Rhett Hawkins

I’ve been focused on agriculture since I was a boy. Growing up on my family’s farm near St. Mary’s, Ontario, we grew cash crops and ran a feedlot business.

For the last 25 years, I’ve had the chance to work in agriculture marketing in both Canada and the U.S. I’ve held senior roles on the client, agency, and media sides of the business, and I’ve been lucky enough to help launch and grow some of the biggest ag brands around the world.

As president of Kahntact, I’m excited to keep pushing Canadian agriculture forward and helping it shine on the global stage.

 

Message as Industry Leader
For the past 25 years, I’ve been lucky to work in agriculture marketing in both Canada and the U.S. I’ve held senior roles on the client, agency, and media sides of the industry and have had the chance to help launch and grow some of the most well-known brands in various ag sectors around the world.

As the Vision and Mission suggest, my goal as Industry Leader is to offer a fresh perspective to the entire ag-food value chain. I’m committed to helping the industry grow through connection, professional development, thought leadership, and sharing knowledge.

Kahntact has shown this commitment by creating and sponsoring the CAMA Lifetime Achievement Award, and now, we’re excited to sponsor the CAMA Mentorship Program.

We know it’s important to help and support the next generation of ag leaders in Canada. And with the new CAMA board in place, the timing couldn’t be better. We’ve got the expertise and passion to take ag marketing to the next level, and I’m thrilled to be part of it.

Our aim is to leave the industry and CAMA in a better place than we found it. Not that it’s in a bad spot now, but we believe in always looking for new ideas and insights to keep improving. The bottom line is this: be better today than yesterday, and better tomorrow than today.

Historically, CAMA has been a hub where ag marketers can connect, meet new people, and learn from each other’s wins and mistakes. While that mission hasn’t changed, times have. Now more than ever, we need to lean on each other, and that requires everyone getting involved. It’s a commitment that benefits not just us today, but the next generation as well.