Neil Silver has struck gold at Agricore.
The 55-year-old grain and cattle producer from Huxley, Alta., has been elected president of Canada’s second largest grain company.
He replaces Charlie Swanson, the former Manitoba Pool Elevators president who retired after one year at the helm of Agricore.
In an interview Dec. 6, Silver said it was too early to say what he wants to do as president of Agricore.
“I’ve been on the job about three hours, so I don’t really know which way is up yet,” he said with a laugh.
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But while he may not have a specific business agenda to pursue, he did say he’ll always look at the issues that cross his desk with one thing in mind.
“I’m a farmer and it’s my honor to represent farmers as I move up in this organization,” he said. “I want to help to continue to make Agricore focus on the needs of farmers.”
Common interests
The new president acknowledged that as prairie-wide co-operative, Agricore will always face a challenge trying to find common ground among farmers from a wide geographic area, involved in a variety of farm operations and with a diversity of economic interests.
“I’d be a fool to deny that it’s difficult to satisfy everybody,” he said, adding that Agricore can best serve its farmer-members by adopting policies and practices that give farmers the lowest costs and the best agronomic service.
AWP delegate
Silver was first elected as a delegate to Alberta Wheat Pool in 1976 and a director in 1991, later serving as vice-president of the pool.
Having spent all of his life in Alberta, he said one of his priorities will be making himself known to Agricore’s members in Manitoba.
He also expects to spend a lot of time dealing with the aftermath of the strike by elevator and agri-centre workers in Manitoba, once it’s settled.
He praised Agricore’s employees as the best in the grain industry and said one of his goals will be to help heal any wounds that result from the sometimes bitter dispute.
“I will be very much focused on the people that work for our organization and how they serve us and serve our farmers,” he said.
