The former president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan says he stepped aside mainly because of a difference in philosophy with other board members.
“I’m not sure that I had enough of the confidence of the entire board,” said Ken McBride.
He said a board’s job is to come up with a vision and then allow management to do its job and act on that vision.
“We lost a little bit of our focus,” he said. “There needs to be a line between what’s board and what’s management.”
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McBride said in a democratic organization the board makes the decisions and members have to deal with the outcome or walk away.
“I decided it was better for me if I just step away.”
The Kindersley farmer had been president since December 2005.
The board recently dismissed executive director Lynette Keyowski, who had been with APAS for several years in policy development and then as executive director.
Larry Toner, an APAS representative from Kelfield, is temporarily the acting office manager.
The board also terminated the contract it had with policy manager Marvin Shauf, who had previously served on the executive of Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.
APAS has had six managers since it was formed seven years ago and several communications and policy staff members.
McBride said he hoped his resignation wouldn’t affect the progress APAS has made in establishing itself as a voice for agriculture.
“It’s a very much needed organization,” he said. “We gained a lot of credibility in lots of circles. We need to believe that credibility more ourselves sometimes.”
APAS critics have suggested the organization lacks credibility because it doesn’t allow individual farmers to join. Rural municipalities decide whether to spend tax dollars on a membership and all farmers and landowners within those boundaries become members, whether they agree with the decision or not. Usually the decision is made after a general ratepayers’ meeting.
As of February, fewer than half the province’s 296 RMs were members. APAS’s goal is to work toward a profitable agricultural sector, a viable rural Saskatchewan and a society where agriculture’s role is recognized and appreciated.
McBride hasn’t yet decided if he will continue representing his RM at APAS.
