Unrau, from Manitoba, takes over from outgoing CCA President Travis Toews. Having completed a two-year term, Toews remains an officer of the CCA, and will serve as past president. Solverson is a CCA director from Alberta.
Involved with the CCA since 2007, Unrau said he is honoured to be elected President. Going forward, he intends to focus on maximizing the opportunities for Canada?s beef cattle industry and safeguarding infrastructure. Producers can expect a continued focus on market access and the rebuilding of the Canadian cow herd in order to become a solid player on a global scale. Maintaining the cohesion that CCA past presidents have built up between the sectors of the industry, particularly feeders and processors, is another key piece, Unrau said.
?I?m big on vision for the future. The Canadian cattle industry is in a really good situation right now, however I am concerned about infrastructure dropping off because herd numbers are down. It?s one of those underlying issues that are always there when numbers are down,? he said. ?I?m concerned that we might lose some slaughter and processing capacity, along with feeding capacity, in Canada and in the U.S. That?s a huge concern down the road, so we?ll have to look at that and deal with that.?
Unrau has taken on a variety of roles at the CCA over the past five years, most recently as CCA Vice President and member of the executive committee. He has served as chair of the Foreign Trade Committee, co-chair of the Animal Health Committee, and as a member the Domestic Agriculture and Policy Regulation committee.
Unrau operates Bar 88 Ranch near MacGregor, Manitoba, along with his wife Roxie, and their son Garett, one of the couple?s four children. The Unrau?s calve 550 cows and background some calves, and grow grain crops including corn, canola and barley.
The CCA also welcomes the following new directors appointed by the provincial members to the board: Cathy Sharp and Pat Rutledge (Alberta); Brent Griffin and Kevin Woods (Saskatchewan), Heinz Reimer (Manitoba), Tom Wilson and Matt Bowman (Ontario); George Smith (Nova Scotia). New this year is Byron Templeton (Alberta) representing the Canadian Beef Breeds Council.
The CCA?s annual general meeting in Ottawa brings together directors from all provincial member associations to determine policy for the industry. The meeting also allows CCA members the opportunity to meet and discuss industry issues with Members of Parliament at a VIP reception held on Parliament Hill.
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