About GRO

GRO’s History

In 1975 the Pembina Forage Association was started by local producers interested in improving pasture management, forage and livestock production. All farmers, no matter their product, derive their living from the top few inches of the earth’s crust. Over the years trials were conducted on everything – thistle control, leafcutter bees, creep feeding, fencing, grazing, solar power, and so much more.

A decision of the board of directors in 1994 to add crop research to the studies being done on forages and livestock led to a need for a name change. This is when Pembina Forage Association became know as Gateway Research Organization (GRO). The new organization become more involved in research directly related to crops and environmental sustainability, always with local producers’ areas of interest in mind.

Vision

Gateway Research Organization will be a renowned and respected agriculture research & extension organization that is the preferred source of unbiased farm production information

Mission

Gateway Research Organization provides cost-effective applied agricultural research, demonstrations, and extension for producers in order to facilitate greater returns to farms by providing economically and scientifically sound information that enables our clients to make informed decisions.

Our Team

Email: manager@gatewayresearch.org
Tel: (403) 741-6706

Jay Byer grew up on a mixed farm outside of Busby, Alberta. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in agriculture at the University of Alberta, he has been employed in a wide variety of public and private sectors of agriculture. Jay spent a year as the Associate Provincial Oilseed Specialist for Alberta and managed a large project dealing with late fall seeding of canola. He has conducted some advanced studies in integrated pest management of crops. When Jay is not at GRO, he is involved in travel, horticulture, volunteerism, cottage life and motorcycles. He is looking forward to investigating alternatives to annual crop production on marginal land throughout the GRO area as part of a Canadian Agricultural Partnership program.

Email: research@gatewayresearch.org
Tel: (780) 350-8200

Kabal has a robust background in agriculture and agribusiness, combining technical expertise with a passion for research and development. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and a diploma in agribusiness, specializing in crop production. He hails from a diverse agricultural background rooted in Northern India, where he was raised on a mixed farm (crops and dairy). He demonstrates a steadfast commitment to advancing agricultural sustainability and productivity with a proactive approach and dedication to excellence.

Email: croptechnician@gatewayresearch.org
Cell: (780) 307-7581
Tel: (780) 349-4546

Rick grew up on a mixed farm in the Lloydminster area. He left the farm in 1989 to pursue a career in golf course maintenance. After obtaining a Turfgrass Management Diploma from Fairview College he accepted the superintendent’s job at the Barrhead Golf Course holding that position for over 20 years. Rick and his wife Terrie have two girls now past school age and mostly independent. Rick enjoys boating and golf in the summer, skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.

Email: extension@gatewayresearch.org
Cell: (780) 305-8155
Tel: (780) 349-4546

Stacy is committed to ensuring that producers and the non-agricultural public, young and the young at heart, are aware of the importance of agriculture and all that GRO does. Raised on a mixed farming operation – purebred and commercial cattle, pasture, feed, and seed grain – and having lived in various locations from Lethbridge to Fairview within the province, she knows that Alberta has the capacity for tremendous and varied types of agricultural production. She’s passionate about lifelong learning, agriculture, and food.

Our Board – 2024

Executive

Chair: Mike Hittinger
Vice-chair: Kurtis Properzi
Treasurer: Graham Letts
Secretary: Kyle Cross
ARECA rep.: Kenleigh Pasay

Directors at Large

Ken Anderson
Robert Geis
Lorrie Jespersen
Byron Long
Adam MacMillan
Randy Pidsadowski
Uwe Quedenbaum

Crops Committee

Ken Anderson
Kyle Cross
Graham Letts
Adam MacMillan
Rick Mueller
Justin Nanninga
Randy Pidsadowski
Kurtis Properzi
Uwe Quedenbaum
Mike Hittinger (ex-officio)