The RM of Langenburg has a very good representative as Reeve for them in Terry Hildebrandt, a founder of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), past president of the APAS, 40 years of farming experience and several years on the RM council.
20 years ago Hildebrandt saw the need for a unified front for agriculture producers, so he gathered about 7 neighbouring farmers of all aspects of agriculture like grain and beef and dairy, for an informal meeting over coffee.
This simple action started the ball rolling that has now become a voice to reckon with when it comes to lobby and networking for the benefit of all farmers not just in Saskatchewan.
“There are big differences between production across Canada but when you get to know each other you realize we are all primary producers growing food, Once you zero in on the common ground you can work together to benefit the entire industry” Hildebrant’s was quoted in saying in the fall 2020 20th Edition edition of the Saskatchewan Farmers’ Voice.
APAS began when the “original seven” RM’s ( Elfros, Grayson, Lakeview, Langenburg, Mcleod and Spy Hill) decided to go to the annual SARM to set up a meeting with as many provincial RM’s as possible about the “ need for a policy organization”, much to their surprise over half the RM’s attended resulting in a formal motion being made and an interim board is put together.
APAS got federal notoriety when they spearheaded changes to the way federal support dollars were allocated across the provinces, the federal allocation was based on the Fredericton Formula which was based on the province with the biggest agriculture sales rather than the ones who needed the support the most.
“It’s proof in the pudding that once you have a voice at the table you can make a major difference” explained Hildebrant when shortly after joining and meeting with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and changing the federal policy resulting in about $140,000.00 more federal funding to every RM in Saskatchewan.
Looking to the future Terry says, “We will always need a unified voice”, his passion for farming is still passed on to any farmer willing to talk with him especially the young farmers willing to get involved in the industry.
