Richard Boonstoppel
President
Richard and his wife Carol along with their 5 kids farm near Grunthal, Manitoba, where they moved to in 2015 after farming 19 years in New Brunswick.
Bob Matzek
Vice-President
Bob Matzek and his wife are first generation dairy farmers. Bob started his career in the dairy industry in 1982 working for Meadow Gold Farms in Chilliwack, BC. In 2003 Bob started farming on his own under the Westar Holstein prefix and in 2013 a new robotic free stall barn was built which currently houses 95-100 cows. In addition to dairy farming in the Chilliwack area, Bob has been a member of WestGen for the past 17 years.
Tony Van Garderen
Treasurer
Tony farms at Kelton Holsteins in Abbotsford, B.C. He grew up on a dairy farm in Chilliwack and in 1982 started his own farm. Tony farms with his wife and son. He joined the WestGen board in 2016.
Ridley Wikkerink
Executive Director
Ridley Wikkerink has farmed all of his life, and is a second-generation dairy farmer. He owns and operates Wedgwood Holsteins, a 300-acre farm in Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island, BC. He joined the WestGen board in 2016. Ridley was elected Treasurer in 2018.
Tony DeGroot
Alternate Executive Director
Tony grew up on a farm, and has operated Tonesa Holsteins Ltd. in Chilliwack, BC since 1981. He takes great pride in running a successful business that produces a healthy product for his local community. He joined the WestGen board in 2009 and served as the board’s President from 2012 to 2017.
Mike Duncan
Director
Mike Duncan is a 5th generation dairy farmer from Harrison Mills, BC. Mike operates Bonnie Doone Dairy Ltd. which milks 80 Registered Holsteins under the Boonemill prefix and crops 350 acres. Bonnie Doone has been a WestGen customer for over 75 years.
Tim Hofstra
Director
Tim owns Detimdale Holsteins in Millet, AB. He joined the WestGen board in 1997. From 2002 to 2007 Tim served as President, and he held an Executive Director position from 2007 to 2012. In addition, Tim served as the WestGen Representative on the Semex board for many years, and is now the Chairman of the WestGen Endowment Fund Committee.
Art Postma
Director
Art Postma owns and operates a 450-cow dairy in Deroche BC with his family and 6 employees. Art looks forward to serving on the WestGen Board.
Darrin Rasmuson
Director
Darrin, his wife Lynn and son Damien operate Darcor Holsteins near Wetaskiwin, AB. A fourth-generation farmer, Darrin transformed his father’s 32-cow commercial herd into today’s operation of 110-cow purebred stock with 1,000 acres after taking over in 1990 while still in University. With his son now leading farm management, Darrin serves on his local power coop board, represents Alberta at WestGen, and enjoys refereeing minor hockey.
Jim Ross
Director
Jim farms near Grenfell, SK with his wife Laurel and daughters Erin and Michelle. In the past, Jim has been a board member for Saskatchewan Milk Producers Association, Dairy Producers Cooperative Limited, Dairy Farmers of Saskatchewan and SASKMILK. He joined the Westgen board in March of 2018 as alternate executive director and is excited to be working with the WestGen Group of Companies.