Farming Forward - Director - Leslie McEachern

Leslie McEachern

I grew up on a mixed hog/cattle/grain farm in the ‘sticks’ of Moose Wallow, where my parents still farm today (45 minutes from Barrhead and 5 miles from the closest neighbor). My childhood was filled with County ball at MTM, Curling in Fort Assiniboine, and 4-H events throughout the Barrhead district. In 2006, I graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Management from Lakeland College and began my career as an Environmental Advisor for a midstream gas company based out of Whitecourt & Edson. That job took me all over the backroads of central & northwestern Alberta managing remediation projects and HSE compliance. In 2010, my husband, Curtis, and I welcomed our first born, and I was fortunate to stay home and raise her, as well as the 2 that followed for the next 10 years. Curtis and I didn’t stray far from our roots as we have been farming in Meadowview for the past 17 years together. We run a herd of commercial Simmental cattle as well as raise forages and cereals for feed and market. In early 2020 I got the itch to get back into the workforce and AFSC was hiring. I took on the role of Relationship Manager of Insurance in the Barrhead branch for a term of 3 years before being promoted to Product Coordinator at our head office in Lacombe. My job allows me opportunities to engage with industry stakeholders on the needs of producers and build AFSC's insurance products to help meet those needs. I'm excited for the opportunity to learn and explore regenerative ag alongside progressive farmers within our community and I look forward to serving on the Farming Forward board for the coming term.