Dr. Allan Preston has spent his career advancing agriculture, imparting his infectious love for the industry, and doing his utmost to make rural Manitoba and Canada a stronger and more vibrant place.
Dr. Allan was an exceptional student and a student leader growing up in Hamiota, MB. After high school, he attended university and then was accepted to Vet School in Saskatoon, SK. Following graduation, he moved back to Hamiota and joined his rural veterinarian practice and worked with his dad on the farm. Allan didn’t just help animals, he immersed himself in the community and took a leadership role in most community initiatives including guiding the Hamiota Agricultural Society, chairing the Hamiota Community Foundation, and being an active 4-H leader.
Dr. Preston was also active in industry organizations. He was the president of the Canadian Simmental Association and active on many livestock organizations including the Beef Science Cluster Advisory Body and the Westman Opportunities Leadership Group.
Dr. Preston was also a very well-respected Chief Veterinary Officer before being appointed as Assistant Deputy Minister at Manitoba Agriculture and Food, which he chaired the Manitoba Agriculture Research and Innovation Committee. He has also provided many years of service to research-oriented groups: Manitoba Forage & Grasslands Association, Bovine Tuberculosis Management Group, Beef Science Cluster Science Advisory Body and more. He also tackled some very major and difficult assignments important to the health of the agriculture industry and the province. He was the Bovine Tuberculosis Coordinator, and the Chair of the Assiniboine Rive Basin Initiatives.
Dr. Preston is a well-respected industry leader throughout North America. He believes strongly in the role a strong agriculture industry plays in the success of a vibrant community.