Sheldon Cooper and Marvin Shauf are Saskatchewan grain farmers who often find themselves on opposite sides of the farm policy fence.
They are about to get to know one another much better as they prepare to spend close to two years as members of a select group chosen to be trained for future expanded leadership roles in the food industry.
“I have been involved in the policy field for some time,” said Cooper, Saskatchewan vice-president of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association. “I’m hoping this course gives me a broader education and context for some of the things I see happening around me.”
Read Also
Carberry field day looks for agriculture solutions
Manitoba farmers explored research solutions for resilient crops, perpetual agronomic issues and new kinds of agricultural products at a field day at the Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre in Carberry on Aug. 6.
Shauf, vice-president of Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, says the experience will help him in his pool leadership role. He was encouraged by the company to apply.
“Expanding my knowledge base will be a big thing and I also think computer training in communications will be a major asset,” he said.
They are among 30 food industry players from across Canada chosen for the Canadian Agriculture Lifetime Leadership program, which will take them from classrooms in Saskatoon to sites and sounds across Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Co-sponsored by the Canadian Farm Business Management Council and the University of Saskatchewan with funding from Agriculture Canada, the course is described by the federal department as “an intensive two-year journey to learn all they can about one of this country’s most important industries.”
Some of the work will be done on home or office computers before all 30 get together for the first time at the University of Saskatchewan for several days in autumn to hear lectures and do course work.
At least seven weeks will be spent traveling.
“I hope I come out of this a little more worldly,” said Cooper. “Here in east-central Saskatchewan, there are issues but they also have a broader context. I think it will help me better influence politicians about what I think needs to be done.”
Shauf also saw opportunities for growth.
“I think the expanded knowledge base will be a big part of it,” he said. “I hope I will be able to put policy issues and operational issues into a broader context.”
For all members of the group, there will be a large time commitment and a $5,000 personal cost over the two years.
Others from the Prairies who have been selected from more than 100 applicants include Alberta dairy producer Bruce Beattie; Saskatoon-based home economics consultant Linda Braun; Manitoba Pool Elevators district representative Wendy Bulloch; Canadian Charolais Association general manager Dale Kelly, of Calgary; Peter Volk, a farm manager with Prairie Victory Farm near Tramping Lake, Sask; Lee Pengilly, a farm manager at Circle J Resources mixed farm near Stirling, Alta.; Mike Leslie, president of Nakodo Consulting Inc. of Calgary, which specializes in market development for exports to Japan; Alanna Koch, executive director of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association; Grant Fotheringham, a farm manager from Reston, Man.; Vern Crawford, a farm manager from Three Hills, Alta.; Vic Bruce, manager of Sunrise Farms Ltd. pedigreed seed farm near Tuxford, Sask.
