Agriculture Specialist

Therese Tompkins

Growing up on a farm on southern Alberta’s dry, windy prairies, Therese Tompkins was exposed to the concept of sustainable agriculture. She recalls: "You’d see the soil blow away and you’re going…okay, there’s got to be a better way.” It was her father who showed her the better way by being one of the first farmers in the region to practise minimum tillage, which is a form of sustainable agriculture.

Through this, Therese realized, "You have no control over how the wind blows, but you do have control over the crops that you plant, when you plant them, how you harvest them, and the equipment you put on the crops.” Today, with a Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Therese educates Alberta farmers about the variety of sustainable agriculture techniques available. She is an agricultural specialist working for the Alberta Environmental Farm Plan Company.

Therese says her work is critical to the future of the industry in her province. "That’s how I see our industry succeeding…because we’re being proactive…we’re being leading edge…as well as keeping our resources healthy for the next generation.” Therese conveys this message in what she calls her fieldwork: dozens of presentations to hundreds of farmers and agricultural and environmental professionals across the province throughout the year. There’s nothing she enjoys more than "inspiring people to get involved or consider sustainable agriculture as something for their operation.”

Sometimes her message isn’t well received. When she encounters hostility or resistance, Therese tries to "think of it from their perspective as well. Why are they so adamant about the position they are presenting? What can we take from that?” As an agricultural specialist, Therese says she will never grow tired of her job because "it’s about learning people’s perspectives and why things are important to them.”