Agency Appoints Advisory Committees

ALMA News Release

The Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency has created five industry advisory committees to guide the organization.

"This is a critical component to the success of our industry," said provincial Agriculture Minister George Groeneveld. "When I announced the strategy and the creation of ALMA, I promised that industry would remain the driver," in announcing the new committees.

"The advisory committee members possess a great deal of knowledge and will help ensure the success of our livestock and meat industry."

The five new committees are: cattle producers, beef processors, the pork value chain, the diversified livestock sector and "innovation and further value-added."

The new advisory committees are expected to "provide advice on issues facing industry, support the implementation of the Alberta Livestock and Meat Strategy and provide a forum for industry representatives to share information, while working within a positive and co-operative atmosphere."

"The insight and experience of these respected committee members will enable us to develop and implement many important initiatives that will help create a more vibrant future for our industry," ALMA board chairman Joe Makowecki said in the province's release Wednesday.

ALMA ADVISORY COMMITTEES

Cattle producers

• Bill Newton, Alberta Livestock Industry Development Fund
• Bill Feenstra, Alberta Milk
• Clay Gellhaus, Alberta Veterinarian Medical Association
• Dave Plett, producer at large
• Gary Smith, Alta Exports International
• Herb Groenenboom, Alberta Cattle Feeders Association
• Jennifer Stewart-Smith, producer at large
• Leighton Kolk, producer at large
• Reg Schmidt, Feeders Association of Alberta
• Rick Burton, Alberta Beef Producers
• Russel Pickett, Western Stock Growers Association

Beef processors

• Brian Nilsson, Nilsson Bros. Inc.
• Geoff Smolkin, West Coast Reduction Ltd.
• Ray Price, Sunterra Meats
• Scott Entz, Cargill

Pork value chain

• Ben Woolley, Alberta Pork
• Bryan Perkins, producer at large
• Dan Majeau, Sturgeon Valley Pork
• Don Brookbank, Olymel
• Glenn Van Dijken, Western Hog Exchange
• Herb Holoboff, Alberta Pork
• Jurgen Preugschas, producer at large
• Mark Wipf, Alberta Pork
• Ray Price, Sunterra (Trochu)
• Trevor Sears, Maple Leaf

Diversified livestock

• Doug Milligan, producer at large
• Florence Henning, Alberta Sheep and Wool Commission
• Glenda Elkow, Alberta Elk Commission
• Len Shandruk, Diversifed Livestock Fund of Alberta
• Miles Kliner, Sunterra (Innisfail)
• Myrna Coombs, Goat Breeders Association
• Tom Olson, Bison Producers of Alberta

Innovation and further value-added

• Bruce Smith, VAMP
• Christoph Weder, Prairie Heritage Beef
• Darryl Doell, Alberta Turkey Producers
• Dave Kasko, XL Foods Grinding
• Ed Rodenburg, Lilydale
• Hans Kabat, Sun Valley Foods
• James Ducs, Mountain Top Foods
• Jean Beliveau, Premium Brands
• Jeff Clark, Kitchen Partners
• Karsten Nossack, Nossack Fine Meats
• Kirsten Kotelko, Spring Creek Ranch
• Peter Muhlenfeld, Champion Pet Food
• Scott Weins, Alberta Chicken Producers
• Tony Spiteri, New Food Classics