Keystone Agricultural Producers president Ian Wishart has resigned.
He announced his resignation from Manitoba’s general farm lobby group Oct. 14 at KAP’s general council meeting in Portage la Prairie.
Wishart, who has been KAP president since 2008 and vice-president for four years before that, didn’t explain his sudden resignation.
“There will be additional information in a few weeks, but to continue contributing to Manitoba farmers, I saw that I needed to change what I’m doing,” he said following the council meeting.
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“I started this year with the intention of finishing and going to the annual meeting (in January).… But time lines were such that I couldn’t quite make that.”
KAP vice-president Rob Brunel will serve as interim president until the organization elects a new leader this winter.
He said Wishart’s extensive knowledge and ability to get things done will be missed.
“Ian’s the kind of guy who’s a walking encyclopedia of knowledge on all sorts of issues,” Brunel said.
Looking back at his time with KAP, Wishart said he’s most proud of his work on Alternative Land Use Services, a pilot project in the Rural Municipality of Blanshard where producers are compensated for sustainable farming practices.
“Some provinces have implemented it and it has become a far more common policy around the world. I think it’s an inevitable process here in Manitoba.”
As for regrets, Wishart wished the organization had done more work on carbon trading while he was president.
However, he learned during his time with KAP that it takes time and persistence to get things done.
“If this whole involvement has taught me anything, is that you really have to be patient on ag policy.”
Brunel said he has decided not to run to replace Wishart as president, but KAP’s other vice-president, Doug Chorney, has thrown his hat in the race.
Nominations for KAP’s president and other executive positions close at the beginning of December. Members will select a new president at the organization’s annual meeting in January.
David Faurschou, the Progressive Conservative MLA for Portage la Prairie, announced in September that he will not run in the 2011 provincial election. Wishart farms near Portage.
