Daniel Prefontaine is the Past-President of the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc., an organization that works with the agriculture and food industry in Canada and abroad to develop new innovative products for the food and ingredient market.

Under Dan’s previous leadership, the Food Centre has assisted over 410 companies in the development and processing of new agricultural products, with over 900 new products utilizing Saskatchewan based agricultural inputs.  In addition, his leadership has led to the expansion of the Food Centre to the Agri-Food Innovation Centre in 2018, an innovation hub to support entrepreneurship, commercialization of food products and drive opportunities in the agri-food sector.

Dan’s expertise in new food innovations, business start up, market information and technical knowledge has been an integral part of the food processing community over the last 40 plus years.  He has countless involvement in building working partnerships and firm relations within the industry.

In the past, Dan served two 3-year terms on the ACS Board in 2011-2013 and 2014-2016.

Emile and his wife Sylvia operate Marquette Gardens- a grain and vegetable farm.  They previously operated a dairy farm before moving into the vegetable industry.  Over the years Emile has been Vice-President and President of the Saskatchewan Dairy Farmers of Saskatchewan.  He was also on the board with the Dairy Farmers of Canada serving on a number of committees.

Emile is currently the President of Prairie Fresh Food Corporation – supplying fresh vegetables and fruit to the Co-ops.  He is also currently the President of the Saskatchewan Vegetable Growers Association.  He is very active locally with the Co-op Feeder Association, church and farmer’s markets.  Emile has spent over 32 years as Vice-President for Mallord Diversified Services in Kelvington.

Emile has served on the ACS Board of Directors for 4 years.

Sav Bellissimo is the Store Brands Manager for Federated Co-operatives Limited.  FCL is the largest non-financial co-operative in Canada, which is owned by 180 autonomous retail co-operatives across Western Canada.

Sav has been in the consumer packaging goods industry for 30 years with a key focus on product and brand development, as well as private label.  A graduate of the University of Guelph, Sav has a reputation as an adaptive strategic leader with a proven ability in identifying and capitalizing on emerging market trends.

Sav is passionate about local producers and the importance of establishing closer ties between the products on the shelf and the farmers who grow the ingredients.

Sav has served on the ACS Board of Directors for 3 years.

Tracy was elected to the ACS Board of Directors at our AGM on November 25, 2022.  Tracy represents the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission on the ACS Board.

Don grew up on a century farm south of Ituna, which his brother’s family still operates.  After completing high school, he attended the University of Saskatchewan, graduating with a B.Sc. in Agriculture, and became a P.Ag. (Professional Agrologist).   He spent 28 years with Saskatchewan Wheat Pool as an Area Manager, Farm Supplies, moving all over the province advising farmers.  Later on, in IT as a Computer Analyst supervising software projects.   When he retired, he went back to work as an Instructor of Ag programs at Sask. Polytechnic.

After their children graduated, he and his wife moved to a farm at White City and started an orchard.  They are experimenting with what grows best and of course, what sells.  They grow apples, raspberries, haskaps, cherries, Saskatoon berries, hazelnuts, chokecherries, buffalo berries and sea buckthorn.

Don is the Past President of the Saskatchewan Fruit Growers Association, but continues to be a Director and on the Executive of the SFGA Board of Directors.  He has been a member of SFGA since he started their orchard.   He is passionate about value added agriculture, and is convinced a viable orchard industry can be created in Saskatchewan.

Don has served on the ACS Board of Directors for 2 years.

Gilbert represents our member Saskatchewan Bison Association on the ACS Board.   Gilbert was elected to the ACS Board of Directors at the AGM in November, 2021.

My wife Janice and I retired five years ago. Our son, Shane and family, is now running the operation.  Our operation runs roughly 1000 to 1200 head of bison in the feedlot and 300 to 400 breeding cows.  Our operation also consists of a rotation of  pasture land into gluten free organic oats and hay.  We are located 17 miles north of Shellbrook.

Blair Goldade is the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask. Wheat). Through Sask. Wheat’s membership with the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan (ACS), Blair was elected to the ACS Board of Directors at the AGM in November 2021.

Blair grew up in Eston, SK and continues to be actively involved in the family farming operation. He completed a B.Sc. in Agriculture in 1987, majoring in Animal Science at the University of Saskatchewan, and pursued graduate studies prior to joining the Animal Biotech Group in the Dept. of Animal Science.  In 2004 Blair was employed by the ACS as a Senior Project Officer where he assisted in the promotion, delivery and administration of federal AAFC programs. In 2012, Blair took over as the Executive Director of ACS.

In October 2014, Blair accepted a position with Sask. Wheat as the Research Program Manager. In this capacity Blair was responsible for managing and administering the research funding activities of Sask. Wheat through development of a research portfolio that maximizes direct financial benefit to Saskatchewan producers through yield gains and stability, improved quality characteristics and agronomic efficiencies.  In October 2021 Blair accepted the position of Executive Director of Sask. Wheat.