Regina, SK – A new president has taken the reins of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) with the conclusion of its 105th Annual General Meeting and Convention yesterday in Swift Current.
“I look forward to serving the membership and working with government,” said newly-elected SSGA president Bill Huber, who had previously served as the First Vice President.
“We had a great turnout for our 105th Annual General Meeting and Convention and it was an excellent meeting,” stated Huber, who will head up a new executive. Joining the Board of Directors this term is a new slate of Directors-at-Large voted in by the membership.
“The most pressing issues right now for producers are market access and the NAFTA negotiations,” the new SSGA president outlined the board’s upcoming priorities. “Exports are hugely important to the beef industry here in Saskatchewan and one of our first orders of business, as mandated by a newly-adopted resolution at the meeting, will be urging the swift ratification of the CPTPP agreement by parliament.”
The members brought forward and debated 13 resolutions, of which 12 were adopted. This year’s resolutions reflected some of the top issues facing the beef industry today.
The key resolutions focused on lobbying the federal government to prohibit “meat” and “hamburger” to be used on labels for plant and lab-based protein products marketed in Canada as well as lobbying the provincial government for changes to the Trespass Act and for development of an eradication plan for wild pigs in the province. Highlighting the importance of the environment to the membership, three of the resolutions pertained to ecosystem conservation and preservation of species-at-risk.
“The Convention featured some outstanding presenters that kept the membership informed and engaged,” Huber summed up the program of presentations covering cattle handling to marketing and forage production practices. Members had an opportunity to check out the latest production technologies and services at the trade show which was part of the convention.
The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) was presented at the convention to Blain and Naomi Hjertaas from Redvers, who share a passion for carbon sequestration and healthy soils. They have transformed their 1915 homestead ranch through environmental and holistic practices. They will now represent Saskatchewan for the national TESA award, which will be presented at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in August.
SSGA is a province-wide member driven advocacy organization representing independent self-reliant cattle producers’ interests for 105 years. The SSGA advocates through education, communication, and research for an economically and environmentally sustainable cattle industry where cattlemen are free to do business–within a free and open market place, free from industry limiting laws and regulation.
For more information contact:
Chad MacPherson
General Manager
SK Stock Growers Association
(306) 541-5023 | ssga@sasktel.net
