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New executive at Investment Agriculture Foundation

June 3, 2014, Victoria, B.C. – The Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C. (IAF) announced the appointment of its executive committee with Ken Bates returning as chair, Bar Hayre as vice chair, Jim Tingle remaining as treasurer and Bert Miles as secretary.

In 2012, IAF welcomed third-generation farmer Ken Bates to the board as a representative for the field vegetable, berry and mushroom sectors. Ken and his wife, Judy, live in Ladner where he grows blueberries, potatoes and operates a dairy on a 500-acre farm with his three brothers. Ken brings an extensive background of participation on agricultural boards and committees, including the B.C. Blueberry Council, the Delta Agricultural Society, the Delta Farmers’ Institute and more.

Bar Hayre rejoined the IAF board in 2013 as a representative for the farm supply sector. Bar first became involved in the agriculture industry through his involvement in his family’s berry farm and processing operations.  He now runs a 40-acre blueberry farm in Abbotsford, and has participated on various industry associations including the B.C. Raspberry Industry Development Council’s former chair, current member of the B.C. Blueberry Council and director on the Canadian Horticulture Council. He has also previously served as a senior relationship manager with Farm Credit Canada.

Jim Tingle has represented community agriculture on the IAF board since 2009, and co-owns and operates Glenbirnam Farm with wife Roma, marketing Black Angus cattle and market lamb. An experienced professional agrologist, Jim possesses a broad knowledge of the agri-food industry in B.C., specializing in the forage and beef sectors. Jim has served as a consultant to the Cattle Industry Development Council and provided on-farm forage management recommendations in the North-Central Interior. He helped found the Prince George Farmers’ Market and the Prince George food security network and is a member of the Prince George Cattlemen’s Association, the BC Cattlemen’s Association, the BC Angus Association, the Eaglet Lake Farmers Institute, the BC Sheep Federation, and the BC Institute of Agrologists (BCIA). In 1999, Jim was named BCIA Agrologist of the Year.

IAF welcomed Bert Miles back to the board in 2013 as the representative for the greenhouse, floriculture and nursery sectors. Bert offers an extensive history of industry involvement and board participation. He has served on the Small Scale Food Processors Association, the BC Agricultural Research & Development Corporation, the BC Horticultural Council, and previously completed a six-year term on the IAF board, including two as chair.  Bert is currently involved with the B.C. Provincial Agriculture Land Commission and is principal for H.A. Miles Ag Consulting, which specializes in farm business management, strategic planning and more.

IAF is an industry-led, not-for-profit organization that works with the agri-food industry and federal and provincial funding partners to invest in projects that have the potential to transform ideas into solutions. To learn more about the Investment Agriculture Foundation and the funding programs it administers, visit www.iafbc.ca.