Allen Oberg has been elected the new chair of the Canadian Wheat Board’s board of directors.Oberg runs a 6,500 acre farm at Forestburg, Alta., where he grows wheat, barley, canola and peas. He also raises commercial cows.“It is both a great opportunity and a tremendous responsibility to lead this organization and serve the farmers of Western Canada,” said Oberg.“Farmers tell me that they want to be firmly in control of their marketing organization and we will work to ensure that farmers are clearly in the driver’s seat.”Oberg’s past board experience includes stints at Alberta Wheat Pool, Agricore, the Canadian Co-operative Association and as chair of the Western Grains Research Foundation.He was first elected to the CWB board of directors in 2002 in District 5 and has served as chair of the board’s farmer relations committee.He replaces Larry Hill, who has been chair since 2008. The Swift Current, Sask.,-area farmer, who was first elected to the board in 1998, has served his maximum number of elected terms. The transition of power typically happens in June ahead of fall elections.Hill prides himself on fostering a good working relationship with chief executive officer Ian White and ironing out differences among his fellow board members.“It takes work on the chairman’s part to keep people working together constructively and I hope I managed that,” he said.“I think we did manage to get a long-term plan that had nearly unanimous agreement by the board of directors.”But his relationship with the federal government didn’t go as smoothly.“We had our difficulties. There is no question about that,” said Hill.The grain marketing agency and the government had “different agendas” and were frequently in conflict with one another during his tenure at the helm of the CWB.“I certainly would have been happier if there would have been more success on moving towards more producer control of the organization.”Hill said he will look back on his 12 years of service at the CWB fondly.“There was certainly some frustration at times but all in all, I enjoyed it.”
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