Manitoba’s crop organizations have come out of meeting season with a number of new leaders and directors.
The Manitoba Canola Growers Association has elected Warren Ellis of Wawanesa as its president for 2024-25, with Jackie Dudgeon-MacDonald of Darlingford acclaimed as vice-president and Nicolea Dow of Portage la Prairie acclaimed as secretary and named treasurer.
“The directors and staff of the MCGA work very hard for the benefit of its grower members,” Ellis said in a release. “I am pleased to be allowed to chair this talented and hardworking group.”
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Chuck Fossay of Starbuck was acclaimed into the role of past president, which for the MCGA is a newly established executive position. Fossay has served on the MCGA board since 2014 and was also previously a vice-president with Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP).
“We have a fantastic group of farmers leading our organization in 2024 with ideas already coming forward that build on the great work of our past board,” Delaney Ross Burtnack, MCGA’s executive director, said in the same release.
“I look forward to seeing the vision of the new MCGA board come to life as they get settled in their roles, and exploring new ways to engage our farmer members to help guide that vision.”
The Manitoba Crop Alliance, which represents the province’s wheat, barley, flax, corn and sunflower growers, announced five new board members: Doug Martin of East Selkirk, Leigh Smith of Oak Lake, Sally Parsonage of Baldur, Scott Mowbray of Cartwright and Sheila Elder of Wawanesa.
Each of the new directors was elected from their respective crop committee during meetings held earlier in February. Martin is a delegate on the MCA’s corn committee, Smith on the flax committee and Parsonage on the sunflower committee; Mowbray and Elder both sit on the organization’s wheat and barley committee.
“When different perspectives and areas of expertise are added to our board, we are always stronger for it,” MCA CEO Pam de Rocquigny said in a separate release. “This board of directors strikes an excellent balance between governance experience and fresh ideas, which will serve our farmer members well.”
MCA chair and vice-chair, Robert Misko and Jonothan Hodson, will remain in those roles. The board also elected Parsonage as its new secretary, replacing outgoing director Warren McCutcheon.
“I initially joined MCA to contribute to the agriculture sector in Manitoba and to broaden my horizons off the farm,” Parsonage said. “I’ve really enjoyed my time as a delegate and am excited to contribute further on the executive. Helping to guide the organization’s research program has been the most interesting and rewarding part of my time with MCA.”
The Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association also elected new leadership in February, with Manitoba Beef Producers representative Mike Duguid of Arnes elected to the role of chair. Zack Koscielny of Strathclair was named vice-chair, while Dairy Farmers of Manitoba representative Lawrence Knockaert of Bruxelles will serve a one-year stint as past chair.
Two new MFGA board members, Paul Gregory of Fisher Branch and Zach Grossart of Brandon, were nominated and accepted to join the board for 2024-25.
