Shauna Sereda, Germination Analyst
Hello everybody:
A country girl my whole life, I grew up on our family farm near Mirror, Alberta. I left Mirror to further my education at Augustana University, where I graduated with a B.Sc. in Biology, Honours with Distinction. Finding university education lacking in the “field” of practicality, I spent a year at Olds College learning to weld, perform electrical work, and repair engines.
I worked to put myself through school at various jobs, from Dairy Queen to the Lacombe Research Station, plus I cultivated many “friends” in the Stettler area as the County Weed Inspector. I farmed full time with my parents, who had a 100 sow farrow to finish hog operation, plus farmed 1200 acres of grain. I was my dad’s “right hand man” (I have 3 sisters) and learned all the skills of the trade from him (but I can weld better). I spent countless hours cultivating, seeding, swathing, combining, hauling and unloading grain and had many “harrowing” experiences! I thought about pursuing a teaching career and took a few courses at the University of Lethbridge, but it didn’t suit me.
My husband Brent and I have a small farrow to finish hog and grain operation on my husband’s home place near Thorsby, Alberta. We have 2 handsome young boys, Brent Jr. and Braedyn.
I have been at 20/20 Seed labs since the fall of 2009. I started in sample preparation and then moved to sample entry which honed my computer skills and I found my “phone voice”. Realizing my ambition to be a seed analyst, I was able to begin my training this past summer. There have been many challenges faced by farmers this past year and I hope with my knowledge and understanding of these issues I can be an asset to you and 20/20 Seed Labs Inc.
