Lorne Hehn, a key figure in prairie farm policy for more than 30 years, died recently in Saskatoon.
He was 79.
Hehn was born and raised on a farm at Markinch, Sask., and studied agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan. He returned to the farm in 1962 and became active in farm policy five years later.
He served on the board of directors of United Grain Growers from 1970 to 1981. In 1981 he was elected president and moved to Winnipeg.
The UGG organization was never a fan of the Canadian Wheat Board, yet Hehn left in 1990 to become the board’s chief commissioner and supported the organization’s export monopoly.
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He was in charge during a turbulent time. For example, the board filed a level of service complaint against the railways after grain didn’t move in the winter of 1996-97.
He weathered a plebiscite on barley exports and presided over governance reforms that saw a board of directors replace an advisory committee.
He retired after those director elections in 1998.
Earlier that year, he told The Western Producer that he was looking forward to retirement and time with his family after 32 years of working for farmers.
“All my life my family has had to give up a lot of things because I was trying to do what was best for farmers,” he said at the time. “This time it’s for us.”
Hehn also served on the boards of Royal Bank of Canada, Potash Corp. and Lutheran Life.
“He had the strength of character and conviction to speak his mind in order to effect change on behalf of those whom he represented,” said his obituary.
The funeral was held Sept. 28 in Markinch.
His wife, Beth, survives him, as do his son Jeff and daughter-in-law Sarah of Saskatoon, and daughter Pam, husband Darvin and three grandchildren in Frisco, Texas.
