My first impressions of Rob Black at the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) were: approachable, from a farm, book smart, street/regional road smart, nonjudgmental and someone to sit with in lectures.
That seat choice was a strategic one as Rob was informed, connected, and fun. Fast forward three and a half decades to our phone discussion last week that was revealing and re-uniting.
Since February 2018, when the PM called Rob to say that he was needed in the Red Chamber, it has been go, go, go. At the time, I remember being surprised by the appointment, as I had always considered the position to be high-falutin -- so did not line up.
What has happened since OAC to make Rob Black senator material? 4H happened, OMAFRA, AALP, and many other letters happened, agriculture/rural development passion projects happened, and community engagement happened. How have his ideas changed since the University of Guelph? His answer, his ideas have not changed so much as they have evolved. Which may seem like the easy answer, but there are no easy solutions to the challenges discussed.
The Senator’s eyes have been opened to the need for leadership development in Canadian agriculture to show the variety of careers possible. To inspire new farmers yes, while developing a broader appeal for careers in ag and food. Having heard and read about this countless times, my eyes are also open to its significance.
When asked about small farms, his support is absolute, community shared (CSA) initiatives, was the first example mentioned, but also the ability of small farmers to “pivot” in approach and production, leading by example. Although he hesitated to use the word “pivot” to describe small farms due to its overuse during this pandemic, he agreed that the lean-mean characteristics of small farms are a benefit to being able to integrate new practices and quickly identifying new business opportunities.
What is next for Senator Rob Black? He is looking back to reflect and to move forward with a National soil study. In an email exchange, Kimberly Roper Director of Parliamentary Affairs for Senator Black, related – “The Soil Health Study the Senator intends to introduce is aimed at providing an update on the health of Canada’s soils. The last extensive national study was done in the Senate in 1985 and it needs to be updated.” With industry agreement and government support, this initiative will be put forward for action when senate committees reconvene in the coming weeks.
The full interview with Senator Rob Black will be featured in the March/April 2021 issue of Small Farm Canada.