Board of Directors
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Shaun Dyrland
Chair
- Kyle, SK
- 306-375-7810
- Contact
Shaun Dyrland has been active in the family farm west of Kyle for the last 20 years, growing the operation to 15,000 acres with his family. They produce lentils, field peas, and chickpeas on approximately 50% of the land, with the balance being made up of durum wheat and canola. Shaun currently serves as SPG's Chair of the Board of Directors.
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Trent Richards
Vice Chair
- Assiniboia, SK
- 306-642-3490 home
- 306-640-7995 cell
- Contact
Trent Richards joined the SPG Board of Directors in 2016. Trent and his wife Tracy continue to operate a third generation farm in the Assiniboia area located in south‐central Saskatchewan. Trent currently continuously crops with lentils, peas, and soybeans making up one‐third of the acres, with cereals, canola, flax, and spices making up the remaining acres. Trent attended the University of Saskatchewan where he was enrolled in vocational agriculture. After school he operated a custom spraying business where he applied chemical, and sold sprayer parts. Trent served on the Assiniboia curling rink board, and Assiniboia civic improvement board. Trent currently serves as SPG's Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Governance Committee and he also sits on the Research & Development Committee and the Nominations Committee.
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Brad Blackwell
Director
- Dinsmore, SK
- 306-846-7091
- Contact
Brad Blackwell joined the SPG Board in 2017. He operates a family farm at Dinsmore where they grow 8,000 acres of lentils, chickpeas, soybeans, flax, and wheat. Pulse crops account for approximately 33% of their acres. Brad has been an active member of the Dinsmore Kinsmen Club since 1995, as well as a part of Telemiracle 27-31. Brad is the chair of SPG's Research & Development Committee. He also serves on the Pulse Canada Board of Directors and on the Canadian Grain Commission Western Standards Committee.
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John Bumbac
Director
- Assiniboia, SK
- 306-642-4753
- Contact
John Bumbac joined the SPG board in 2020. He operates a 6,000 acre family farm at Assiniboia, SK where they grow lentils, peas, canola, durum, and spring wheat. Pulse crops account for approximately 25% of their acres. John was a teacher and administrator for thirty years in rural Saskatchewan. He has been an active member of Five Hills Regional Health Authority Board, the Saskatchewan Association of Health Board, and the Viterra Farm Leadership Council Board. He also volunteers for Canadian Blood Services and the University of Regina Senate. John sits on SPG's Research & Development Committee as well as the Communications & Market Development Committee. He also serves on the Ag in the Classroom and Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan Board of Directors.
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Mario Gaudet
Director
- Melville, SK
- 306-526-9981
- Contact
Mario is a fourth generation farmer, now operating in Melville and Edenwold where he grows peas, faba beans, durum, canola, and oats. Accredited for being the founding Director of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, Mario's grandfather, Ronald Gaudet, was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2003. With a background in agriculture, Mario is fascinated by the potential of pulses to increase profitability, efficiency, and quality. He is also a member of the Melville Chamber of Commerce and Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation. Mario currently works for Timac Agro Canada as a Regional Manager for the North East region. Mario sits on SPG's Audit & Finance Committee as well as the Communications & Market Development Committee.
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Jason Hennes
Director
- Eatonia, SK
- 306-460-8061
- Contact
Jason Hennes joined the SPG board in 2020. He operates a family farm at Eatonia, SK where they grow 13,000 acres of lentils, yellow peas, durum, barley, canola, and mustard. Pulse crops account for approximately 40% of their acres. Jason has volunteered on the local recreation and Lions Club boards, serving a term on each as president. He has also spent 20 years as a volunteer hockey coach. Jason is the Chair of SPG's Communications & Market Development Committee and he also sits on the Governance Committee. He also serves on the Grain Growers of Canada Board of Directors.
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Corey Loessin
Director
- Radisson, SK
- 306-827-2022 home
- 306-827-7656 cell
- Contact
Corey Loessin joined the SPG Board of Directors in 2012. Corey and his wife Joan Heath, along with their children Audra and Aidan, farm in northwestern Saskatchewan growing various crops including peas, lentils, and faba beans. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree from the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) and worked as a District Agriculturalist in Alberta for several years prior to returning to Saskatchewan to farm. While farming, he also taught crop science courses at the U of S for 12 years. Corey is the chair of SPG's Nominations Committee and is also a member of the Research & Development Committee. He also serves as Chair on the Pulse Canada Board of Directors.
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Winston van Staveren
Director
- Creelman, SK
- 306-722-7749
Winston van Staveren farms with his family at Creelman, SK where they grow canola, wheat, durum, soybeans, and lentils. Winston is on the board of directors for the Indian Head Agriculture Research Foundation (IHARF). For that organization, he is on the Crops and Marketing Committee. He is active in his community and serves as a director for the Creelman Agricultural Society. He is a director for the Fillmore Prairie Memories Museum and the Fillmore Catholic Church. Winston is also a volunteer crop reporter for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. Winston is the Chair of SPG's Audit & Finance Committee and he also sits on the Research & Development Committee. He also serves on the Soy Canada Board of Directors.
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Terry Youzwa
Director
- Nipawin, SK
- 306-862-7669
Terry Youzwa farms with his family at Nipawin, SK where they grow canola, wheat, oats, peas, faba beans, and canaryseed. Terry has previously served on the SaskCanola Board and the Canola Council of Canada. He has also served as a Director with Cereals Canada. Terry has been involved in his community serving on the Nipawin Community Justice Committee, and serving municipally as a councillor of the Resort Village of Tobin Lake. Terry sits on SPG's Audit & Finance Committee, Governance Committee, and Communications & Market Development Committee. He also serves on the Pulse Canada Board of Directors.