Odette Ménard learned the news in a “slightly naughty” way. The lady was invited by Jocelyn Michon, an agricultural producer from La Presentation, to participate in a discussion on soil health. An unexpected situation, but quite normal at first glance, since she often travels to offer her advice on the matter.
“So I arrived there on a Wednesday evening. Nothing to suggest the unexpected.”
— Odette Ménard, engineer and agronomist
She was so surprised, to the point of no longer finding the words to describe her feelings. Odette Ménard was inducted into the Quebec Agricultural Hall of Fame last October, during a gala held at the Lévis Convention Center. She was part of a cohort of four individuals honored. Ann Louise Carson, Serge Lefebvre and Marcel Groleau accompanied her on stage.
What’s more, Odette Ménard is one of the rare women to see her work recognized and immortalized in the Agricultural Hall of Fame. This honor is for her a “gift of life”.
“But I don’t work for honors. You know, I am very happy in my job. That’s all that matters!”
— Odette Menard
An unexpected start
His career took an unexpected turn in the space of ten minutes. Odette Ménard completed studies in agricultural engineering and building structure. Her academic career took her to the Ministry of Agriculture, in a position which was to concern infrastructure, her predilection.
She therefore entered the ministry’s offices in Saint-Hyacinthe on July 18, 1988. The young professional sat in her cubicle and met her boss in the morning. In all honesty, the latter then admitted to him that he did not need a building infrastructure expert within his team. Surprising news considering the hiring.
Odette Ménard (in black dress in the center) surrounded by her loved ones during the ceremony. (TRAQ)
“Paul Sauvé was a great visionary, sensitive to the issues of soil conservation. He wanted to count on a person in his team who works in this direction, in support of agricultural producers. All with a view to adopting better practices,” she recalls.
Odette Ménard accepted the challenge, but it must be said that she was the only one at the time working on the subject. Another small detail: the lady was to give a conference a few days after she was hired. His presentation was about water erosion and correction strategies.
“The Internet doesn’t exist in 1988. Only a library with books at the end of the corridor. No PowerPoint or canons, just overheads! So I put together a twenty-minute conference on the subject in the space of two days! I got as much information out of it as possible. My boss later introduced me to a crowd of producers as a specialist in soil conservation in Quebec,” she tells us.
Paul Sauvé then founded the HerSol club to promote exchanges between farmers on soil management. Odette Ménard then fell into the magic potion. A totally unexpected opportunity gave birth to a more than prolific career. Of a human passion, above all.
Odette Ménard was a municipal councilor in Ange-Gardien from 2005 to 2009, then mayor of the municipality from 2009 to 2013. In 2012, she received the Marcelle B. Trépanier prize, rewarding her work as a municipal elected official in the region of Montérégie. (Archives La Voix de l’Est)
Agriculture is everywhere
His curriculum is too full to provide a complete summary in this article. However, we can say that his journey has been driven by soil health. A passion still present after 36 years.
She has organized numerous trips for agricultural producers and traveled directly to the land to share her extensive expertise, to assess soil health and propose various solutions. The highlight of his career? Human encounters and the sharing that results from them.
“Talking with the ground in your hands… that’s what drives me!”
— Odette Menard
She gives the example of visits held here or internationally. Particularly from a conference on earthworms in Australia. Then, more recently, a visit to Guinea to discuss the subject of which she never tires. His visits to the field prove one thing: agriculture is at the center of all societies, regardless of continent, language and history.
Odette Ménard talks about the place of her field, which should be at the heart of political actions in Quebec. She pleads for an avant-garde government vision. According to his grand vision, the three main ministries would be those of health, education and agriculture.
“Health and life come through agriculture! I have given conferences everywhere and visited Guinea last November. Land, food, plants and photosynthesis are the basis of all nations. This is what should be at the heart of concerns,” she judges.
She is also well placed to talk about the place of women in the agricultural world.
“In our field, we see great professional development over the decades. Women have taken their place at the agricultural council level. The vast majority are female, especially in clubs. But there is still a long way to go in terms of agricultural businesses. Patriarchy is still very present there, without generalizing. We must take our place. Agriculture is an extraordinary profession.”
The 2024 inductees: Ann Louise Carson, first woman in the general management of Holstein Canada, Marcel Groleau, former president of the Union of Agricultural Producers, Serge Lefebvre, recognized in particular for having introduced the model of free-range hens on a large scale in North America and Odette Ménard. (TRAQ)
A busy life!
At the dawn of her sixties, Odette Ménard calls herself mid-career, citing two women who inspire her, Janette Bertrand and Denise Filiatrault. She intends to imitate them and remain active with her thousand and one projects on her board.
“I still do training, a lot! I have a project that seeks to create a network of agricultural producers on a local basis. Like a school that brings together students of different levels. Solidarity and resilience are at the heart of the idea,” she shares with us.
The expert also has the opportunity to get her hands dirty and work overseas. She has four wonderful children and three extraordinary grandchildren. Not to mention stained glass, a new hobby!
“I am open to everything! I recently received an invitation to host a conference in the Azores. I think I would say yes!”, she concludes, a sympathetic laugh in her voice.
