Jeff Ewen is an Irrigation Agrologist with a provincial Ministry of Agriculture. But it wasn’t where he thought he’d be in his life as he looks back on his boyhood aspirations of working on the family grain farm as his father and grandfather did. Instead, he now has a highly rewarding career working with the Ministry and a career in farming. It’s the best of both worlds for Jeff as he pursues his professional ambitions in an excellent work environment while still satisfying his desire of continuing a proud family tradition in agriculture.

Farming is in his blood and his degree in agronomy only adds to the passion he has had for farming all of his life. That passion has taken on new forms as he better understands the importance of research and demonstration. His work helps industry and governments come to better understand the direct agronomic challenges faced by producers along with practical solutions to these challenges. It’s important work that helps producers meet the global challenges of supplying the world’s food. Jeff’s daily routine consists of three to four days of office work and one to two days of field work per week. It’s a great blend of work that suits his talents, love of agriculture and earned education.

Initially, Jeff wasn’t sure if a university degree was for him, but with patience and perseverance he accomplished his degree in agronomy. Beyond the attainment of higher education, Jeff is also happy with the lifelong friendships he forged in his university days. As a professional, he has people he can talk to about his own work and theirs, industry challenges and potential solutions.

With many varied job options open to Jeff as he left university, his career with the Ministry of Agriculture works for him because it offers a challenge, is in an area where he has specific knowledge of the challenges to agriculture, is close to his home and allows those childhood dreams to become a professional reality.