Jillian Ferguson 

I love to meet farmers and see the pride they take in their crops and their animals.

Have you heard of Ag in the “Field”??

It is a duo of agriculture loving island students who wanted to share the real story behind agriculture and show the real dirt on island farming, right from the field. The founders of Ag in the “Field” are Carleigh MacLeod, Kinkora; and Jillian Ferguson, Spring Valley. Neither of them grew up on farms, but know the value that agriculture provides in our province. They share great stories from farm families and different career opportunities within the agriculture industry!

Name

Jillian Ferguson

Occupation

Co-founder of Ag in the “Field”

How long have you been involved in agriculture\food industry on PEI?

I’ve technically been involved in agriculture on PEI since 2018. I didn’t grow up on a farm, but have been helping out with my family’s small blueberry farm since I was little. I first got involved as part of my agriculture class in grade 12 at my high school.

What is your education/experience prior to entering your current job?

I am currently a third year student at the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus in Truro, Nova Scotia. I am in the BSc Environmental Science program and taking a minor in Plant Science.

Are you involved in any extracurricular or community activities?

I have been heavily involved in extracurriculars my whole life, and continue to be. I have been a member of the varsity volleyball, badminton, and woodsman teams at Dal AC, and was rookie of the year and captain for the Rams Volleyball team (2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons respectively). I am also a member of the Student Representative Council (SRC) with the student’s association, representing my fellow student-athletes since my first year.
I am also a co-founder of Ag in the Field, a social media platform showcasing youth in agriculture in Prince Edward Island, as well as sharing agriculture-related stories and information with the public. There is a gap between consumers and producers like never before, and our goal is to bridge this gap and teach our peers about the industry that we love!

What’s your favourite way to eat PEI products?

Drinking ADL chocolate milk. I never forget to bring a carton or two back to NS with me when I return to school after breaks, and I whenever family or friends are making a trip to Nova Scotia I ask them to bring me over some. There’s nothing like ADL!

When you were a kid, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I thought for the longest time that I wanted to be a veterinarian. I loved animals and still do, and thought that being a vet would be the dream career to spend time with animals all day, every day. I still love animals, but I’ve learned that I love working with plants just as much!

What would you want consumers to know about your business and the agriculture/food industry?

I love to meet farmers and see the pride they take in their crops and their animals, and I wish more consumers knew about this. Farmers live and farm in their communities and they, just as every other member of the community, want to make sure it continues to thrive.

Why do you do what you do?

The farming community is full of some of the greatest people that I have ever met, and I love interacting with such a passionate group of individuals that genuinely care about their work. Working in agriculture is super fulfilling and always changing, and will never get boring.

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