Board of Directors
UFA is governed by a twelve-member Board of Directors who direct the affairs of the co-operative in the best interests of members. Our board includes active farmers and ranchers, as well as business experts with a broad range of experience and expertise. Directors are elected by current directors and delegates at the annual general meeting to serve a term of four years. The board chair is elected annually by the board of directors.
Kevin Hoppins
Board Chair
Elected to the board: 2013
Kevin Hoppins
Board Chair
Elected to the board: 2013
Re-elected to the board in 2023 for another 4-year term, Acclaimed as Board Chair for another 1-year term.
A delegate for eight years and advisory council member for 10, I became a director to continue to be involved in the growth and diversity of UFA. I am always finding ways to apply my forward-thinking and passion for agriculture to benefit the board and members it serves. In 2012, as Chairman of the DRC, I attended the International Summit of Co-operatives in Quebec City representing my fellow delegates. I firmly believe in the importance of the co-operative model and how to work with the interest of others in mind.
I grew up on the family farm west of Huxley. I attended Olds College and received a diploma in Agriculture Mechanics and Agriculture Business. As a fourth generation farmer, both my wife, Elizabeth, and I feel strongly about our responsibility to agriculture and rural life.
Additionally, I have been involved in our local recreation board, Ag Service Board, Fire Department, Communities in Bloom, youth program leader at Goldeye Center and Friends of Tro-Val Society member.
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James Bettcher
Elected to the board: 2014
James Bettcher
Elected to the board: 2014
After serving as a delegate for nine years, I became a director to take my passion for co-operatives to the next level. UFA is an agricultural co-operative and I want to make sure agriculture remains our priority. I have seen the past challenges UFA has faced, and I want to be here to use my proactive and common-sense approach to business to set the course for UFA's future.
I began my career after I attended Olds College and received a diploma in agriculture. I have been active in the industry for 40 years and along with my wife and son, we own and operate a second generation farm specializing in irrigated crops and purebred cattle. As President of the Badland Hills Cattle Grazing Association for 10 years, I have helped secure lease/management agreements and irrigation development, and was recently hired as Executive Director in charge of operations for the Association.
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Cindy Bjorklund
Elected to the board: 2017
Cindy Bjorklund
Elected to the board: 2017
I have a lifelong passion for farming, business, education and community. I grew up on a mixed farm and was very active in the farm operations. I went on to the University of Alberta and obtained a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and a Bachelor of Education Degree. In the years since, I have been an instructor in the public school system as well as at a post-secondary institution.
My husband and I have been farming since 1993, raising, showing and selling purebred Angus cattle. We've raised three sons on the farm and they were all involved in 4-H and a variety of sports. I've been a 4-H leader and involved in a variety of livestock, sport and community associations. I've also been the owner/manager/bookkeeper of several small businesses.
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Donald Cormack
Elected to the board: 2018
Donald Cormack
Elected to the board: 2018
I am strongly committed to sustaining and supporting the agricultural business in Alberta and the prairies. Although a professional accountant, I grew up in rural Saskatchewan where my spare time was spent helping on family farms. I also own a quarter section of land which is used in the much larger ranching operation of my brother-in-law just south of Calgary.
Currently, I am a Corporate Director of Calgary International Airport Authority, Petrus Resources Ltd. and a small private oil and gas start-up. I am a retired Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers who specialized in the oil and gas industry and supported a diverse group of companies across various industries for over 35 years. I have extensive financial accounting and reporting experience with both private and public companies of all sizes covering regulatory compliance, risk management, acquisitions, divestitures, corporate restructuring, internal controls and governance in Canada and the U.S. Currently, I am a director of the Calgary Police Foundation and past director of The Calgary Foundation and Alberta Health Services. I am a Chartered Accountant (CA, CPA), a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors Program (ICD.D) and have a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
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Terry Gunter
Elected to the board: 2022
Terry Gunter
Elected to the board: 2022
Terry Gunter is an experienced global Fortune 100 business manager. He started his veterinary career in private practice in South Africa focused on optimizing dairy and beef production. From there he pursued a global career in the research and development of veterinary medicines for an international pharmaceutical company. Terry brings a wealth of experience having chaired professional and industry associations including the Canadian Animal Health Institute and the Canadian Vaccines Industry Committee where he worked with provincial and federal government ministers and politicians advocating for initiatives like trade and medicine distribution. He transitioned into marketing and general management and has significant experience in managing complex organizations across varied geographies and cultures. Terry is well versed in general management, financial management and strategic planning.
