2026 Women in Agriculture Award winners

Several Alberta women whose work is shaping agriculture through innovation, leadership, research and community building were recognized with the 2026 Women in Agriculture Awards presented by Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC).

The awards were presented March 8 in Calgary during “The Notables,” a reception held alongside the Advancing Women in Agriculture & Food Conference (West).

AFSC says the annual awards celebrate women who are strengthening Alberta agriculture through their expertise, mentorship and leadership within rural communities.

This year’s recipients represent a wide cross-section of the agriculture sector, from research and ranching to finance, community leadership and agricultural advocacy.

The 2026 Women in Agriculture Award recipients are:

• Robyne Davidson – The Innovator
• Laura Brown – The Operator
• Michelle Rigney – The Ignitor
• Dr. Brenda Ralston – The Professional
• Beth Cash – The Promoter
• Alexandra Brochu – The Community Builder
• Lisa Kitt – The Maverick
• Jordyn Prior – The Emergent
• Jackie Rae Greening – The Notable Lifetime Achiever 

Beef industry connections

Several recipients have strong connections to Alberta’s livestock and beef sectors.

Laura Brown, recipient of The Operator award, has been deeply involved in LLB Angus, based near Stettler, for decades. She has played a key role in managing herd records, bookkeeping and logistics for the ranch’s Annual Spring Spectacular Bull and Female Sale, now in its 40th year and recognized as the largest Angus production sale in Canada.

Brown has also been active in industry leadership, serving more than 40 years as Chair of the Stettler Feeders Association and is believed to be the first woman in Alberta to hold that role. 

Dr. Brenda Ralston, recognized as The Professional, has built a career bridging livestock research and practical ranch management. A livestock research scientist at Lakeland College, she studies issues affecting cattle production including pain mitigation during castration, antimicrobial stewardship and sustainable livestock management practices.

Ralston and her husband also operate a ranch in Rocky View County, helping ensure her research remains grounded in real-world production experience.

Supporting ag communities

Other recipients were honoured for their work supporting producers and rural communities.

Michelle Rigney, The Ignitor award recipient, mentors new agricultural lenders and provides financial education to producers entering the industry. Beth Cash, named The Promoter, has helped elevate women’s voices in southeastern Alberta agriculture while supporting economic development initiatives in Cypress County.

Community leadership was also a key theme among award winners. Alexandra Brochu received The Community Builder award for founding Northern Rural Chicks, a network that connects women in northern agriculture and supports leadership development and mental health conversations within rural communities. 

Lisa Kitt was recognized as The Maverick for her advocacy for small-scale producers and regenerative agriculture, while Jordyn Prior received The Emergent award for her work supporting youth involvement in agriculture through the Co-op Growing Leaders Program and her leadership within 4-H Alberta. 

Lifetime Achievement

The Lifetime Achievement honour went to longtime Alberta broadcaster Jackie Rae Greening. During a career spanning more than four decades, including 36 years with 840 CFCW, Greening helped ensure the voices and stories of Alberta farmers and ranchers remained at the centre of agricultural coverage. 

AFSC says the Women in Agriculture Awards continue to highlight the diverse leadership shaping the future of agriculture across the province.