Farms.com Home   News

Executive team returns to Alberta Grains

Following Alberta Grains’ Annual General Meeting held last week in Banff, Alta. during the Prairie Cereals Summit, the commission is pleased to announce its board of directors and executive team.

Tara Sawyer, who farms near Acme, continues as board chair. Spruce Grove area farmer Scott Jespersen is first vice-chair, and Devin Hartzler who farms near Carstairs is the second vice-chair.

She served as the inaugural chair starting in January 2024.

“I’m incredibly grateful to continue to serve as the chair for Alberta Grains,” she said. “We have an incredibly passionate group on our board who bring an extensive range of diverse skills and backgrounds, all with the same goal of advancing grain production and awareness in Alberta and across Canada.”

After a series of regional meetings in October and November to conduct elections, Alberta Grains introduces the newly elected directors:

• Region 1: Dean Hubbard, David Bishop

• Region 2: Devin Hartzler, Tara Sawyer

• Region 3: Stewart Oke, Dick Wymenga

• Region 4: Shawn Jacula

• Region 5: Scott Jespersen, Harvey Hagman

• Region 6: Greg Sears, Tasha Alexander

Alberta Grains Executive Director Mike Flynn said every decision made at the board table is based on how to best benefit Alberta farmers.

“With solid governance, varied perspectives and thoughtful discussions, I’m proud of the board that we’ve formed and eager to work with them to meet our goals at every step. I’m excited to see how this committed group of farmers will continue driving our industry forward,” Flynn said.


Trending Video

Democratizing Gene Editing - Pairwise’s Vision for the Future of Agriculture

Video: Democratizing Gene Editing - Pairwise’s Vision for the Future of Agriculture

Pairwise has built its business around an idea that runs counter to how many companies approach innovation: make transformative technology easier to access.

In this Seed World interview, CEO Tom Adams discusses why broader access to gene editing could speed crop improvement, expand innovation opportunities and help agriculture address emerging challenges. He explains why Pairwise believes no single company can solve all of agriculture's problems alone—and why making advanced breeding technologies available to more organizations could accelerate progress across the industry.

The conversation explores how consumer trust influences technology adoption, why innovations like pitless cherries and seedless blackberries matter beyond convenience, and how future crop improvements could help address labor shortages, automation, harvest efficiency and other production challenges. Adams also shares his perspective on what the industry may be underestimating about the next wave of gene editing innovation.

Watch the full interview to hear why Pairwise believes agriculture is approaching an important inflection point for gene editing, and why the pace of innovation over the next decade could surprise the industry.

Topics Covered:

o Democratizing agricultural innovation

o Consumer trust and technology adoption

o The business case for sharing innovation

o Expanding innovation beyond major crops

o Next-generation breeding technologies