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Patricia Henderson
Elected to the board: 2017
Patricia Henderson
Elected to the board: 2017
Patricia (Trish) Henderson has been involved in all aspects of her family's mixed farming operation for three decades. Along with her husband and their two children, she runs a small purebred cow herd in Central Alberta.
Henderson earned a degree in Agriculture Business Management from the University of Alberta and for nine years held a variety of roles at Farm Credit Canada, experiencing agriculture across the country. After starting a family, she shared her expertise on a contract basis for clients such as Farm Credit Canada, Certified Angus Beef, ITS Global, and individual farm businesses.
Elected to the UFA board of directors in 2017, Henderson has served on the Audit, Governance, and Nominating Committees and completed numerous corporate and cooperative governance courses. In 2020, she was appointed to the Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council where she now serves as Governance Committee Chair.
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Matt Sawyer
Elected to the board: 2021
Matt Sawyer
Elected to the board: 2021
I am a fourth-generation farmer and together with my wife, Tara, and our three children Emmett, Cassidy and Quin, we operate a grain farm west of Acme.
I have served as a UFA delegate and farmer representative since 2015, a position that has allowed me to advocate for member interests while also collaborating on the government relations committee. My passion for UFA is about ensuring it remains a strong, viable business partner for our members and customers.
I believe strongly in ag-vocating for our industry and bridging the urban/rural gap is a family passion. I have extensive experience leading agriculture organizations and advancing international trade. In 2011, we were awarded Alberta's Outstanding Young Farmers award for our sustainable production, business practices and environmental stewardship. Last fall, we participated in Crop Life Canada's web docu-series "RealFarmLives.ca", which showcased a typical family farm and how companies like UFA help with crop protection products. I was asked by Alberta's Minister of Agriculture and Forestry to sit as a director on the newly created RDAR (Results Driven Ag Research) board; its mandate is to support Alberta's agriculture and food sectors in achieving their full potential through producer led strategic investments in research and innovation. In 2020, I was also asked to join the Alberta Agriculture Economic Recovery Team, providing insight and a strategic action plan for Alberta's economic recovery directly to the Government of Alberta.
As a UFA director, I am committed to ensuring the long-term success of our cooperative by building on its rich history, while looking to the future, and ultimately helping to make the best decisions for our members and customers.
Giving back to the communities we serve will always be a priority. I am active in my community, coaching school sports, sitting on community boards and as a member of Acme Elk Lodge #216. Along with advocating for our industry, I also have the passion, the experience, and the drive to ensure that the communities where our members live and work, continue to thrive.
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Henry Vos
Elected to the board: 2016
Henry Vos
Elected to the board: 2016
Re-elected to the board: 2023.
I have a long history in agriculture in the Peace River country, producing grain and pedigreed seed. Our farm began in partnership with my wife and is now transitioning to the next generation. In addition to the farm, I have had numerous successful business interests including a retail farm supply company, a research company, and I was a founding member and director of Canterra Seeds.
I have an agriculture degree from the University of Alberta and a degree in Corporate Governance from McMaster University.
I spent five years as a director with the Canadian Wheat Board and served on the audit, finance and risk and governance committees. Serving on the boards of numerous companies and organizations including Winnipeg Commodity Exchange, Fairview College and the Canadian Internal Grains Institute has provided me with valuable experience in board governance.
I am using this knowledge and experience to contribute to UFA.
