Jill Verwey, President of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), emphasized the power of grassroots leadership and community engagement during a speech to the Rotary Club of Portage la Prairie this past Tuesday.
Celebrating KAP’s 40th anniversary, Verwey outlined the organization’s three pillars—advocacy, outreach, and governance—while highlighting how local involvement shapes provincial and federal agricultural policies.
Empowering voices from the ground up
Verwey, a Portage la Prairie resident and longtime advocate for farmers, linked her Rotary Club address to her journey from local board roles to provincial and federal leadership.
“My message was about how working in the community and giving back can lead to broader opportunities,” she notes. “Being part of boards here in Portage led me to KAP and further leadership roles. Information can be transferred from the ground up.”
She drew parallels between Rotary’s community service and KAP’s mission, stressing that “everyone’s voice matters” in shaping policies.
“Just like Rotary’s work, individuals can provide insight on how things are developed provincially and federally,” she adds.
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Three pillars of KAP: advocacy, outreach, and governance
As KAP marks four decades of representing Manitoba farmers, Verwey detailed its core priorities.
“First, advocating on behalf of farmers regarding regulations or policies,” she says, “Second, outreach and engagement with our members, stakeholders, and government officials. We also focus on modernization—KAP is 40 years old, so how do we stay relevant for new farmers?”
The third pillar, governance, ensures clarity in leadership roles. “We need to know our responsibilities so the organization functions at the highest level,” Verwey explains.
Looking ahead: relevance and resilience
Verwey underscored KAP’s commitment to evolving alongside Manitoba’s agricultural sector. “Modernization isn’t something we shy away from,” she notes. “We want to ensure KAP is here in the future, supporting the next generation of farmers.”
She closed by thanking the Rotary Club for the platform, calling the event “a great opportunity to share how local action fuels broader change.”