Associates

Al Mussell,

Guelph, is an independent Canadian agricultural economist and operates his own firm, Agri-Food Economic Systems. His areas of research expertise are farm management, agricultural marketing, and farm income policies. He also teaches finance and marketing to participants in the Centre's executive management programs. Al holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Guelph, and a Doctorate in agricultural economics from the University of Minnesota, where he was a Fulbright Scholar.

Bob Hunsberger,

Bob Hunsberger received a B.Sc. from the University of Guelph in 1968. That year he began farming on the family farm with his father. The farm consisted of hogs, laying hens and crops. In 1985 the farm specialized as a hog operation, growing to 1500 sows farrow to finish on three locations. In 1994 Bob became one of the founding directors of Progressive Pork Producers Co-Operative Inc. That company purchased Conestoga Meat Packers in 2001. The company processes pigs supplied by Co-op members. In 1998 Bob began working on a contractual basis in swine feed sales and service with Wallenstein Feed & Supply Ltd. Bob continues to operate a small hog finishing unit on his home farm near Breslau. He continues to have an interest in the economics of agriculture, particularly hog production. He publishes a weekly summary of the economics of hog production in Ontario.

Graeme Hedley,

Guelph, Ontario, served as Executive Director of the Ontario Cattlemen's Association (now Beef Farmers of Ontario) for 31 years retiring in 2001. Since then, he has worked on a part time basis in a number of roles including Chair of Board of Directors of Canadian Beef Grading Agency and Secretary Treasurer of the Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council. He has been an associate with the George Morris Centre on beef production and risk management issues and has worked with the Ontario Cattle Feeders Association on risk management issues.

Jerry Bouma,

Edmonton, has over 30 years experience as a management consultant in the agri-food industry. As a founder and senior partner with Toma & Bouma Management Consultants, he has managed more than 500 strategic planning and marketing projects. Prior to establishing Toma & Bouma in 1992, he worked as the Senior Marketing Manager with Shur-Gain Feeds - a division of Maple Leaf Foods; and as a management consultant with Deloitte Haskins + Sells - now Deloitte Touche.

Anne Wasko,

Eastend, Sask, is a Market Analyst for Gateway Livestock Exchange based in Taber, Alberta. She is also the President of Cattle Trends Inc, a market analysis company for the beef industry. Prior to joining Gateway Livestock Exchange, Wasko was the Senior Market Analyst for Canfax, a division of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, for 21 years providing members with market information and analysis. Wasko was also a volunteer with the Calgary Stampede for over 20 years and sat on the Statistics Canada Advisory Committee for Agriculture.

Brenda Tjaden,

was raised on an egg and grain farm near Sperling, Manitoba, Canada. She completed her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Agricultural Economics at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, went on to a career in the international commodity grain trade, and became one of Canadian agriculture’s leading market analysts. A long-time lover of nature and political history, Brenda eventually felt called to seek a new professional path. In 2016 she left conventional agriculture to establish new value chains for foods that have a positive impact on the environment. With a focus on monetizing the outcomes of regenerative agriculture, Brenda helps farms and food companies with strategic guidance, transition planning, economic forecasting, and direct marketing. She lives and works from a small farm in the woods near Bird’s Hill provincial park in Manitoba.

Willie Van Solkema,

Willie has a long history of senior management experience in the Canadian beef packing industry.  This management practice dates back to the mid-1980's with Canada Packers in Winnipeg and Calgary, through to Managing Director at Retail Ready Foods in 2018.  The operation and manageral expertise includes Canadian Business Manager at Cargill Foods in High River, 1990-2004; President of sales/operations at XL Foods, 2004-2009; and President JBS Foods Canada, 2012-2014.  Willie now works with the meat industry through his consulting firm, WVS Consulting.