Leona Staples is the new chair of the Olds College Board of Governors.
Staples has served two terms on the board. She replaces Robert ìBobî Clark, who is retiring after eight years as an Olds College board member, with three years as chair.
In addition to Staples' new role, it was announced that Donna Maxwell has been appointed to the board and Mark Kaun has been reappointed for a second term.
All those appointments were announced by the provincial government last week. Terms for all three expire in 2020.
ìLeona Staples is a respected member of the central Alberta community and an expert in agricultural entrepreneurship and marketing,î says Olds College president Tom Thompson, who is also retiring this year after 16 years at the helm of the college.
ìHer experience in innovation and sustainability will help guide the college as it works toward achieving its vision to be the premier integrated learning and applied research community specializing in agriculture, horticulture, land and environmental stewardship.î
Staples and her husband Blaine own the Jungle Farm near Innisfail, which has been in Leona's family for 110 years.
ìSince Leona and Blaine took over operations of the farm in 1996, they have thrived by positioning the farm as a tourist destination for families and consumers, and as a provider of quality fresh food products for the central Alberta community, in addition to their traditional grain and livestock operations,î an Olds College news release says.
Staples' off-farm employment experience includes working for Alberta Agriculture as a district home economist and managing the Goldeye Centre, a retreat near Nordegg.
She has volunteered in local athletics, school organizations and regional and provincial agriculture groups and served as a guest speaker at agricultural entrepreneurship, innovation and women in agriculture conferences on a national and international scale.
ìI am honoured at my appointment to be the chair of the board of governors at Olds College,î Staples says.
ìAgriculture is my passion, and with the college's dedication to emerging technologies and smart agriculture, I look forward to working with the fellow members of the board as we help lead this industry into the future.î
"Leona Staples is a respected member of the central Alberta community and an expert in agricultural entrepreneurship and marketing."TOM THOMPSON PRESIDENT OLDS COLLEGE
