Saskatoon
I swore I’d never marry a farmer. My dad farmed, but I grew up in town and agriculture wasn’t part of my plan when I became a Registered Nurse in 1981. Kevin and I were married in 1982 and I worked a number of nursing jobs before retiring from the profession shortly after we formed Hursh Consulting & Communications in 1995.
I knew that if I was going to contribute to our communication business and our farming operation that I needed to further my education in computer skills and small business bookkeeping. I decided to enrol in a number of courses offered at Polytechnic in Saskatoon. We also hired a professional to come into our home office to teach me bookkeeping skills.
I do the financials and office management for both Hursh Consulting & Communications and Hursh Farms.
For 17 years starting in 2000, Kevin and I managed the communication needs of Crop Production Week held each January. This included event planning, public relations, organizing and implementing a communications room at the Saskatoon Inn where I got to know many agricultural journalists.
Since 2006, I’ve been the treasurer for Saskatchewan Farm Writers Association. I keep the books, send membership invoices, pay the bills including an annual payment to the Canadian Farm Writers Federation and attend meetings both in person, on conference calls and now virtually.
I helped with the CFWF national conference in Moose Jaw in 2010 as well as co-chaired the conference in Saskatoon in 2016. The tour of the Eagle Creek Hutterite colony is an especially fond memory. Over the past decade, I’ve attended every CFWF conference, even a few Kevin couldn’t attend due to late harvests.
I have learnt a lot about agriculture over the years. I certainly have a lot more to learn. I have a pretty amazing teacher. I have enjoyed working with many of the SFWA members over the years and am proud to call them my friends.
I look forward to when we can all meet in person once again.
