Edmonton, Alta., Dec. 10, 2009. Alberta pork producers attending their annual general meeting in Edmonton, have honoured two Alberta industry leaders with the organization’s Spectra Awards.
The Spectra Awards were set up as a way for our industry to honour leadership, says Herman Simons, chair of Alberta Pork, the organization representing pork producers in the province. The “Lifetime Achievement Award” is awarded to people with 25 or more years of service in the industry, either as a producer or in some other capacity. The “Friend of the Industry Award” is presented to a non-producer who has had a positive effect on the industry.
This year’s winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award is veteran pork producer, Bryan Perkins, of Perkins Farms, Wainright, Alta. An innovator at all levels of the production chain through to marketing in his own operation, he is chair of four different community based farms, all part of the Sunhaven Farms Group. He is also chair of Sunhaven Farms Milling.
Perkins has served in many leadership capacities in industry. He is currently chair of the Banff Pork Seminar and he has served as chair of the Prairie Swine Centre, chair of Fletchers Fine Foods, is a past delegate of Alberta Pork and a past president of the Western Hog Growers Association. He has been vice-president of United Grain Growers, a director of United Oilseeds Products and board member of the Alberta Agricultural Research Institute. He is active in many local community efforts as well.
“Anyone who has been around our industry has had the opportunity to witness Bryan’s wisdom and commitment,” says Simons. “When he speaks, his point of view is always well thought out and his perspective valued by his peers.”
The winner of the Friend of the Industry Award is NewCap Radio. Leo Pilon and Dean Thorpe of NewCap accepted the award. The NewCap network has 31 stations across Alberta and 13 of those have a daily noon hour agricultural programming on them.
“NewCap volunteered tremendous assistance this past year when our industry faced the H1N1 flu crisis,” says Simons. The network donated $96,000 in air time on its stations, and designated August as ‘Pork Month’ on its CFCW station. It also provided $25,000 in promotional efforts including featuring pork recipes on its programming, and contests which encouraged listeners to send in their pork purchase receipts to win prizes.
As well NewCap was a major sponsor of the ‘World’s Largest Pork Cookout’ in Camrose, broadcasting live from the event. The network also was a media leader in eliminating the use of the term ‘swine flu’ across its broadcast network.
“As our industry refocuses on its revitalization, leadership has never been more important,” says Simons. “The people honored with the 2009 Spectra Awards are examples of the kind of attitude that has built our industry foundation in the past and will anchor our success in the future.”
For more information, contact: Jodi Bakke
Director, Policy and Communications
Alberta Pork
Ph: (780) 491-3528
Website www.albertapork.com
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