Credit unions understand the value of agriculture to Alberta and to Albertans.
We know how hard it is for anyone to build or grow an ag business – but it can be especially challenging for women due to insufficient access to capital and financing.
- Applications open: June 12, 2025
- Application deadline: July 4, 2025
- Notification sent to successful recipients: August 2025
Applicants must be legal residents of Alberta, who, at the time of entry, are at least 18 years of age. Applicants must be women who currently work or are planning to work in agriculture.
For full rules and regulations, including detailed eligibility criteria, please review the Rules + Regulations page here. For Frequently Asked Questions, please review the FAQs page here.
The Women in Ag Grant is brought to you by Credit Unions of Alberta and Alberta Central.
Credit Unions of Alberta represents the 12 credit unions located across the province and Alberta Central is the central banking facility and trade association for Alberta’s credit unions. You can stay in the loop on all the Credit Unions of Alberta grants and scholarships by subscribing here.
#WomeninAg
2024 Winners
Felicia Smart, AgriAssure
Felicia Smart is the Founder and CEO of AgriAssure, an Alberta-based company headquartered in Calgary that transforms complex Canadian food regulations into user-friendly digital workflows for producers, processors, and importers. While not a traditional farming operation, her forward-thinking approach is set to make a significant and lasting impact on the agri-food industry by enhancing regulatory compliance, sustainability, and economic inclusion. Bridging the worlds of regulation and agri-business, we look forward to Felicia’s impact in the industry.
Felicia is a member of Servus Credit Union.
Felicia Smart
AgriAssure
Jaynell Coglon-Pasichnuk, Gillet Angus
Jaynell Coglon-Pasichnuk, operator of Gillet Angus in Beaverdam, Alberta, is a third-generation cattle rancher raising purebred Red Angus for seedstock and commercial cow/calf sales. A driven and visionary leader, Jaynell is an inspiring example of someone with a clear goal and plan balancing motherhood and business while embracing advanced technologies like artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and beef ultrasound to evolve her herd and shape the future of the cattle industry. In a space where women are often boxed in, she’s making waves and building a business that not only advances genetics but also supports the broader food industry.
Jaynell Coglon-Pasichnuk is a member of Lakeland Credit Union.
Jaynell Coglon-Pasichnuk
Gillet Angus
2025 Judges
Iris Meck
Iris Meck was raised in Sapton, Manitoba on a small mixed farm, and attended the University of Manitoba where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Iris started her career at Cargill Limited, and for over 10 years, held management positions in marketing and sales. During that time, Iris earned a Certificate in Management at the University of Manitoba, and then moved into Account Management for prominent agricultural marketing agencies in Regina and Calgary.
In 2000, Iris started her own business delivering marketing strategies for domestic and international agricultural corporations. Since then, Iris has organized numerous forums, conferences, workshops, product launches, facility openings and social gatherings for clients in the agriculture and food industry.
Iris is the founder and host of the Advancing Women Conferences, a Life Skills for Leadership Program for women in agriculture across Canada. Since 2014, these conferences have been held twice a year: once in Calgary in March and once in Niagara Falls in November. To date, over 8,000 women in agriculture and food have attended the Advancing Women Conferences.
“I believe that women should be recognized for the contributions we make to agriculture,” says Meck. “AWC brings women in agriculture and food together to help build their confidence and provide them with the tools and skills to live their lives to their fullest potential, becoming happier, wealthier, and more successful women.”
Iris lives in Calgary, Alberta.
Iris Meck,
Iris Meck Communications Inc.
Amy Cousley
Growing up on a small family farm in the picturesque landscapes of northern British Columbia, Amy Cousley developed a profound connection with the land and the rhythms of rural life. Her early years were shaped by the values of hard work, resilience, and community, which are intrinsic to the agricultural way of life. These formative experiences instilled in her a deep appreciation for the importance of agriculture and the role it plays in sustaining communities and economies.
Achieving a bachelor’s degree in business administration, equipping her with a solid foundation in business principles, she set out to make a meaningful impact in the agricultural sector. With a decade of experience at newly merged Servus credit union, from the front line to executive assistant- her heart ultimately always brought her back to Agriculture. In her role as Member Experience Specialist, she carved out a niche within the agriculture team, where Amy’s expertise and dedication shone brightly, bringing together a deep understanding of rural producers with business acumen to serve members in meaningful ways.
Outside of her professional career, Amy and her husband reside in rural Southern Alberta, raising their two boys. When not taxiing her children around she can often be found volunteering in community events or assisting organizations like the Brooks Fish & Game society execute fundraisers.