A Manitoba farmer has been elected as the next president of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association (WCWGA).

Gunter Jochum of St. Francis Xavier was named to the position at the group's March board meeting.

“I’m honoured to have the trust of the Wheat Growers Board of Directors to represent this dedicated group of people," stated Jochum. "Wheat Grower members across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are some the most dedicated people that I have had the pleasure of meeting. Our Board of Directors embodies this dedication towards strong agriculture public policy that supports and builds our agriculture economy,.

Jochum will replace outgoing president Levi Wood of Saskatchewan.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Levi Wood, the outgoing President, for his years of dedicated service to the Wheat Growers. He has left big shoes to fill and I’m grateful that he remains on the Board to provide his wisdom and insights."

The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association is a voluntary farmer-run advocacy group dedicated to developing public policy solutions that strengthen the profitability and sustainability of farming, and the agricultural industry as a whole.