For Reegan Charlton, a summer with Collective Impact became much more than another season of agricultural work experience.

As Collective Impact’s Seasonal Ag Extension Specialist, she spent the summer involved in field-scale research, producer engagement, field days and regenerative agriculture projects across the region.

But when Reegan looks back, some of her most valuable experiences weren't necessarily found in the research data. They came from conversations in fields, meeting producers and industry professionals, seeing ideas put into practice, learning from things that didn't go according to plan and gaining the confidence to share what she knows.

“I think all of the field days were my favourite experiences,” Reegan said. “I loved them.”

Those experiences ultimately shaped three of her biggest takeaways from the summer: communication, confidence and connections.

 

Learning Through Conversations

Throughout the summer, Reegan had opportunities to connect directly with producers, researchers, industry partners and organizations working across agriculture and conservation.

For someone who enjoys learning about what other people do, those conversations quickly became one of the highlights of the job.

At one field day, for example, Reegan had a conversation about work being done to establish pollinator blends along rural municipality ditches. Although the project was focused on pollinators, she immediately began thinking about the broader benefits those plantings could provide, including soil health, biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

Other conversations covered everything from cover crops and livestock to soil health and innovative practices producers were trying on their farms.

“It's so nice to personally make those connections as well with all those people that you're interacting with.”

Being able to communicate directly with producers was especially meaningful because it was something she hadn't experienced to the same extent in previous summer positions.

In past roles, Reegan had scouted fields, collected information and written reports, but someone else would often take that information back to the grower; with Collective Impact, she had the opportunity to speak directly with producers, discuss what she had observed, ask questions and better understand the story behind what was happening in the field.

“It was just really fun being able to take what I learned and the information and actually be the one giving it to the people and communicating it.”

Those interactions reinforced something that became increasingly clear throughout the summer: agriculture is as much about people and relationships as it is about crops, soil and research.

 

Taking Research From the Plot to the Field

Reegan came to Collective Impact with previous experience in small-plot research, where trials are carefully controlled and precision is essential.

Field-scale research quickly showed her another side of the process.

“It doesn't always go according to plan.”

Weather changes. Equipment doesn't always cooperate. Sometimes something that seems straightforward on paper becomes considerably more complicated when you're standing in the field trying to make it work.

For Reegan, who describes herself as a planner and perfectionist, learning to accept that was an adjustment.

“You figure it out. You improvise and it doesn't always look perfect.”

Over the course of the summer, however, she began to see that imperfection as one of the strengths of conducting research at field scale.

Producers don't operate under perfectly controlled research conditions either. Demonstrating a practice in a real field means encountering some of the same challenges producers may face when trying it themselves.

And sometimes what goes wrong can be just as valuable as what goes right.

“Farmers love when you tell them what went wrong so that they can also learn from that.”

The summer also gave Reegan opportunities to challenge some of the assumptions she brought with her from the classroom.

One example was using a drone to broadcast clover seed.

In school, she had learned about the importance of seed placement—getting seed into the soil, into moisture and properly positioned in relation to fertilizer.

Then she watched clover being broadcast using a drone.

And it grew.

“To actually just go out, drone seed it using some pretty cool technology and get it to actually grow was pretty fascinating.”

Experiences like that reinforced the value of combining classroom knowledge with practical field experience—and being willing to test an idea rather than assuming what will or won't work.

 

Regenerative Agriculture Isn't All or Nothing

Perhaps the biggest change in Reegan's thinking over the summer was how she views regenerative agriculture.

Before joining Collective Impact, much of her exposure had been to farms that had moved extensively into regenerative practices. As a result, she admits she had developed something of an all-or-nothing perspective.

Her experience working directly with producers changed that.

“I think it's just changed that regenerative agriculture isn't all or nothing. It's a spectrum.”

One producer might reduce tillage. Another might introduce cover crops. Someone else might add hay acres, integrate livestock or experiment with a new practice on a small portion of the farm.

It doesn't have to mean changing an entire farming system overnight.

Reegan was continually impressed by how many producers were interested in learning and willing to experiment with practices that could make sense for their individual operations. The steps may look different from farm to farm, but each creates an opportunity to learn and improve.

That realization also influenced how she approached communicating research.

“We're not up here telling people, ‘You have to do this,’” she explained.

Instead, the message is much simpler:

Here's what we did. Here's what we found.

From there, producers can decide whether the practice or information is relevant to their own operation.

That approach creates conversations instead of prescriptions. A producer may have tried something similar and had a completely different result, creating an opportunity to compare experiences, ask why and learn from one another.

Reegan also learned the importance of being transparent about results.

If something didn't work, there is little value in pretending otherwise.

“Being open and honest and transparent helps people connect with the research,” she said.

Sharing both successes and challenges—and discussing what could be done differently next time—can make research much more practical and useful for producers.

 

Bringing People Together

Reegan was also heavily involved in organizing and delivering Collective Impact field days throughout the summer.

For someone who enjoys planning, it was a part of the job she loved, even when registrations suddenly grew and there were buses, locations, presenters and dozens of attendees to coordinate.

But the biggest reward was seeing what could happen when people were brought together.

At one field day, a conversation ultimately led to two producers accessing funding for intercrop projects.

For Reegan, the experience demonstrated that having programs, research and funding available is only part of the equation. There also needs to be an opportunity to connect with producers and understand what they are trying to accomplish.

“You have to have the opportunity to meet with these producers and find out what they're doing.”

Field days create that opportunity.

They bring producers, researchers, organizations and industry together in the same place and allow conversations to happen that might otherwise never occur.

 

“I Knew More Than I Thought I Did”

While Reegan gained plenty of technical and practical knowledge over the summer, some of her biggest growth was personal.

Coming out of university, being younger and not originally from Saskatchewan, walking into conversations with experienced producers and industry professionals could sometimes feel intimidating.

“I didn't feel like I knew enough,” she recalled.

After a summer of producer conversations, field days and presentations, that feeling began to change.

“I realized I knew more than I thought I did.”

That didn't mean suddenly having every answer. Instead, it meant becoming more comfortable trusting what she knew, asking questions about what she didn't know and recognizing that she had something valuable to contribute to the conversation.

The experience helped Reegan build confidence speaking with producers, presenting to groups and developing a professional network.

As she prepares to return to university for her fourth year, that experience has also shaped the advice she would give other students considering summer work in agricultural research, producer engagement or regenerative agriculture.

“Go at it with an open mind.”

She encourages students to pursue the things that interest them and take initiative in their own learning.

“Don't be afraid to be passionate about it. Learn as much as you can.”

That could mean asking to attend a course, seeking additional training, asking questions or putting yourself in situations where you can meet and learn from new people.

Reegan has intentionally chosen different summer positions throughout university because she wanted to expand her skills and experiences.

“You only have three summers in university,” she said. “Take advantage of your time and find the people that support you and want to help you grow.”

Perhaps the best indication of how Reegan felt about her summer with Collective Impact is how quickly it seemed to disappear.

As she heads back to university, Reegan leaves Collective Impact with a broader understanding of regenerative agriculture, practical experience conducting research at field scale and a greater appreciation for the knowledge producers bring to the conversation.

Perhaps more importantly, she leaves with greater confidence in herself and a clearer understanding of the kind of agricultural professional she wants to become.

For Reegan, the summer reinforced that some of the best learning doesn't happen in a classroom or even in a research plot. It happens when you're standing in a field, asking questions, sharing experiences and learning alongside the people who are putting those ideas into practice every day.