The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan has hired a new executive director.
Dion McGrath was scheduled to take over from Duane Haave on Sept. 19.
McGrath grew up on a mixed grain and hog farm near LeRoy.
He worked in the provincial government and became president and chief executive officer of Southeast College in Weyburn in 2012. He then worked in the family business, which helped other small businesses, many of them rural, develop their online presence.
In an interview, McGrath said he was drawn to APAS because of the work the general farm organization has done.
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“Where they’ve come since their inception since back in 2000 is a long way, and their reputation and their abilities to do the policy and advocacy work that they’ve set out to do is what impressed me, first and foremost,” he said.
The team at APAS is strong and dedicated to identifying solutions to problems in the agriculture sector, he said, and the executive members were passionate and convincing about where they want the organization to go.
“It had all the ingredients that made me put my hat into the ring and it turned out,” said McGrath.
During his time with the provincial government, he worked in areas such as pork processing, biofuels, and rural and community economic development policy.
McGrath said his first order of business is engaging with members to get up to speed.
Fewer than half of the province’s 296 rural municipalities are members of APAS and convincing the others of what the organization can do and the results it gets is also a priority. McGrath said communicating the value RMs get from being APAS members is important.
He said agricultural policy influences everyday life across the province and a successful sector builds successful communities.
President Ian Boxall said McGrath’s experience is a good fit for APAS.
“I look forward to working with him on a variety of policy topics in the coming years,” said Boxall.
