Alberta Grains chair throws hat into provincial politics ring
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has tapped Tara Sawyer as the United Conservative Party candidate for the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills provincial byelection.
Sawyer will immediately take a leave of absence from her position as chair of Alberta Grains. Vice-chair Scott Jespersen will assume the role of acting chair.
Sawyer, a wheat, barley and canola farmer from Acme, was elected as Alberta Grains’ inaugural chair in 2023 after the amalgamation of the Alberta Wheat Commission and Alberta Barley.
Read Also
Sclerotinia-resistant canola varieties may be in the cards
A San Diego company is closer to commercializing a trait that could protect canola from sclerotinia.
“It has been an honour to represent Alberta’s wheat and barley farmers and help lead this organization during such a transformative time,” said Sawyer in an Alberta Grains press release.
“I’m proud of what our board has accomplished together and am confident in the strength of the leadership team taking the reins while I pursue this opportunity to continue serving Albertans in a new capacity.”
The Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills position came up for grabs when current MLA Nathan Cooper announced he will resign his position in the riding on June 1, triggering the vacancy.
Cooper had been the MLA for the area for a decade, garnering a new school in Acme, $60 million in funding for Olds College and hundreds of millions of dollars in transportation projects across the riding during his tenure.
Smith appointed Cooper on May 7 to be the province’s new senior representative to the United States. Cooper will be based in the American capital at the Alberta Washington Office starting in June.
Sawyer’s extensive experience also includes serving as chair of Grain Growers of Canada, the first woman elected to the role in the organization’s history.
That role had Sawyer representing Canada on trade missions to Asia, Africa and the Gulf in helping shape market access and agriculture policy.
Her community involvement has included volunteering in schools, coaching soccer, leading 4-H, and serving with the Acme Royal Purple Elks.
Her family was named Alberta’s Outstanding Young Farmers in 2011 and received the Calgary Stampede BMO Farm Family Award in 2014.
Jespersen, a grain farmer from Spruce Grove, serves as a Region 5 director with Alberta Grains and brings several years of experience on the board.
“Tara’s leadership has been crucial in not only shaping the vision and direction of Alberta Grains but also in my own personal development as an executive board member and regional director,” said Jespersen.
“As we move forward, I’m committed to continuing our work on behalf of Alberta’s wheat and barley farmers to grow a stronger, more sustainable grain industry.”
With Jespersen stepping into the role of acting chair, second vice-chair Devin Hartzler, a grain farmer from Carstairs and current Region 2 director, will become acting vice-chair.
Source: producer.com