Grain Farmers elects board executives

Friday, February 10, 2012

by SUSAN MANN

Henry Van Ankum was elected chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario at the board of directors meeting this week.

He replaces Don Kenny, who completed two years of service and was the first chair of Grain Farmers after Ontario’s three grain grower groups (corn, soybeans and wheat) amalgamated in 2010.

Van Ankum, who represents District 10 (Grey, Bruce and Wellington), wasn’t immediately available for an interview.  He farms 1,200 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat with his wife, Susan, near Alma.

The representative for District 2 (Kent County), Mark Huston, was elected first vice chair, while Mark Brock from the Stratford area in District 9 was elected second vice-chair.

A new member on the executive committee is Leo Guilbeault from District 1 (Essex) who will serve as executive member. He is a former chair of the previous provincial soybean growers group.

There are two new directors on the Grain Farmers board for 2012. They are Kevin Armstrong representing District 7 (Waterloo and Oxford) and Colin Elliott representing District 11 (Dufferin, Simcoe, Halton, Peel and York). BF