Nominations open for SaskPulse, SaskOilseeds boards

By Your Southwest Media Group

People interested in helping guide Saskatchewan’s pulse and oilseed sectors can now run for director positions with Saskatchewan Pulse Growers and SaskOilseeds.

Nominations recently opened for both organizations as several current directors’ terms are set to expire in mid-January.

Elections will be held if more than three candidates are nominated for the SaskPulse board and more than four for the SaskOilseeds board. SaskPulse directors serve three-year terms and may be re-elected twice, while SaskOilseeds directors serve four-year terms and may be re-elected once, according to a joint statement from the organizations.

All four SaskOilseeds directors whose terms are ending are eligible to seek another term. They are Jon Fehr of Herschel, Anthony Eliason of Outlook, Margaret Rigetti of Langbank and Ed Schafer of Makwa.

Three SaskPulse directors whose terms are expiring may also run again. They include vice-chair BJ Haubrich of Hazenmore, who is completing his first three-year term, along with Terry Youzwa of Nipawin and Winston van Staveren of Creelman. Van Staveren chaired the organization for two years before being succeeded by Stuart Lawrence in January. Both Youzwa and van Staveren are completing their second terms.

“Serving on either board is a meaningful opportunity to help shape the future of Saskatchewan agriculture and represent pulse and oilseed growers across the province, country and globe,” the statement said.

In addition to attending board meetings, directors serve on committees, represent their organizations at industry events and may be appointed to other agriculture-related boards.

Nominations for both boards close Sept. 11.

Candidates must have sold canola, flax or pulse crops within the past two years for SaskOilseeds eligibility, or within the past three years for SaskPulse. They must also have paid the applicable levy on those sales and not requested a levy refund during the previous year.

More information is available from SaskPulse and SaskOilseeds.