In a previous work life, Kevin Hursh and I shared a newspaper page once a week.
As business editor at a daily prairie paper, I greatly appreciated Kevin’s incredible knowledge of the agriculture industry and his patient assistance when I needed help understanding a process or an issue.
In those days, I and others would write the business news stories and Kevin would supply the agriculture column for the Wednesday editions.
We’re on the same page again.
If you look down and to your left, you will see that Kevin has joinedThe Western Produceras a weekly columnist starting today. We are, frankly, thrilled.
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There are many remarkable things about Kevin. He is a commentator, but also a farmer. He can run a combine, organize a workshop, use a computer and deliver a speech. Some people might call him one of those renaissance guys.
Here’s a short history.
He joined CFQC Radio and Television in Saskatoon as an agriculture reporter in 1980 after graduating from the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Agriculture. He was later farm news director for CTV until 1995 when he created Hursh Consulting &Communications, coowned and operated by Marlene, Kevin’s wife. He is often listed as a speaker at agricultural conferences, and is in demand as a consultant. He is also the editor ofAgriSuccess,a bimonthly magazine published by Farm Credit Canada, and sits on several boards.
In their spare time (ha!), he and Marlene own and operate a grain farm near Cabri, Sask., where they grow a wide variety of crops.
Also in his spare time, Kevin gave me a lot of back-up. I recall a story, many moons ago, about grain drying. I knew nothing about grain drying. Kevin spent some time explaining how it worked and who to call for more assistance. My story was still pretty lumpy, considering my level of understanding, but it was much better than it would have been without Kevin’s help.
Welcome, Kevin, to theProducer.
On the sad side, the lovely folks who wrote the Moral Economy column are stepping aside, at least temporarily, after a decade of contributions. Thanks to Rob Brown, Nettie Wiebe, Cam Harder and Chris Lind .
Cowboy Logic will get a new biweekly home in the Livestock section; seek Ryan Taylor there.