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Jennifer Wood
Elected to the board: 2022
Jennifer Wood
Elected to the board: 2022
Jennifer's education and experience are impressive, to say the least. She is a professional Agrologist with a B.Sc. in Agriculture Business Management from the University of Alberta along with an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors from the University of Toronto. She has also completed studies in Negotiation and Leadership from Harvard Law School as well as Governance Essentials for Directors of Not for Profits with the Institute of Corporate Directors. Jennifer's entrepreneurial leadership has been recognized by various organizations and her resume speaks of an accomplished C-suite executive who has founded and operated many successful businesses over the course of her career.
But it's what you don't see on her resume that makes her a natural choice for a board director at UFA Co-operative. Jennifer is a second-generation Lac Ste. Anne County grassroots producer who is a proud long-time UFA member and customer. She is passionate about agriculture and supporting the sector in ways that ensure a strong and vibrant future. From owning and operating auction marts, order buying firms and cattle feeding and financing companies based in Edmonton, to creating innovative software and hardware tools that help cattle producers manage their livestock operations, Jennifer has spent her career serving farmers and ranchers in the province. Jennifer believes in giving back to the agriculture community that has given her so much, with the belief that it's not just a privilege but a responsibility to ensure rural communities thrive well into the future. She is passionate about supporting and mentoring the next generation of leaders in agriculture and she has been honored with the Citizenship Award for her commitment and contribution to improving the health and well-being of Canada's children and youth.
Jennifer is no stranger to wearing both farmer and board member hats simultaneously. She is committed to sharing her expertise by providing valuable insight, governance, and leadership to UFA. Jennifer is looking forward to guiding the Co-operative forward and ultimately supporting UFA's members and customers, many of whom just happen to be her neighbours.
Jennifer was elected to the UFA Co-operative Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting held on March 18, 2022, and we extend a warm welcome to the UFA family.
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Dave Ure
Elected to the board: 2023
Dave Ure
Elected to the board: 2023
Dave Ure was recruited externally and was named to the UFA Board for a four-year term. Dave grew up on his family farm in Red Deer County and is still actively involved with it. Some of his early job experience was at his local Co-op Home and Agri Centre before attending the University of Alberta. He went on to work with Shell Global Solutions in various diverse roles within the petroleum industry, retiring in 2021 with 35 years of service. Dave brings a wide breadth of experience from the oil and gas and agricultural sectors.
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Bret Walter
Elected to the board: 2024
Bret Walter
Elected to the board: 2024
Bret Walter grew up on a farm north of Edmonton. He attended the University of Alberta and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree while also playing hockey for the Alberta Golden Bears. He then attended University in Beijing, China.
Bret is an accomplished C-suite executive with over 15 years of managing complex teams. He brings extensive experience in leadership and advisory roles for large multi-national corporations and invaluable global experience in divergent sectors from a career built on integrity, trustworthiness, and transparency.
His industry specific knowledge in the agriculture, energy and manufacturing sectors will help UFA's future development. Bret has deep experience in the areas of merger and acquisitions and strategy. He has led business and investment initiatives between Canada, the United States, and China for over 20 years.
As a sought-after public speaker, he has addressed audiences worldwide, a testament to his communication skills and industry knowledge. He is eager to leverage his cross-cultural experience and extensive team leadership to advance the prosperity of the agricultural sector in western Canada.
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Roland Grutterink
Elected to the board: 2024
Roland Grutterink
Elected to the board: 2024
Roland Grutterink operates a cattle farm with his family in Rimbey, Alberta. Roland's affiliation with UFA began in 1988 when he became a member and, shortly thereafter, began delivering fuel for the Rimbey Petroleum Agent to help support his growing cattle operation.
Roland has been a loyal and dedicated UFA Delegate for 25 years, representing the Rimbey and Rocky Mountain House Districts and bringing the farmer's voice to the decision-making table. During his tenure, he has taken on leadership roles and served on several different committees, always as a strong voice for the members, the agricultural sector, and UFA Co-operative.
Outside of his agriculture experience, Roland was involved in distributing and selling petroleum products for 17 years to members and nonmembers. He is a passionate advocate for the agricultural industry in western Canada, and he desires to see UFA Co-operative continue to succeed for future generations. Roland and wife, Irene, love to spend time with their children when they come home to the farm to visit.
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