Chris Hiemstra
Vice-Chair
AAC Board of Directors
Canada
Biography
Chris Hiemstra was elected to the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) board of directors in 2014. Chris is the AAC board representative for the Other Industries/Commodities sector and he currently serves as a member of the AAC audit committee. In 2016, Chris was elected vice-chair of the AAC executive committee. Chris and his wife, Christy, purchased his parent’s bee operation in 2000. They have expanded the apiary, and now ship three transport loads of honeybees to the Maritimes for blueberry pollination. Chris has a passion for people and bees. Each season they educate over 5000 school children with bee tours at Clovermead. As a tourist destination, the beekeeping farm welcomes over 35,000 visitors each summer, to explore the world of honeybees and have a family adventure. A graduate of the University of Guelph Diploma Horticulture program, Chris previously worked in the greenhouse industry as technician in bumblebee pollination and Biological Control. Chris is a recipient of awards such as Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmer, Farm Marketer of the year, Innovation and Excellence in AgriFood, Chamber Of Commerce Business of the Year, and Community Spirit Award. Chris was previously chairman of the Immanuel Christian School in Aylmer and Co-Chair of the Ontario Outstanding Young Farmers Program.
Research Interest
AGRI FOOD
