New Executive For Wheat Growers

The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) has a new executive after the wrap-up of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) during FarmTech in Edmonton.

 

Todd Hames takes over as the new Chair, and Hannah Konschuh continues in her role as Vice-Chair.

 

"I am honoured that my colleagues have placed their confidence in me to lead AWC’s board," said Hames. "We have seen a particularly challenging year with the difficult harvest, low prices and market uncertainty. It’s during these times that I'm most proud to serve on AWC’s board so we can continue working toward a stronger and more profitable future for farmers."

 

Hames takes over for Gary Stanford, one of the commission's founding directors.

 

"I've really enjoyed my time on the board and particularly as Chair," said Stanford. "Looking back on when the commission first began, I’m extremely proud of what we've accomplished from building our research portfolio to a total of more than $16.5 million invested in projects since inception, to the political progress we've made on files like rail transportation reform, to the ground we've gained with our global customers. I have great confidence that with Todd Hames’ industry experience and leadership that I am leaving AWC in great hands."

 

The board has also added three new directors: Dave Bartlett (Fairview) and Greg Sears (Sexsmith), both representing Region 5, and Dean Hubbard (Claresholm), representing Region 1. Dean’s position is subject to marketing council approval since he was nominated by the board to fill a vacant position following the Next Level Farming regional meetings in November.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.