Staff Directory

Carlo Van Herk leads the NSERC strip till canola project. Call Carlo if you have any questions about seeding methods, tillage or seed canola.

Carlo spends his time working the plots with Mike, Gurbir, Trevor, and the summer students. He joined us as a student in 2019 and, since starting at Farming Smarter, enjoys learning about crop research. He's gaining knowledge about novel crops. He quickly showed his value stemming from six years experience on a dairy farm that included field work. He understands equipment operation, care, and maintenance.

His education includes a concentration in GIS and a minor in economics.

Ken Coles leads Farming Smarter as Executive Director. Contact him if you want to know anything about anything, offer Farming Smarter money, suggest ways your organization can enter a win/win situation or develop mutually beneficial streams of income. Ken works closely with and listens to his staff. Therefore, yes, he knows what's going on everywhere.

Ken's passions include the practical application of science and critical thinking, effective leadership, communication and dialogue, strategic relationships and having a little fun along the way.

Ken focused on agriculture research young and educated himself for the job with a Chemistry Degree from University of Lethbridge and a Masters of Science, Environment and Management from Royal Roads University. He then went to work taking on greater responsibility with every new opportunity.

Through Monsanto Canada Inc., Lethbridge Research Center, Alberta Pool Research and Development, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada Ken became an excellent research manager and organizational leader. Then he joined Southern Applied Research Association and created Farming Smarter - Alberta's leading crop research institution.

Ken farms mixed grains with irrigation near Coaldale, AB.

To call Jamie Assistant Manager and expect that to define her role in making Farming Smarter Alberta's leading research association seems artless. Jamie stepped out of her comfort zone, pushed herself and her skills in new directions to become the extension trailblazer she is today.

She started her career working with Dr. Jim Moyer and spearheaded Partners in Habitat Development Program at St. Mary's River Irrigation District.

Jamie fiercely champions agricultural stewardship and stewardship of agriculture. Her recent signature projects reflect her commitment to these principles - pesticide rinsate biobeds, pollinator sanctuaries and Open Farm Days at Farming Smarter.

As Farming Smarter grows, so does Jamie's toolbox for sharing research findings, stewardship practices and the role of agriculture in modern life. Gone are the days of relying solely on print media. As information technology evolves, so does Farming Smarter's repertoire of interaction tools.

Any time a person engages with information coming from Farming Smarter, you can bet Jamie made it possible for them to do so in whatever way suits them. Come to an event and receive royal treatment. Google a farming topic and find videos, website posts, podcasts and press articles. Call Jamie and she will tell you where to find the answers to your questions.

Gurbir Singh Dhillon is the Research Scientist at Farming Smarter. Call him if you want to know more about research projects completed or ongoing at Farming Smarter. He designs innovative research programs focused on improving the sustainability and productivity of crop production systems, especially in southern Alberta. He coordinates research grant applications for new programs and publication of project reports and peer-reviewed manuscripts for ongoing research programs at Farming Smarter.

He has a strong interest in improving soil health and environmental services of agroecosystems. Before joining Farming Smarter, he studied soil organic matter dynamics and sequestration using synchrotron-based spectroscopic techniques in his postdoctoral and Ph.D. programs both at the University of Saskatchewan.

He did his M.Sc. in Soil Science from University of Delaware (USA) studying soil carbon exports in runoff water during storm events.

Mike Gretzinger is the Research Coordinator at Farming Smarter. Call him to find out about any of the small plot projects taking place at Farming Smarter. He's the small plot guy with a big heart. He coordinates protocols, seeding, spraying, data collection, pictures, harvest and data processing for the small plot trials, research contracts and demos.

Mike can answer questions related to the research projects and either has the answer or will get it for you. During his B.Sc Biochemistry, he worked in quality control (Black Velvet Distilleries, Maple Leaf Pork) and with University of Alberta (cabbage seedpod weevil) but he has a passion for working outdoors.

Mike joined Farming Smarter in 2010. He loves that his job grows his agronomy knowledge. He just hopes to one day learn to drive the tractor. Mike lives in Lethbridge with his young family.

Lewis Baarda is the On-Farm Research authority at Farming Smarter. Call him if you want more information about current on farm projects or want to get involved in a field scale research project.

Lewis uses his Master's degree in geography from the University of Lethbridge and experience with spatial analysis and multivariate statistics to conduct field scale research on farms. If you have questions about variable rate tech ology, soil sensors, on-farm research, field-scale trials, soil and yield variability, GIS, agricultural data, big data, field mapping, remote sensing, or other agricultural technologies, Lewis is the person to contact.

Lewis came to us experienced with data collection, statistical analysis and capable of managing large and complex data sets. He finds the use of GIS systems fascinating and concentrated on them in university.

He hails from Picture Butte where he still lives with his young family.

Trevor Deering oversees our Custom projects. Call him if you have a project where you need third party results or simply want done on your terms. He makes sure clients get solid results by making sure everything happens when it should in the field and carefully analyzing the data.

He loves working with plants so much that even his office is full of green things. He's also been known to use his office plant pots to test seed germination.

He brings us a Bachelor of Science and a Masters in Agriculture Studies and grew his expertise through experience working with BASF and Hamman Ag Research.

Claudette Lacombe manages incoming and out going information. Contact Claudette to set up an interview with staff or share information with Farming Smarter's audiences. It's her job to make sure that our followers receive timely information that will support them in making the best decisions possible for their crops, land and lives.

Claudette has over two decades of communicating with and for the southern Alberta farming community. As Umbel Communications, she served the irrigation industry, ag service boards, watershed stewardship groups and rural counties for over 15 years.

Affiliations

Alberta Farm Writers' Association, Association of Professional Fundraisers - Southern Alberta Chapter, Digital Media Industry Advisory Council - Lethbridge College

Shelly Barclay is Farming Smarter's bean counter, although, she will also count canola, peas and wheat if we ask. She handles Farming Smarter's financial and business administration tasks. Contact her regarding accounts receivable, accounts payable, charitable donations and copies/details of project contracts.

If you live in the Lethbridge region, you or someone you know once worked with Shelly. She has many years experience working with businesses in the region, often doing payroll; which makes her the office person everyone loves! She's highly qualified, 4th level CGA, highly organized and high energy. She will get you your answer.

Shelly grew up on a farm in the Picture Butte area.

Every group needs that person who can do a little bit of everything and Farming Smarter is lucky enough to have a person who can do a lot of everything! Toby is the Farming Smarter Site Manager and can be found doing everything from seeding to building to fixing. Toby uses his outstanding skills in carpentry, welding, mechanics and equipment knowledge to help make our operation run as smoothly as possible.