Jill Verwey lives and breathes agriculture. Her roots growing up on a mixed grain and cattle operation in rural Manitoba lend themselves well to her current roles – the office manager for Verwey Farms Ltd., president of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), and first vice president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA). Jill’s pride in Canadian agriculture is unmistakable. Learn more about her career and advocacy journey below.
Describe your job or product in one sentence.
My role includes managing the day-to-day administration and financial operations of our family farm, overseeing food and animal safety and human resources, and representing agricultural producers provincially and nationally through leadership roles with KAP, CFA, and various boards and advisory groups.
Where did you grow up? Was it an agriculture or urban environment?
I grew up in rural Manitoba on a mixed grain and cattle operation. I have been married for 32 years, and my husband and I are involved in a four-generation family farm that includes dairy and grain production. We have four grown children, all of whom have completed post-secondary education in agriculture-related fields.
What was your dream job when you were a kid?
My dream was always to be involved in agriculture. Today, I truly feel I have the best job – living and working on our farm while also representing the interests of producers in Manitoba and across Canada.
What was your first job in the agriculture or agri-food sector?
My first role in the agriculture sector was working in agricultural and commercial lending, where I spent over 13 years supporting farm businesses.
What brought you to your current role?
My background of active involvement in my community and district, including serving on various boards and committees, led me to Keystone Agricultural Producers. I was elected to represent my district on the KAP board and, in 2023, was honoured to be elected President.
How does digital agriculture or agtech play a role in your current job?
Digital agriculture plays a role across all my responsibilities – from day-to-day farm operations and financial management to my work representing producers. In my leadership roles, I advocate for the digital tools producers need to successfully implement and adapt technology, and I provide guidance to elected officials on policies that support innovation and adoption in the agriculture sector.
What advice would you give someone considering a career in digital agriculture?
Embrace digital agriculture. It is essential for Canadian agriculture to grow, remain competitive, and succeed as an export-driven industry. Digital tools are equally critical for strengthening domestic food production and long-term sustainability.
What’s your favourite part about working in digital agriculture and agri-food?
The fast pace of innovation keeps me learning and continuously improving efficiency on our own operation. As a producer representative, I value ensuring that farmers’ perspectives are heard and reflected in policy development.
Why do you think digital agriculture is important, now more than ever?
As producers face increasing pressure to improve efficiency while addressing food security and affordability, digital agriculture and agtech are vital. Innovation and adoption enable producers to strengthen their operations and remain resilient in a changing environment.
What’s the most interesting thing you see happening in digital agriculture right now?
The integration of data collection into unified platforms, combined with emerging AI tools, is enabling producers to make better production and financial decisions. Predictive analytics and decision-support tools are opening new pathways forward. It’s an exciting time to be part of agriculture – an industry everyone depends on – and I take great pride in representing farmers during this period of rapid change.
This profile is part of EMILI’s This is Agriculture series, highlighting talented and diverse individuals across the digital agriculture sector. While individuals working in agriculture come from a variety of backgrounds, they share a common interest in growing and strengthening Canadian agriculture to ensure an environmentally and economically sustainable future for generations to come.