farmer
BC Community Newspapers
Chilliwack Progress
Comox Valley Record
Kamloops Daily News
Kelowna Capital News
Treasurer and past president of the B.C. Farm Writers Association and a director and past president of the Canadian Farm Writers Federation, David Schmidt is associate editor of Country Life in B.C. and contributes to various other regional and national agricultural magazines. David grew up on a mixed/dairy farm in B.C.'s Fraser Valley and still lives within 30 km of where he grew up. He has a BA in creative writing from the University of B.C. and has been covering agriculture since 1985. He has won numerous awards including being named B.C.'s Agriculturist of the Year for 2000. He calls agricultural reporting the best job in the world as it involves "all the fun of farming without any of the work - or risk!" When not involved in agriculture, David provides personal and small business tax services and plays Tournament Bridge. He is a director and past president of the B.C.-Washington-Alaska District of the American Contract Bridge League.
Tamara Leigh
Tamara Leigh is a writer and communications consultant based on Vancouver Island. She currently serves as BC representative on the board of the CFWF. Tamara grew up mucking out barns and mending fences. A transplanted Prairie girl, she has a great appreciation for the diversity, geography and nuances of the agriculture sector in BC. Tamara has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Drama from the University of Alberta, and a Graduate Certificate in Public Relations Management from Royal Roads University.
Sarah Godin
Sarah Godin is part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's regional communications team in BC. She combines her love of writing and science by working with scientists at AAFC's research centres in Agassiz and Summerland to spread the news of their exciting discoveries. Born and raised on a hobby farm in rural New Brunswick, Sarah experienced the Zero Mile diet long before the 100 Mile diet became popular. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science in industrial engineering from Université de Moncton and a certificate in public relations from Langara College.
Madeleine Baerg
Madeleine Baerg is a freelance writer and communications consultant whose specialty and passion is all things agriculture. Whether she is profiling a start-up agribusiness, outlining cutting edge agronomics, or writing a product advertorial, Madeleine’s knack is capturing the heart behind the story, helping readers understand why they need to care about the topic too.
After spending a decade in the corporate world, Madeleine traded a high-rise window for a home office overlooking the family farm’s acres of peach trees and green fields of sheep. She currently writes regularly for half a dozen agricultural companies and publications, and takes on internal and external communications projects for a broad range of clients.
Tom Henry
Tom Henry is the editor of Small Farm Canada magazine.
Fran Bach
Fran is the editor of Agri Digest Online, the pan-Canadian journal of issues in agriculture.
Nadia Shah
Nadia Shah holds a degree in Communication from Simon Fraser University. She has considerable experience in the agriculture industry through her previous work with BC Frozen Foods Ltd. Nadia holds the position of Project Manager at the BC Dairy and heads the Mobile Dairy Classroom Experience, animal welfare initiatives, and the BC Milk Blast newsletter. In her spare time Nadia enjoys painting, singing and spending time with her family.
Holly Jackson
Holly Jackson was raised on a ranch south of Kamloops, BC. After living all over the province from Victoria to Fort Nelson, she has returned to her hometown and recently become the Communications Co-ordinator for BC Cattlemen's Association and Editor of Beef in BC. Holly has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from the University of Victoria.
Ronda Payne
A writer since she could hold a pen, Ronda Payne is passionate about her craft. A regular contributor to IHR (Integrated Health Retailer) and Country Life in BC, Ronda continues to grow in her writing career. She joyfully lives in Maple Ridge, BC in "yet another" renovation project home with her husband and pets.
Barbara Johnstone Grimmer
Barbara Johnstone Grimmer is an agrologist who lives and writes from the Gulf Islands. She writes a regular column on farm life and farm issues for the Islands Independent community newspaper called "The Farmer's Stand". She is also a regular contributor to the BC Sheep Federation's publication The N'Ewes. Her writings are reproduced with photos, videos and added thoughts and gleanings in her blog.
Gary and Karen Booy
For the last fourteen years, Gary and Karen Booy have been operating BC Holstein News from their beautiful farm, Dream Acres Dairy, in the heart of BC dairy land. Under their ownership, the paper, like the industry, has thrived and grown, more than doubling in size from the original paper. Karen and Gary also own a little "Piece of Heaven," their beautiful property located in the majestic Rockies, just a few hours from Dream Acres. Their friendly personalities infuse both of their homes with a sunshine warmth that welcomes everyone to feel right at home. The four-legged family members from the prized Holsteins to the independent felines thrive in this loving environment. Home and work blend easily, well, almost always, (deadlines can be crazy times) but they would have it no other way loving their lives and living their dream.
Judie Steeves
Judie has been in journalism since her first job at the Penticton Herald in 1967, while she was finishing high school. She's written for dailies and edited weeklies, but has been writing particularly about agriculture for the past 25 years or so in the Okanagan, including for the Kelowna Capital News, Country Life in B.C., the Agri-Success Express, B.C. Berry Grower and B.C. Fruit Grower magazines.
In addition, she writes a weekly outdoors column called Trail Mix (since 1992) and a weekly food column called Jude's Kitchen (since 1988) and is coauthor of Okanagan Trips and Trails, first published in 1999 with a revised edition coming out this summer, and is author of Jude's Kitchen, which was published in 2011.
Megan Ward
Megan Ward is the Manager of Web & Media Relations for the BC Egg Marketing Board. Her experiences include over 25 years of managing teams over a variety of disciplines and throughout several industries. She has a strong background in community outreach and in developing communications plans and programs. In her current role she builds relationships with community stakeholders, agencies and consultants to advance the vision, mission and values of the organization. In order to achieve this, she utilizes social media to effectively communicate the image of BC Egg by providing interactive experiences for consumers and producer members alike.
Kaitlyn Gisler
Kaitlyn Gisler grew up on her parents’ dairy farm in the beautiful Fraser Valley. With a passion for agriculture and an affinity for writing, she is a staff writer for the BC Holstein News and regular contributor to Modern Agriculture Magazine.
Alysha Thomas
Alysha Thomas is a first-time writer with BC Holstein News. Three years ago, she started taking writing classes at both Vernon and Salmon Arm Okanagan College campuses; all the while working on dairy farms in the North Okanagan. Recently travelling to England to work on a large dairy farm, her interest in the farming industry has come to feel more like a hobby than an occupation. "Working abroad has opened my eyes to how incredibly well Canadian farmers do their jobs, and I would love to be part of the team that tells their stories," she says. "With my knowledge of how the farms work day to day, my passion for writing and my desire to combine the two, I hope to have a future with the British Columbia Farm Writers' Association."
Agricultural Publications
Members of the BC Farm Writers Association contribute to the following publications:
BC Agriculture Media
Agri-Digest Online
BC Berry Grower
BC Fruit Grower
BC Holstein News
BC Milk Blast
Beef in BC
British Columbia Organic Grower
Country Life in BC
Farmwest.com
Grapes to Wine Magazine
Orchard & Vine Magazine
Modern Agriculture Magazine
West Coast Farmer
Canadian Agriculture Media
AgKnowledge Magazine
AgriSuccess Express
AgriSuccess Journal
Alberta Farmer Express
Canadian Farm Manager
Canadian Organic Grower
Canadian Poultry Magazine
Country Guide
Farming for Tomorrow
Fruit & Vegetable Magazine
Grainews
Greenhouse Canada
Growing Tomorrow
Holstein Journal
Prairie Hog Country
Small Farm Canada
The Western Producer
Top Crop Manager
Western Dairy Farmer
BC Community Newspapers
Chilliwack Progress
Comox Valley Record
Kamloops Daily News
Kelowna Capital News
