SUNTANA MURRAY

Raised on a ranch in, Lathom, AB, Suntana Murray has a passionate eye for the progression of Canadian agriculture. Together with her husband George, their six children, her fatherin-law, George Sr., and an irreplaceable team of employees, Murray owns and operates Lathom Cattle, GW Murray Ranches, Dumaresq Brothers, Murray Ranches, and several other companies. Together, they run 3,000 Black Angus commercial cows, bred to Black Angus and Charlois Bulls. They own and operate a finishing lot near Tilley, AB, and a backgrounding lot, a few hours North, in the Neutral Hills.

Aside from ranching, Murray’s farming operation boasts approximately 45 irrigation pivots, growing everything from barley, wheat and corn silage, to garlic, sugar beets and sunflowers. Tilley, Rolling Hills, and Consort, AB, along with Tompkins, SK serve as Murray’s primary land locations. Together, the operations span approximately 60,000 acres. Involved in all aspects of daily farm / ranch life, Murray admits that she spends the bulk of her time in the office and supporting her children in a host of agricultural, athletic, and academic pursuits. Murray has always been passionate about investment and cash flow, regardless of the sector, and takes pride in her personal portfolio. For more than 18 years, she worked in the oil and gas industry and has remained active and invested in the farming and ranching community her entire life. Currently, Murray’s intent is to raise her children, and any youth interested in agriculture, to have passion, work-ethic, grit, and knowledge that will foster success in any agricultural sector. Speaking to her love of Canadian agriculture, Murray notes, “The appeal of the industry is that it is family driven. Everyone can be involved. It’s a great place to raise a family. There are areas and sectors for all personality types to grow, thrive, succeed, and be happy.”

1. Where do you see Canadian farmers / ranchers in the global, agricultural market? What makes Canada stand apart from other countries?

“Canadian farmers and ranchers are set in favorable conditions for food production and opportunity. With our large, productive land base and small population, we produce more than we can consume, presenting opportunities for export to markets with larger populations. If we continue to improve trade agreement access, enhance port/rail line infrastructure, and keep our regulations and taxes at bay, to be competitive in other markets, we are, and will continue to be, agriculture leaders on the world stage. Hopefully, we can capture a bigger piece of the world market with our high-quality products. Canada has a diverse land base, with many different growing conditions. There are many opportunities for niche products. She’s pretty much your oyster if you have the mindset and work ethic. If you want it, it CAN happen here - that is not always the case in other parts of the world.”

2. What do you feel is the biggest misconception regarding agriculture?

“There is a large disconnect between producer and consumer. A large part of the population believes that beef and grains are poorly produced, not nutritious, and that we (the producer) don’t care about the consumer’s welfare. Outside information and influence will always be there. We need to better educate the consumer about our product and the food we produce.”

3. How might our agricultural sector improve to promote growth and maintain strength in our total number of farmers / ranchers?

“In Canada, for most sectors, you can buy/sell your commodities as you see fit and to your advantage. The more we can expand each other’s knowledge, in market optimization, through hedging, forward contracting, market timing, economics and different practices, the more profitable and strong our farmers and ranchers can become. Like any business, for people to want to be in it and for them to promote their youth to continue, they need to be prosperous. We need to foster youth involvement in agriculture to promote knowledge, leadership and a love for the land / animals. Agriculture businesses and communities are exceptional at donating their time and money to our youth. Some great organizations that help create an educational and motivating environment are junior stock shows, livestock judging forums, 4-H clubs, high school rodeo organizations, and the Canadian Junior Angus Association. Through these organizations, youth connect, gain exposure to business and life skills, and learn, at an early age, to become independent, confident leaders in whatever passion they pursue. We need to get more youth immersed in such programs, to gain retention in the agricultural sector.”

4. How can we bridge the gap between our urban and rural populations?

“With only 2% of our Canadian population living on the farms / ranches that produce all the domestic food for the entire population, we need to educate and involve the other 98%. I believe we should start with schools and introduce educational programs that explain how our local food is produced. We could introduce food programs that help our youth eat healthy lunches and snacks. We have so many nutritious, local, fresh products that are available. If we could get school boards and governing bodies to incorporate these options into schools, it could be a good direction for future consumers and it will bridge the gap in local connections and agriculture.”

5. Where do you see Canadian agriculture in the next ten years?

“Agriculture will remain strong in Canada. The future agricultural industry will succeed and grow if it’s led by young leaders that work together. By merging the pastexperience of their parents and grandparents with the many new innovations in technology, education, and marketing, our children will have a solid portfolio to work with.”