Verwey Elected to Lead KAP

By Elmer Heinrichs

For the first time in the group’s history the Keystone Agriculture Producers (KAP) had an election for president, which occurred at the annual meeting recently.

Jill Verwey who farms at of Portage la Prairie, MB with her family on a mixed dairy, beef, and grain operation, becomes its first female president.

Verwey won the election at KAP’s annual meeting over fellow incumbent vice-president Jake Ayre, of Minto, to replace outgoing President Bill Campbell in the organization’s first contested election for president in several decades.

Campbell had served the maximum four one-year terms as the head of KAP.

KAP is a non-profit or- ganization founded in 1984 and has approximately 4,600 farmer members who produce a variety of agricultural products. KAP is also supported by 20 commodity group members.

“Certainly, being a part of the board and the executive for the past five years gives me the skills I feel are necessary to be president, and to be the voice of Manitoba producers,” said Verwey after the vote.

Verwey points to volatility with climate, trade and markets as key challenges moving forward.

“There are so many things that play a part in what’s ahead,” she said, noting the continuance of existing policies and looking at the overall strategic plan. “I’m excited about doing that in the next month or so.”

“I’m looking forward to sitting down with our board and based on our vision of sustainability and profitability for all producers how do we get to that with advocating programming and engag-