The 2016 WestGen Days event was action packed. The event kicked off with a casual Wine and Cheese night filled with attendees from BC to Ontario, including our local reps.

The AGM day saw great attendance by our members. Financial reports from Controller Vernon Smith and Treasurer Raymond Brink showed that the WestGen Group of Companies had a strong year in 2015 delivering some pleasing results. Our success has not been the result of short term changes, but rather a fundamental shift in our business philosophy over the last few years. In 2016, we will continue to focus our efforts on building a strong future to ensure this company has a bright future owned and directed by you the Western Canadian producers.

Tim Hofstra proudly announced that the WestGen Endowment Fund returned another $110,639 back to the cattle industry in 2015 totalling $1,592,003 since its inception in 2004. Of that total, over $433,000 has been invested in youth programs.

We were pleased to have 2015 Education Award recipient Maryje Bikker of Barrhead, Alberta join us to be recognized and participate in WestGen Days.

Appreciation of our retiring board members David Janssens, Rudy Russenberger and Raymond Brink gave way to the new at-large directors elections from the floor. WestGen is happy to welcome our new directors, Tony Van Garderen and Richard Bosma (both of Abbotsford, BC). Previously elected were BC: Henry Gisler (Langley, BC) & Ridley Wikkerink (Cobble Hill, BC) and SK: Art Pruim (Osler, SK).

The afternoon session themed on Building for the Future was exciting. Youth speaker David MacTaggart started the afternoon with a dynamic speech followed by 3 producer presentations from Ben Loewith, ON; Anton Borst, MB and Gert Schrijver, AB. They later gathered for a producer panel which highlighted their progressive views on dairy management.

The much-anticipated tour at the new office satisfied the curiosity of our members as to what WestGen’s new home will look like. Drywall was up and you could really see the space taking shape.

After a delicious buffet dinner, guests traded in their WestGen “Mooney” to play the tables at the Casino with their signature drink, the WestGen Cow-Pirinha. The lime beverage was inspired by the recent trip to Brazil. A fun time was had by all!

Wednesday led a tour group to UBC, Agassiz where presentations on CheckUp, Uniform Agri and Dairy Track were followed by a barn tour. Next stops in Chilliwack were the beautiful new GEA robotic rotary dairy at Gracemar Farms followed by a visit to the Westcoast Holsteins show barn.

The 2016 WestGen days will be one for the memory books! We look forward to seeing you all at the 2017 event. Save the date for March 27-29, 2017.

westgen days