ACS Directors are representatives from our member organizations. They are elected to three year terms, and may serve up to two terms consecutively before taking at least one year off before running again.
Vacant positions on the Board of Directors are filled annually by election (voted on by ACS member representatives) at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The ACS Board Executive consists of the Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary-Treasurer. These positions are elected by the Directors following the Annual General Meeting each year.
Mehmet is the current Chair on the ACS Board of Directors. Mehmet Tulbek is the President of Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre and is responsible to the Board of Directors for the strategy, planning, management, control and the evaluation of The Centre.
Mehmet has been a research, technology, and innovation leader with over 25 years of pulses, cereals, oilseeds and plant-based foods’ global research & development, technical services, business development, international technical education, and management experience. Mehmet completed his B.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering with emphasis in Food Science and Technology at Ankara University, and his M.Sc. in Food Engineering at Istanbul Technical University in Turkey. He then moved to the United States to pursue his Ph.D. in Cereal Science at North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND.
Before joining Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre, Mehmet served as the Director of Research and Development at AGT Food and Ingredients in Saskatoon, SK Canada; and worked at Northern Crops Institute (NCI) at North Dakota State University as Crop Quality Specialist and then as Technical Director. During his tenure at NCI he delivered international technical short courses and programs on pulse and specialty crops market development, pulse protein manufacturing, end market utilization, quality, and product development programs over ten countries. During graduate school Mehmet also founded Great Plains Roasting Inc. an organic roasted flaxseed startup company which was acquired later by Heartland Flax Inc. in North Dakota. Mehmet previously served as a board member on Ameriflax, Northern Pulse Growers Association, Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre and Red River College Prairie Research Kitchen organizations. Mehmet is a sought-after presenter at global industry and academic gatherings, and has authored several journal articles, book chapters, proceedings and six patents. Mehmet is a member of multiple organizations including Institute of Food Technologists, American Oil Chemists Society, Canadian Nutrition Society, Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists and Cereals & Grains Association (former AACC). He currently serves as a Process Authority at Association of Food and Drug Officials; as the Chair of the Board of Directors of Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan, and as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Saskatchewan Food and Bioproduct Sciences Department and the University of Manitoba Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences.
Blair has served on the ACS Board of Directors for three years, and he is currently the ACS Vice-Chair. Blair is the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask. Wheat), a member of ACS.
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.
Tracy has served on the ACS Board of Directors for three years and is currently the ACS Secretary-Treasurer. Tracy represents the Saskatchewan Oilseed Development Commission (formerly SK Canola Development Commission and SK Flax Development Commission) on the ACS Board. Tracy is the Executive Director of Saskatchewan Oilseed Development Commission.
Tracy grew up on a mixed farm in southwest Manitoba, and has spent the better part of her life living in Prairie cities. She earned a BSc in Agribusiness from the University of Manitoba, with a special focus on economics.
Tracy’s career experience has been in the barley industry, research administration, as well as canola policy and producer relations. She currently lives in Saskatoon with her husband and two sons. In addition to being a politics and news junkie, Tracy enjoys cooking everything from scratch, hiking and gardening.
Charles has served on the ACS Board of Directors for two years. Charles is the current President of the Saskatchewan Fruit Growers Association, a member of ACS.
Charles completed his formal education in Civil Engineering Technology in the 80’s. He retired in 2020 with almost 37 years of service. During these years, he worked for: Dam Safety Tech (Regina office) doing inspections, investigations, mapping, CAD, etc.; Water Development Tech (Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Weyburn) with expertise gained in hydrology, groundwater, water quality, CAD, GIS, program management and more.; Geotechnical Tech (Saskatoon) gaining experience with instrumentation, soils and concrete. A rich career blending Agriculture and Engineering while traveling much of the prairies and into BC.
Since career retirement Charles owns and operates a Market Garden near Avonlea, where he produces strawberries, raspberries, melons and more. He is also a Consultant in the areas of inspection services (construction); soil testing; surveying, and mapping.
Denver joined the ACS Board of Directors at our AGM in November, 2024. Denver is the representative of Saskatchewan Bison Association, a member of ACS.
Denver along with his wife Becky and their three children own and operate Bison Ridge Farms near Prince Albert, SK. In an effort to regenerate their soil and the way they farmed, integrating bison into their neighboring family grain farm of over 20 years has allowed them to grow our own quality feed, improve soil health, and utilize a diverse landscape. Denver’s passion is to produce and raise quality breeding stock and develop specifically their woods bison genetics.
Bison Ridge Farms is a complete farm to table operation where animals are slaughtered on site in their provincially certified Abattoir and then marketed directly across the province. To find out more check out www.bisonridgefarms.com
George joined the ACS Board of Directors at our AGM in November, 2024. George is the President of Saskatchewan Vegetable Growers Association, a member of ACS.
George Lewko, PAg Forensic Agrologist, has been a Professional Agrologist since 1994. He received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the College of Agriculture 1992 (Major: Crop Science Double Minor: Horticulture). He completed his Forensic Agrology Certificate from the University of Saskatchewan in 2006. Southwest of Prince Albert, he operated his family grain farm until a combine accident in 1997. George was the Office Manager and gave seed, pesticide and fertilizer advice for over 20 years at a small independent retail outlet. George has been a weed inspector for many Rural Municipalities. George instructs the Pesticide Applicator Course from Sask PolyTechnic (formerly SIAST). George is the Forensic Agrology Course instructor for the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists (S.I.A.). He has held Pesticide Applicator License. He also owns and runs Paintball Paradise Prince Albert, which includes 1/2 acre of pumpkins, orchards and a Corn Maze. He has settled many disputes in crop damage, spray drift, and herbicide efficacy.
George is a Past President of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists (S.I.A.) 2005-2006. He has been the Past President of the North-East Branch (formerly Melfort Branch) twice, 2003-04, and 1998-1999. He has helped instruct the S.I.A. Professionalism and Ethics Seminar, 2005-2011, which is a required course for all Articling Agrologists and Articling Agricultural Technologists. He has been on the Professionalism and Ethics committee. He has been on and has chaired the S.I.A. Disciplinary Committee.
George flies a DJI Mavic 2 Professional drone (Small Remotely Piloted Aircraft System RPAS) and George is a certified pilot for the RPAS with Transport Canada. George was presented with the S.I.A. Recognition Award in 2017, which is presented to a Saskatchewan Agrologist who has rendered special service or made a significant contribution to the betterment of the Institute and profession. As of 2020, George is a Forensic Agrologist instructor with the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists (S.I.A.).
