Dianne Finstad new Honorary Life Member

On June 6, 2019, Dianne Finstad was presented with Honorary Life Membership to the AFWA.

Dianne Finstad has specialized in agriculture and rodeo coverage for decades. She began her career in 1981 at CKRD-TV and Radio in Red Deer, where she worked for 25 years as news anchor and reporter and as Ag Director her coverage was second to none. Her award-winning TV programs “This Business of Farming” and “Makin’ 8” were enjoyed by many western Canadians. Dianne regularly covers the Canadian Farms Rodeo for TV, radio and print as well as the Calgary Stampede for CBC TV. Dianne joined Newcap Radio from 2007 to 2012 as the Agriculture and Rodeo Director, where she provided daily farm reports and regular rodeo coverage. Since 2012 Dianne has been a freelance reporter and a regular contributor to numerous publications.

Throughout the years she has been an emcee and sought-after speaker for many agricultural and rodeo functions, including the Advancing Women in Agriculture conferences.  

Dianne has been a long-standing AFWA supporter and member for 32 years and has played a more active role in recent years, including serving as AFWA President in 2017-18 and taking an active role in AFWA’s development, initiatives, activities and ag sector tours with the AFWA and for the CFWF.

Dianne received the Lethbridge Distinguished Alumni Award in 1995, was made an honorary member of the Alberta Institute of Agrologists in 1997 and the Alberta Human Ecology and Home Economics Association in 2010; and was the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame Bell Memorial Award recipient in 2018.

Dianne joins other illustrious AFWA Honorary Life Members, including Ross Halseth, Lee Hart, Jack Howell, Janet Kanters, Ron McCullough, Reg Norby, Bill Owen, Ric Swihart and Harry Sugimoto.