ALMA Introduces New Chair, Board Members

July 22, 2010
Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency introduces new chair,
board members

Edmonton… Three new Board members have been named to the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA), including an Alberta veterinarian with extensive international business experience.

Dr. David Chalack, DVM; Anne Dunford and Jurgen Preugschas bring considerable industry knowledge and talent to the ALMA Board.

“The addition of David, Anne and Jurgen will better position ALMA to help address the challenges of Alberta’s livestock industry as we work to increase demand for our products,” said Hayden. “I know these members are looking forward to their new roles as government looks to increase market access both domestically and internationally for all livestock species.”

Each brings extensive agriculture experience spanning many years of actively working within the livestock industry. As Board Chair, Dr. Chalack brings valuable leadership skills and an ability to understand complex issues and develop proactive solutions. Okotoks resident Dunford, General Manager and Marketing Specialist for Gateway Livestock Exchange in Taber, has a broad knowledge of livestock marketing along with years of networking experience in the livestock industry.
Preugschas, a Mayerthorpe hog producer with 39 years of agriculture industry experience, is currently Chair of the Canadian Pork Council.

“I also want to thank Cherie Copithorne-Barnes for her hard work and dedication as interim Board chair,” added Hayden. ALMA contributes ideas, information and investment as it works with industry partners towards achieving the goal of a sustainable, profitable and internationally respected livestock and meat
industry. For further information on ALMA, visit www.alma.alberta.ca
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Media inquiries may be directed to:
Gordon Cove
President and CEO, ALMA
780-638-6489
To call toll-free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
Backgrounder
July 22, 2010
Biographies of new ALMA board members
Dr. David A. Chalack, DVM

Dr. David A. Chalack is a veterinarian and owner/partner and president of Rocky Mountain Holsteins Inc, as well as the Canadian Sales and Marketing Director with Alta Genetics Inc. based in Balzac. Chalack is currently the President and Chairman of the Board for the Calgary Stampede. He also serves as a Director of Horse Racing Alberta, on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the new University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine Faculty and on the Board of Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Livestock Genomics. Chalack is also a member of the Canadian Institute of Corporate Directors. He previously held the position of director of the Canadian Livestock Genetic Exporters Association. He is also an official judge with Holstein Canada and has judged in more than 14 countries.

Anne Dunford
Anne Dunford is the General Manager and Marketing Specialist for Gateway Livestock Exchange based in Taber. Prior to joining Gateway Livestock Exchange, she was the Senior Market Analyst with Canfax, a division of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, for 21 years providing members with market information and analysis. Dunford is currently a member of the Calgary Stampede International Agriculture Committee. She previously sat on the Statistics Canada Advisory
Committee on Agriculture.

Jurgen Preugschas
Jurgen Preugschas has been farming since 1970 and is a founding shareholder and director for Peak Swine Genetics Inc. Preugschas currently owns and operates a 3,000 acre farm in Mayerthorpe, where he raises grain, oilseeds, alfalfa and custom grazing cattle. He also owns a nucleus swine herd for Peak Swine Genetics Inc, which finishes 20,000 pigs per year. Preugschas is the current President of the Canadian Pork Council, as well as co-chair with Agriculture and Environment Partnership of Alberta. He previously held the positions of director and chairman of Alberta Pork, director of the Canadian Agrifood Trade Alliance and director of the Canadian
Federation of Agriculture.
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Media inquiries may be directed to:
Gordon Cove
President and CEO, ALMA
780-638-6489
To call toll-free within Alberta dial 310-0000.