Presented at the BCIA AGM via Zoom on May 7, 2025

Rachel Riley, PAg – Agrologist of the Year Award

• Rachel works for the Citxw (“cheat”) Nlaka’pamux (“ing-cle kap-mah”) Assembly (CNA), where she supports the eight Nlaka’pamux (“ing-cle kap-mah”) bands in making informed decisions around operations at the Highland Valley Copper Mine. She does a fantastic job translating the communities' values and priorities into technical recommendations for mining proponents.
• Recently, Rachel has led CNA’s Cattle and Range Impacts Study, which looks at how grazing has been affected over the life of the Highland Valley Copper Mine. She’ll be presenting this research at the annual meeting of the North American Chapter of the Society for Range Management in Spokane, WA.
• Rachel is also on the Board of Directors for the B.C. Chapter of the Society for Range Management and played an integral role in organizing the 2024 Fall Field Tour for the chapter. She has also volunteered with the Grasslands Conservation Council and strongly supports their work.
• In addition to her professional work, Rachel is a mentor to many Agrologists, both formally and informally. She’s always looking for ways to grow and stay up to date with new developments in the field.
• On top of everything else, Rachel is passionate about inspiring young people to become future Agrologists and care for the environment. She leads the local NatureKids group and runs a FarmStart program, which introduces kids to agriculture and farm animals.

Presented at the BCIA AGM via Zoom on May 7, 2025

Erin Keith – 2024 Agrologist of the Year

• Erin’s nominator stated that Erin exemplified what a mentor should be; a willingness and commitment to act as a mentor while giving back to her Professional community, her kindness and thoughtfulness, and above all else, Erin took the completion of my P.Ag designation to heart which was evident
• Erin works for the Ministry of Water Land and Resource Stewardship as a Provincial Authorizations Specialist on renewable energy wind and solar projects.
• She has been a P.Ag. in the Kootenay Boundary Branch since 2017 and currently serves as President Elect, as she says, of an amazing executive group!
• She lives in sunny Cranbrook with her family, where they love every bit of the Kootenay lifestyle.
• When informed of being named Mentor of the Year, Erin stated “I am so incredibly honoured to be receiving this award, my mentoring experience was such a joy!”

• 25 Years: Oliver Busby, Darren Cherniak, Cindy Ott, Nicole Sillett, Paul van Westendorp, Michael Wallis, Chris Zabek
• 50 Years: Anton Shori

• 25 Years: James Anthony, Conrad Berube, Cameron Campbell, King Campbell, Darren Cherniak, Kelly deCaux, Pamela Dykstra, Michele Fitzgerald, Douglas Higginson, Jeremy Higham, Douglas Janzen, Ken Latreille, Jason Lawson, Michael Van Ham
• 50 Years: Doug Berry, Derrick Curtis, Rod Davis, Al Dean, David Gartrell, Bruce Hackett, Wendy Holm, Robert Pringle, David Sands, Ron Sera

• 25 Years: Phil Croteau, Cheryl Davie, Cardell Dumais, Sharon Erickson, Barbara Grimmer Johnstone, Bruce Hupman, Lavona Liggins, Parashar Malla, Robert Martens, Cindy Meays, Francis Njenga, Laurie Pletzer, Terry Pratt, Jacqueline Rasmussen, Daniel Saliken, Rick Stoudt, Justin Straker, Keith Thomas, Taci Van Spengen, Duane Wells, Bill Wiebe
• 50 Years: Richard Gammer, Joseph Gardner, Ken Hall, Richard King, John Vanderstoep

• 25 Years: Fredrick Butt, Harry Gill, Brian Roberts, Neil Turner, Cornelius van den Berg
• 50 Years: David Huxley, Victor Martens

• 25 Years: Stuart Aird, Sharlene Becker, Coleen Colwell, Jennifer Davis, Barbara Edwards, Perry Grilz, Kim Grout, Harry Jennings, Walt Klenner, Brian Kobelsky, Daniel McAllister, Blake Medlar, Terry Peters, Michael Peterson, Todd Redding  
• 50 Years: John Berry, Arthur Hadland, John Hall, Noel Roddick

• 25 Years: Sandra Sulyma, Wendy Siemens, Philip Bergen, Jennifer McGuire, Ernie Maynard, Donald Meeks, Akbar Khan, Loretta Ford, Robert Davis, Katherine O'Leary, Terry Chow
• 50 Years: James Campbell, Mary McGregor

• 25 Years: Andrea Belsheim, David Sahlstrom, Herbert Strobl, Tim Ballard, Arthur Guite, Susan Smith, David Konesky, Wayne Blashill, Sonya Campbell, Ken Clancy, Keith Duhaime, Kathleen MacDonald-Date, Susan Turner, Wendy Gardner, Brenda Walkem, Jerry Johnson, David Maloney, Fred Marshall, Patrick Hudson, Harry Kope, Sibylle Walkemeyer
• 50 Years: Sid Pickerell, Lyle Resh, Bob Holtby