SSGF Welcomes New General Manager
SSGF Welcomes New General Manager
The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation is excited to introduce our new General Manager, Brant Kirychuk as of March 1, 2023. With extensive experience in rangeland conservation, policy creation and international development projects, his knowledge will be invaluable to the forward momentum of the SSGF programs. Brant’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Agronomy from the University of Saskatchewan. Later, completing his Master of Agriculture in Range and Forage Management at the University of Alberta.
The majority of his career has been spent working with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada in a variety of roles. These roles included Crown Land administration and Range and Forage Extension but also extended into rangeland, riparian, biodiversity and conservation programming.
Most recently, Brant was responsible for a large conservation portfolio with the Ministry of Environment when he served as the Executive Director of Fish, Wildlife and Lands Branch, which he notes was probably the most challenging and rewarding aspect of his career. His work has taken him globally for the opportunity to work on rangeland conservation, community pasture management and sustainable agriculture in Ukraine, China, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. A notable achievement was working with Kyrgyz pasture specialists to develop a rangeland health guide and scoresheet. It was ultimately implemented as the National Rangeland Health Guide by the Kyrgyz government. The challenges brought forth by working internationally have allowed Brant to adapt his knowledge and experience from working in Canada to a completely new environment and culture. The diversity experienced while working in these roles not only contributed to his professional experience but to personal growth as well.
Closer to home, another large project he was instrumental in, was working directly with PFRA pastures and patrons to develop the transition program from government pasture to patron operation. This was a huge undertaking and Brant understood the importance of listening to ranchers and the patrons to come to a solution. His work to provide programs for these diverse landscapes has shaped a dedication to preserving them and working collaboratively with landowners.
Brant’s passion for rangeland conservation will actively serve as motivation to ensure SSGF builds and implements programs for Saskatchewan landowners that positively impact landowners bottom line and ecological value of the land. He’s found his previous work with ranchers and pasture managers rewarding and is excited to build more connections within the community. Brant states, “I feel our challenge is now trying to really build momentum on implementing rangeland conservation tools. I am really looking forward to increasing the understanding and uptake of conservation agreements and easements. I really believe in these tools.”
The SSGF would also like to extend a warm farewell to Wayne Hellquist, who has been our General Manager since the creation of the Foundation and shaped us to where we are today. His knowledge and guidance will be greatly missed as he moves onto new adventures. The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation is excited to see where the future takes us and what we can continue to offer Saskatchewan landowners.
Click here to meet the entire SSGF team