Cereals Canada appoints Alta. chair

The new chair has a long history in the grain and oil seed industries

Todd Hames, chair of Alberta Wheat Commission and an Alberta farmer, is the new chair of Cereals Canada.

Cereals Canada announced its new board of directors and executive committee on June 23. The appointments follow the amalgamation of Cereals Canada and the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) in April.

The board features 16 directors, half from the industry side and half from the primary producer side.

“It's a really strong board of directors. We have strong representation from farmer groups and from industry. I look forward to working with the other directors,” Hames told Farms.com.

Hames, who is a grain farmer near Marwayne, Alta., has been involved in organizations such as the Canadian Canola Growers Association. He served as the association’s president for two years.

Hames is excited about his new position with Cereals Canada.

“It’s a real opportunity to lead this new organization. I am really passionate about agriculture and moving it forward. It is a great honor to be involved in a group like this to try to make a difference for farming and agriculture,” said Hames.

Hames looks forward to gaining a broader understanding of Cereals Canada during his one-year term as chair.

“I came from the Cereals Canada side and so certainly I've got a little more homework on the Cigi side. I look forward to the learning and getting more involved in that marketing component. That's a very big part of what Cereals Canada is – marketing with their international customers,” said Hames.