It’s my honour to announce SARA JIBB as this year’s Clare Hayes Leadership Award recipient!
Sara started at Sunderland Co-op as an Equine Specialist and Feed Sales Associate in 2007. She left the Co-op in 2018 for another opportunity, and she was greatly missed. Thankfully Sara returned to us in January of 2021 as Quality Assurance and Feed Systems Leader. And in July of 2022 was promoted into the role of Feed Sales and Quality Manager.
Sara grew up on a dairy and cash crop farm just outside of Sunderland. She was also an active member of the Junior Farmers of Ontario where she held the positions of Director of Membership and Director of Fund Development. Sara went on to the University of Guelph where she obtained her Bachelors degree in Bio Resource Management, Agriculture, Horse Husbandry/Equine Science & Management. She also completed an internship with Growmark. Throughout all this time, she also developed her passion for horses, riding, showing, and still rides to this day.
Sara has proven to be a very intelligent, organized, knowledgeable, and capable part of our management team. And if you know Sara at all… You’ll know that she does it all with a smile on her face. Truly, you will not find a more positive, upbeat, team-player as Sara Jibb.
This has been a very challenging year within the Feed department. Sara has had to bear much of the heavy-lifting, with several office members being out, with a variety of different leaves throughout the year. Being short-staffed is taxing. Then add the recurring mill breakdowns, mill closure assessment, and ultimately the closure itself… then onboarding WFS to becoming our sole feed provider… there was A LOT to get through and accomplish. I’m very proud of how Sara rose to the occasion and provided leadership throughout the year. And again, she did it with grace. Her care and consideration for staff and customers alike, never faltered. She genuinely cares for people, and the livestock we’re feeding.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with Sara, and I’m confident I’m not alone with this sentiment. She has a very natural, professional, can-do attitude that is a joy to work with, and I look forward to her continued development and positive impact with us.
Please join me in congratulating Sara on this achievement and a sincere thank-you for her contribution to our business.
Peter Stanbury
General Manager
Sunderland Co-operative Inc.