It’s time for an IFAJ 2011 Congress update. It’s only weeks away now and I’m looking forward to meeting and interviewing this man.
Former Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Hon. Lyle Vanclief, has been named Honourary Chair of 2011 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress being held this September in Guelph and Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
The congress organizing committee made the announcement July 13, citing Vanclief’s stellar political career, openness to the agricultural media and induction into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame. IFAJ 2011 Congress co-chair Owen Roberts said the former federal minister has a long and deep relationship with farm writers, having spoken on behalf of the federal government numerous times at farm writers’s meetings. “The organizing committee is proud Lyle Vanclief accepted our invitation to be the congress’s honourary chair, ” says Roberts. “Few Canadians know agriculture as well as he does – from operating a farm to setting national agricultural policy – or have his appreciation for Canadian agriculture and the role of the agricultural media.”
“This is an exciting time for Canadian agriculture and I am pleased to be part of the congress and to welcome visitors from across Canada and many international countries, all of whom will have a chance to see the innovations and accomplishments driving Canada’s diverse agricultural sector,” said Vanclief.
The congress theme, Experience New World Agriculture will serve to showcase how Canada’s relatively young agricultural sector (compared to many other IFAJ member countries) is making a place for itself globally.