AFMA Board of Directors
Peace Region – Travis Braucht, Kinuso AB
Northwest Region – Frances Petryshyn, Barrhead, AB
Northeast Region – Tonia Chrapko, Brosseau, AB
North Central Region – Debbie Grant, St. Albert, AB
Central Region – Stephanie Szakacs, Edmonton, AB
Southern Alberta – Debbie Mertin, Bowden, AB
Member-at-Large – Tristina Branconnier, Blackfalds, AB
Member-at-Large – Kevin Kossowan, Edmonton, AB
AFMA Staff
Bookkeeper - Gwen Flipsen
Biographies for the Board of Directors and Staff
Travis Braucht
Travis is a vendor who owns, with his wife and family, Maple Grove Gardens in Kinuso, Alberta. In the spring of 2010 they expanded the family garden and because the potatoes did so well, they explored the opportunity to sell through farmers’ markets. The concept of ‘shop local’ is something that Travis advocates because he knows that business opportunities grow and food security is strengthened when people build local economies. Travis studied horticulture at Olds and business administration at NAIT. He spent most of his career in sales and marketing until 2000 when he began working as a contractor. Travis and his wife decided to home school their children and found the garden and markets to be an important part of their education and social development.
Frances Petryshyn (treasurer)
Frances is a former certified management accountant who studied both at NAIT and the UofA. Although she grew up in Edmonton, she always yearned for the country life. So, in her late forties, she and her husband Dan made a bold mid-life career change and bought a farm near Barrhead. In addition to a large heard of dairy goats, they raise pigs, cows and chickens. Frances is a full-time farmer and vendor so she understands the challenges producers and markets face. From her professional accounting career, Frances brings valuable knowledge and skills that will benefit the Alberta Farmers’ Market Association with strategic planning and implementation. In the past she was involved with the Southeast Amateur Football Association and Parents’’ Advisory Council. She is a mother of six, and hobbies for which she has very little time include knitting and sewing.
Tonia Chrapko (president) (780) 454 - 3361
Before returning to her farming roots and becoming involved with the family winery full time, Tonia worked and studied overseas for 7 years and experienced markets in a variety of countries. Now she is an active Farmers’ Market vendor in Alberta who has been at markets from Lethbridge to Grande Prairie. This has given her the opportunity to meet and speak with 90% of market managers. Being at a variety of markets in all the regions has given her the advantage of observing and experiencing a wide range of markets, and what works well and what could be improved. It is this knowledge that she brings to the Board of Directors. Other associations to which she belongs include the Organic Industry Network, Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association, Two Hills Ag Society, and Slow Food International. Before getting involved with Farmers’ Markets, Tonia belonged to Toastmasters, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and Rotary Clubs International. In her former professional life, Tonia was an international educator at the university level, French Immersion teacher, professional speaker, published writer and facilitator for the Virtues Project International. Little known fun facts about Tonia: she drove a Lamborghini, she flew a plane over Ayres Rock (Australia), and she danced with the lead man from the movie The Tango Lesson.
Debbie Grant
Debbie has been managing the St. Albert Chamber Outdoor Farmers' Market for the past three years. It continues to be one of the most dynamic outdoor markets in the province, with 10,000 – 15,000 visitors each market year. During the year, Debbie works full-time for the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce as the Events Manager. Growing up, Debbie began attending local markets on weekends with her parents, and also has fond memories of exploring other markets while on family holidays. She has a strong passion for, and belief in, farmers' markets as an important part of communities both socially and economically. Debbie was born and raised in Edmonton. She is married with one daughter. In her free time Debbie enjoys golfing and cooking… with the bounty she buys at the markets!
Stephanie Szakacs (secretary)
Stephanie has been involved in Edmonton Farmers’ Markets since 2005. She spent 3 years as the Assistant Manager at the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market, working part-time while she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Philosophy at the University of Alberta. She joined City Market on 104th as Administrative Manager during the 2009 season. In 2010 Stephanie rejoined the OSFM in her current position as General Manager. Stephanie is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, active in the local Edmonton music scene. She is passionate about culture, food and global wandering and regularly travels to Ghana, West Africa, to volunteer at a rural school in the Volta Region and undertake ethnomusicological studies in a traditional village. Stephanie is also involved in the local fashion community and regularly models for local designers including Maggie Walt, and fundraising events for local organizations such as Roxy Theatre Network and McDougall House. Always on the lookout for a new adventure, as a young leader in the Farmers’ Market community Stephanie brings her fresh perspective and energy.
Debbie Mertin (vice-president)
Debbie and her husband Duane started doing trade shows in rural Saskatchewan in 1990, then moved to Saskatoon in 1993 and started doing the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market as well as numerous Christmas craft shows all across Canada. She was a member of the Saskatchewan Food Processors Association and the Alberta Gift & Tableware Association. Finding that she and her husband were spending a lot of time in Alberta, they purchased the Pearson’s Berry Farm in 2004, and became members of AFMA. Their business attends 11 farmers’ markets per week in the summer and 27 Christmas Craft Shows across Canada each year. Debbie was a board member at the Calgary Farmers’ Market for four years. The Mertins’ business is truly a family business: Debbie and Duane do the markets in Alberta and their two adult children supply products in Saskatchewan. She enjoys gardening, holidaying with friends, and spending time with their three grandchildren.
Barb Holub, Hinton, AB
Barb comes to AFMA with a lot of experience and wisdom. She has been a vendor at the Hinton Farmers' Market for the past 15 years and the manager for 14 years. In that time she has also been president and treasurer. Barb's catering business has been thriving for 10 years. Before joining the Farmers' Market she had been an insurance broker for 20 years and had managed the Hinton and District Chamber of Commerce for 2 years. Married for 42 years, Barb and her husband John have 2 wonderful children and 6 amazing grandchildren. She loves spending time with her family and loves having the grandchildren come for holidays. In her free time Barb enjoys gardening, even though it is a challenge to grow things in Hinton.
Kevin Kossowan
Kevin is an active advocate of local producers and local foods - primarily through writing about local food online [www.kevinkossowan.com], but also through involvement with organizations like Slow Food Edmonton, and increasingly frequently speaking to organizations about local food. Kevin is currently serving on the board of Slow Food Edmonton, the Alberta Farmers' Market Association, and has recently been asked by NAIT's Culinary Arts program to assist them with their commitment to increasing the presence of local foods in their program. Kevin's non-food background is in finance; he has a Bachelor of Commerce from the UofA, is a Certified Financial Planner, and has been a business owner in the financial industry for 12 years. Kevin is a father of 3, spends lots of his time gardening, and has traveled extensively to Farmers' Markets throughout Europe. More information and press about Kevin is available on his website.