Two Albertans selected as 2026 Nuffield Canada Scholars

Two Albertans, Jolene Noble of Manning and Ashley Nicholls of De Winton, have been named among the 2026 Nuffield Canada Scholars.

The Nuffield Canada Scholarship program supports innovative agricultural leaders through self-directed research and international travel, allowing scholars to explore global perspectives on issues shaping the future of agriculture. Each 2026 scholar will receive a $20,000 scholarship.

“The Nuffield journey is life changing for scholars as it provides a dynamic platform for scholars to research, explore and collaborate on innovative ideas, policies, and practices that drive advancements in Canadian agriculture,” says Steve Larocque, Chair of Nuffield Canada and 2008 Scholar.

Scholarship recipients can come from all areas of primary production, industry, or governance of agriculture, and are required to do a minimum of 10 weeks of international travel study within 24 months to examine and research an agriculturally relevant issue of their choosing. Each scholar prepares a written report of their research findings and then presents a summary at the Nuffield Canada Global Knowledge Exchange before the Nuffield Board, industry leaders, sponsors and peers.  

Stacking enterprises opportunity

Jolene Noble will examine how stacking enterprises can increase opportunity, resiliency and profitability on family farms. Raised on a mixed cow-calf and grain operation near Manning, Noble brings both local and international experience to her research.

She has worked on livestock and cropping operations in Australia and New Zealand and now works on the family farm while also completing contract work in sales and nutrition consulting with Blue Rock Animal Nutrition and sales and forage consulting with Renovo Seed. Through her Nuffield study, Noble aims to explore how diversified enterprise models can strengthen farm viability amid economic, environmental and operational pressures.

Human management systems

Ashley Nicholls will focus his research on the influence of human management systems on the longevity and well-being of agricultural employees. Based in De Winton, Nicholls is the founder of REACH Agriculture Strategies, a consulting business dedicated to strengthening communication, leadership and people systems across Canada’s agricultural industry.

Nicholls frequently works with feedlots, ranches and veterinary operations. His Nuffield research will examine how leadership structures, communication practices and management approaches influence employee retention, employee well-being and overall farm performance.

The 2026 cohort also includes Antonious Petro of Montreal, Que., who will study how financing tools, incentive programs and economic planning models can reduce risk and support the long-term adoption of regenerative agriculture. Rounding out the recipients is Kristen Kelderman of Carrying Place, Ont., who will explore how farmers navigate grief to better understand the connections between identity, loss and resilience, and why tending to emotional well-being is vital to the success and future of the farm.