Members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the agriculture sector were treated to a demonstration of Operation Ag Careers yesterday at Amazing Agriculture Adventures, an event co-hosted by CAAR and Ag in the Classroom Manitoba.

Delaney Ross Burtnack, CAAR President and CEO, offered a glimpse into the career matching services in the ag sector that Operation Ag Careers will deliver to members of the Canadian Armed Forces that are transitioning to civilian life, and CAAR members with positions to fill.

“Members have flagged a skilled labour shortage as one of the greatest challenges they are facing, and we have identified members of our military who are transitioning into the next stage of their careers as a pool of talent that can be a great fit with the jobs that are available in the sector,” said Ross Burtnack.

“We’ve worked closely with the Canadian Armed Forces in developing this online tool, and as the project has progressed we have gained a real appreciation of what a great opportunity this is to bring these two sectors together,” she said. “We share so much in common, technically and culturally, and we are very excited to bring this opportunity to play ‘matchmaker’ to the ag sector.”

Master Corporal Samantha Sanheim is a 31 year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces and is excited about what she saw and the career opportunities available to her in civilian life.

“I thought the presentation on Operation Ag Careers was fabulous,” Sanheim said. “Agriculture is something that I feel an affinity for. It is the same values (as military life) and everything that Delaney said really resonated with me. I was like ‘hire me now’. I am beyond delighted to be here tonight.”

For many soldiers, the military is the only career they’ve known and they face a special set of challenges when moving into civilian life.

“I’ve worn a uniform since I left high school and it is difficult to leave your ‘family’, but what I see in agriculture is that it is also a family,” she said. “It has traditions like the military. It is a very close knit organization, it is about real people – people that care and people that matter. I feel that those are the same things that I have about what I do, and I would be very honoured and very proud to take that and move it into an agricultural aspect.”

One of the challenges Ross Burtnack said the ag sector faces in attracting talent is dispelling the myth that the jobs available are primarily on-farm work.

“The agriculture industry is both a business and a science, and there is a diverse range of careers available,” said Ross Burtnack. “Skills acquired in the military are highly transferable to agriculture. While there may be some career-specific training required for military candidates, these individuals bring an exceptionally broad skill set and inherent trainability that is well ahead of the average entry-level candidate.”

Sanheim currently works in human resources with the Canadian Armed Forces, but thinks she may explore another line of work when she hangs up her uniform.

“I’ve discovered I like playing in the dirt. I think I would like to possibly work in the horticulture side of things,” she said. “I am good at what I do, but I would like to do something else. I want a little bit more interaction with living things, where I can see changes happening. I want something that presents new challenges and new opportunities for growth and learning.”

Click here for more information on Operation Ag Careers.
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