New hands on the tiller at National Farmers Union

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Published: July 15, 2010

The names and faces may have changed, but the newly appointed executives at the National Farmers Union say they intend to carry on the spirit and traditions of their predecessors.

Ross Hinther is the NFU’s new director of research, replacing Darrin Qualman, who recently stepped down after 14 years in the position.

Kevin Wipf is the new executive director, replacing Terry Pugh, who held various positions with the NFU for more than 20 years.

During a joint interview in the union’s head office last week, both said they will have to work hard to meet the standards set by their predecessors.

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“The bar has been set very high,” said Wipf.

A big part of that will be providing solid, fact-based research to support the organization’s policy positions, as developed by members and the board of directors, said Hinther.

“The NFU has a history of solid research to back up policy positions and I want to continue that tradition,” he said. “There are big shoes to fill here.”

Wipf said he intends to work in every area of the NFU from policy development to organizational management to public communications.

“I’ll do whatever’s needed,” he said. “I guess I’ll be a jack of all trades.”

He said the NFU will continue its role as a watchdog and frequent critic of federal government policy, even if that means being frozen out by federal officials and other farm organizations that support Ottawa’s positions.

“I think our role is to present an honest alternative view of the state of agriculture,” he said.

“We feel a lot of other farm groups have been co-opted into sharing and supporting the government’s view. You need an opposing view to provide a counterbalance. If not, you don’t have any debate or any real analysis of the issues.

“We do participate when we get invited and when we feel it would be worthwhile,” he said, adding the government is missing out by not engaging in direct dialogue with NFU.

Hinther said there is a lot of expertise among NFU members, and he intends to draw on that in his work. He became an NFU member only recently, but there is a history of membership in his family and he has always subscribed to the organization’s point of view and beliefs.

The pair said they will have to work hard to ensure they take into account the needs and priorities of farmers from all regions of the country.

“We’ll have to be careful not to look at things through a Saskatchewan lens,” said Wipf.

Wipf

Appointed June 1

Grew up working on the family’s grain farm northwest of Saskatoon, homesteaded by his great-grandparents in 1907. The farm, operated by his brother, includes a red dairy barn one year shy of 100

He attended university in Winnipeg and Waterloo, Ont., earning a master’s degree in political science.

Most recently, he has been at the University of Alberta pursuing a PhD and teaching courses in Canadian government and politics, with an emphasis on farm issues

Hinther

Appointed May 3

Career has been in computers and information technology

Has a degree from the University of Saskatchewan and worked with the provincial government in Regina for several years. He moved to Saskatoon, where he spent the next 20 years as a systems analyst with Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan. After leaving PCS, he did contract work with Cameco Corp.

The move to Saskatoon enabled him to work on the 30-year-old family grain and cattle farm at nearby Aberdeen

Hinther farms and is on the board of the Saskatchewan Health Coalition.

About the author

Adrian Ewins

Saskatoon newsroom

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