SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, June 24, 2013 – The Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan (ACS) Inc. elected two new directors and announced the commitment of over $3.4 million to Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector at the Annual General Meeting, which was held on June 20, 2013 at Canada’s Farm Progress Show in Regina.
Two new directors, Gordon Schroeder of the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board and Wayne Truman of the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission, were elected to the ACS Board of Directors. Dan Prefontaine of the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre was re-elected for a second three-year term.
Allen Kuhlmann of the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission will remain as Chair of the Board. He will be joined on the executive by Nial Kuyek of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, who will serve as Vice-Chair, and Kirk Flaman of the Saskatchewan Seed Potato Growers Association, who will serve as the Secretary/Treasurer. Clinton Monchuk of the Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan and Dr. Michael Nickerson of the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources, remain on the ACS Board of Directors.
The AGM included a tribute to retiring director Tim Wiens, who represented the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission. Tim was first elected to the Board at the 2010 AGM. Over the past year, Tim served on the Executive Committee as the Secretary/Treasurer of ACS.
“Tim made many important contributions during his time at ACS,” said Chair Allen Kuhlmann. “His experience as a producer and his service as a director of the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission gave him insight within the industry. We appreciated the work he did on behalf of ACS and the sector and we wish him well.”
At the AGM, Executive Director Blair Goldade reported that in the 2012-2013 fiscal year, the ACS Board of Directors approved 68 projects for a funding commitment of $3,421,235 through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). ACS delivers the CAAP program in Saskatchewan on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. As of March 31, 2013, 171 CAAP projects have been approved for funding by ACS, for a commitment of over $13.07 million.
Following the AGM, the annual Industry Forum addressed the theme Value Chains: Field to Plate. The featured speaker was Geoff Wilson, President of fsSTRATEGY Inc.