Lloydminster’s Terra Weaver, fourth from right, was one of seven women to be honoured with the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation’s Women in Ag Award at the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference in Calgary in March. Supplied Photo
“Terra is the epitome of a successful female farmer. Her passion for her work and her mission to educate and inform the public about her life, agriculture, and food industries is a major contribution in making agriculture a better place for women.”
That’s how local farmer/wife/entrepreneur/mother Terra Weaver was described by the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) after recently becoming one of seven recipients of this year’s Women in Ag Award, presented at the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference in Calgary from March 12-14.
“I was absolutely shocked,” said Weaver, explaining a lot of people have asked what her first thoughts on winning were.
“I got this call and my phone said AFSC and AFSC is our crop insurance deliverer and they also have some of our loans, so when I saw that number come up I thought I missed a deadline for something … so I’m scolding myself, and then the lady on the other end of the phone introduced herself and told me I had won this award.”
The AFSC Women in Ag Award acknowledges and honours the passion and commitment of women in agriculture and agribusiness in Alberta. It also celebrates the growing presence of women in this industry.
This award showcases the women who are making a difference in agriculture and helping preserve, nurture and transform this ever-changing sector.
Raised in the city with a love for animals, Weaver earned a diploma in Animal Health Sciences and worked as a vet tech.
Weaver has been married to a fifth-generation farmer for over 32 years and has devoted her life to regenerative agriculture.
She plays a very hands-on role in the family farm and is directly involved in all aspects of the operation.
“I’m a full partner on the farm,” she said.
“We have grain, cattle, sheep, bees and some laying hens, so the farm is my nine-to-five Monday through Friday, but I also have a side gig with Kelly Sidoryk called KT and Company, which I love. KT and Company is also another reason I was nominated for this award.”
Weaver explained she and Sidoryk were the ones who originally brought the idea for Harvest Feastival to the Lloyd Ex, which is now an annual event.
Weaver is also heavily involved with 4-H and volunteers as a judge for many of its events.
Still in shock after receiving this honour, Weaver started telling the story of finding out who actually nominated her.
“When I found out Dave Davies and his sister, Cecile McCleary, nominated me, I went to thank them and they told me ‘Everything you do is about creating community between urban and rural,’” she said. “I thought about it and realized I never set out to accomplish that, but when he put it that way it made a lot of sense.
“I’m always wanting to connect the farmers to the town people, and vice versa.”
Weaver also noted this is only the second year the award has been given out and she expects it to grow in the future.
When it comes to a women’s role on the family farm, Weaver says it hasn’t really changed over the years.
“I think what’s really changed is women having visibility on the farm, and maybe that’s because women are starting to speak up a little more and saying ‘hey, I’m a part of this, too,’” she said.
“Women have always been equal partners in their farming operation, doing equal jobs. They might be cooking meals to take to the field, that is a partnership in your agricultural business.”
Weaver also credits having grown up in town for her unique perspective on farming as a whole.
“I have this interest in creating a connection between town and farm because I have a unique perspective in that way,” she said.
“I can’t really speak as though I know what farm women have always been like, but I know for myself, my role hasn’t really changed, but I have noticed over the 30-some years I’ve been married and working on the farm, I’m more visible being a farmer and not someone who’s on the sidelines watching … I’m driving the bailer and fixing fences, and men and women are supporting each other in that way to create an equal partnership on the farm.”
