WGRF held its Annual Members Meeting on April 5, 2018 in Calgary Alberta. Garth Patterson, WGRF Executive Director, reported that WGRF successfully completed year one of its four-year transition plan (2017 to 2020). WGRF invested over $17 million into variety development, production and post production research in 2017 and continues to be the largest producer funder of crop research in Canada. Patterson estimated that WGRF’s annual funding could exceed $22 million by 2020.

Members elected the following individuals to the Board for 2018/19:

Bob Rugg, Elstow, SK
Corey Loessin, Radisson, SK
Dale Hicks, Outlook, SK
Dan Danielson, Eston, SK
Dave Sefton, Broadview, SK
Dr. Keith Degenhardt, Hughenden, AB
Elroy Trithardt, Kipling, SK
Ernest Wiebe, Fort St. John, BC
Gerry Hertz, Edenwold, SK
Jason Skotheim, Spruce Home, SK
Jeff Nielsen, Olds, AB
Kenton Possberg, Humboldt, SK
Rauri Qually, Dacotah, MB
Simon Ellis, Wawanesa, MB
Stewart Wells, Swift Current, SK
Terry James, Vegreville, AB
Terry Young, Lacombe, AB
Todd Lewis, Regina, SK

WGRF thanked retiring Directors for their service to the Board. These included: Dylan Wiebe, Altona, MB; Glenn Tait, North Battleford; Graeme Manness, Domain, MB; Joe Rennick, Milestone SK; and Malcolm Odermatt, Fort St John, BC.

At the first meeting of the new Board, Terry Young of Lacombe Alberta was elected as the Chair and Jason Skotheim of Spruce Home Saskatchewan was elected as the Vice-Chair.

“I am very honored to have been elected as the Board Chair and I am excited about the opportunities in front of WGRF,” says WGRF Board Chair, Terry Young. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Dave Sefton and Dr. Keith Degenhardt for their service as Chair and Vice-Chair of WGRF the past six years. WGRF is an important organization for western Canadian producers. WGRF has the experience, financial resources and western Canadian focus to provide a needed integrated approach to research on cropping systems.”

Terry currently lives and farms east of Red Deer, Alberta. In addition to farming, Terry has served on numerous producer boards and commissions over the last 30 years. Terry has taken on several leadership roles in crop research and has been a director on the WGRF board since 2016.

Jason farms with his brothers on a farm north of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Jason has been previously employed within the Saskatchewan provincial department of agriculture as a research economist. Jason has also served on several producer boards and industry committees. Jason has been a director on the WGRF Board since 2014.