New wheat directors
The Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission has two new directors for 2006-07.
Kent Erickson of Irma was elected director-at-large. Harvey Brink of Bentley was elected director in Region 5.
They replaced two directors who were forced to step down from the board by a rule requiring the maximum time on the board to be six years.
The other director position was filled when Alex Russell of Lethbridge was reappointed for Region 1. Russell is starting the second year of his two-year term as commission chair.
Read Also
Agriculture ministers agree to AgriStability changes
federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
They join sitting directors Stephen Vandervalk of Fort Macleod, Ron Noga of Seven Persons and Wayne Tuck of Vegreville.
The Region 3 directorship remains vacant.
Top canola breeder
A scientist leading the research group for spring canola at Pioneer Hi-Bred, has been recognized for outstanding work.
Jay Patel has won the 2006 Canadian Plant Breeding and Genetics Award, which recognizes work of a Canadian researcher in the advancement of plant agriculture.
In his work at Pioneer, Patel has developed and released canola varieties that have established themselves as longtime benchmarks in the industry and have accounted for 20 million acres in North America since 1995. He has tried to make canola more profitable for farmers and more nutrious for consumers.
Patel has released 36 varieties, including 45A71, the first commercial canola variety in Canada to contain Clearfield’s herbicide-tolerant trait. He also developed 45A37 in 1995 as the first mid-oleic/low linolic variety.
Seaway appointment
Ian MacGregor has been appointed to the St. Lawrence Seaway Management board of directors representing domestic carriers.
MacGregor is a lawyer with the firm Fasken Martineau. His practice includes public financing, mergers and acquisitions, domestic and international joint ventures and work for shipping companies.
MacGregor was previously on the board representing Ontario from 2001-04.
Miss Rodeo
Tara Sergerie of Okotoks, Alta., was crowned Miss Rodeo Canada 2007 during the 2006 Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton. The former Airdrie Pro Rodeo Princess is the 39th woman to hold the title.
Sergerie, 21, was raised with traditional family values and developed a strong appreciation for the western way of life.
Fluent in English and French, Sergerie is pursuing a nursing degree at Mount Royal College in Calgary with plans of becoming a doctor and working with Doctors Without Borders.
As Miss Rodeo Canada, she is expected to make more than 550 appearances throughout Western Canada and into the United States as the official ambassador for the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association. For more information on the Miss Rodeo Canada Pageant, visit the Canadian Professional Rodeo website at www.rodeocanada.com.
