For many who live, work and play in rural communities, mentorship, community, and connection help them thrive.
It’s no different for Amanda Hagglund in her career as a Feed Team member at Swan Valley Co-op in Manitoba.
“Co-op has always felt like an extension of home for me,” said Hagglund. “The connection to my customers and the support and mentorship from fellow team members make me excited to walk in the door every day. I absolutely love what I do.”
Hagglund has worked at the Swan Valley Co-op for over 10 years, starting seasonally at first, and then full time for the past eight years. Her grassroots passion for agriculture – specifically livestock – started at an early age growing up on her parent’s farm near Alpine, Man.
Today, Hagglund still helps on the family farm, raising black angus cattle and growing forage crops. At 29, she is not certain she will lead the operation into its next generation, but what she does know for sure is that she will stay in the ag business.
“I love my job with Swan Valley Co-op; for me it’s an opportunity to have a career doing what I love. I can honestly say I have found my groove,” said Hagglund.
Better recommendations through on-farm experience
Hagglund’s responsibilities as a Feed Team member focus on customized feed nutrition for her livestock producers. Her days are filled assisting customers, ordering and receiving feed, and reviewing grain pricing.
When it comes to helping her customers advance their operations, maximizing nutrition and supporting herd health, what Hagglund finds most exciting is the ability to stand behind her recommendations and new product lines. She tries new products at home on her family farm first before recommending anything to her customers.
“It’s exciting for me to be able to test new feed products. I can take it to the farm and try it out, and if it’s beneficial, I recommend it to our cattle customers and share the insights of my experience,” said Hagglund.
Although Swan Valley Co-op supplies feed for all livestock sectors, Hagglund said that poultry is a growing demand at Swan Valley Co-op.
“The impacts of Covid have brought significant growth in Swan Valley Co-op’s poultry division both from an acreage or urban demographic, but also our existing farmers as well,” Hagglund said. “They have purchased laying hens and are producing their own eggs. In fact, some of our customers are even bringing us their eggs.”
Feed Team dedicated to improving knowledge
Hagglund is a part of the network of over 250 unique professional Feed Team members across Western Canada serving local producers. It’s a team of trusted advisors that fosters a network of growth and learning, continually developing their skills and knowledge about new products, practices and trends in the innovative and ever-evolving feed industry. She is currently taking her Beef Production certificate through Olds College.
Her work on the Feed Team is a natural extension of a lifelong passion for agriculture. Long before Hagglund became an employee of Co-op, she was a customer.
“My connection to Co-op goes way back to my youth as my family has always dealt with Co-op for products and services for the farm,” she said. “I feel lucky to be able to merge my love for agriculture and the local community and be provided with continual opportunities and support to learn and grow, and help others advance their livestock operations. It’s so fulfilling.”