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Moody’s Equipment awarded New Holland Agriculture’s highest honour Moody’s Equipment in Saskatoon has earned membership in New Holland Agriculture’s exclusive President’s Club. Membership in the President’s Club, the highest company honour that can be attained by a New Holland Agriculture dealership, recognizes outstanding achievement in all facets of business management and customer satisfaction. New Holland Agriculture President’s Club Award winners achieved the highest levels in excellence in facilities, business management, sales, parts and service support, and customer satisfaction. The announcement was made last Thursday. “President’s Club Award winners have worked hard to deliver exceptional service and support to their customers. We’re very proud to present this type of recognition to the best of the best. Let me assure you that anyone seeking to acquire agricultural equipment in this growing market will be well served by our very best New Holland dealers achieving these standards,” says Franco Fusignani, President and Chief Executive Officer, New Holland Agriculture.
Sufferin’ Suckertash! . . . Gillian Massie pulls a sucker from the board during the annual St. Gabriel School Share Lent Carnival, April 21 while classmate, Jobelle Claudio and teacher Claire Friesen. The
students and staff raised $818 for Development and Peace. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Great Plains names new President After an eight-month s e a r ch , G r e a t P l a i n s College announced that David Francis will be the organization’s next president and CEO. Francis was introduced last week during a news conference at Great Plains’ Swift Current Campus and will start his duties immediately. Francis served on the Saskatchewan Institute
of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) senior management team since 2004 as Virtual Campus academic director. He has a deep industry background in the strategic use of academic technologies. He holds undergraduate degrees in mathematics (University of New Brunswick) and education (Mount Allison), as well as a graduate degree in education (Memorial
University). “I’ve always looked forward to taking on new challenges and opportunities for growth,” said Francis. “To me this position certainly represents both and I look forward to helping lead
Great Plains College out of a period of great transition, into one of even greater prosperity.” “David’s experience and personality put him at the top of a strong pool of applicants,” said Great
Plains chairman Brian Shygera. “We’re extremely pleased to have him on board and look forward to seeing his vision for the college unfold over the coming weeks and months.”
Excess moisture hampering seeding operations in Sask. There are a few localized areas in the province where producers have started field work, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report for the period of April 19 to 25. However, due to the excess moisture, the majority of Saskatchewan’s producers are at least two weeks away from seeding. A few areas in the southwest, west central and northwest have dried up enough for producers to start harrowing, picking
rocks, applying fertilizer and controlling weeds. There have been only a few reports of seeding to date. The majority of crop reporters are indicating fields are still very wet. Warm days with some wind will be needed before fields can support machinery. Very little precipitation has been recorded in the province during the past two weeks, which has helped in getting producers closer to field operations. All crop reporters are
indicating adequate livestock water availability. Fifty-five per cent of the crop reporters have indicated excellent to good pasture conditions, while 45 per cent are reporting fair to very poor conditions. Due to the late spring, growth in the pastures is slow. In many areas both pasture and crop land are flooded or inaccessible. Farmers are busy calving, cleaning seed, preparing machinery and checking fences.
Namesake visits Perdue . . . Perdue Mayor Dave Miller, right, dishes out a few mementoes to author, Anne Perdue while Kelly Dwyer and Bob Mason look on. Anne’s great-grandfather is the namesake of the village, William Egerton Perdue, a former Chief Justice of Manitoba. Anne, along with her sister, Meg, were on their “Let’s see how far this car can go” book tour promoting her first offering of short fiction stories. The sisters lost their mother in 2010, and to honour her (and share in the success of a first-time author), were travelling the country, stopping in Perdue last Tuesday. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)