The former extension agrologist and regional crops specialist for Weyburn, Elaine Moats, received an award in recognition of her contributions to the ag industry in Saskatchewan.
Moats was presented with an honourary life membership in the Saskatchewan Agricultural Graduates Association (SAGA) at a reunion gathering for the grads in Saskatoon on Jan. 9.
She graduated from the College of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan in 1977, and began her 35-year career with Saskatchewan Agriculture, with most of that time spent in Weyburn as an Ag rep or extension agrologist, finishing up as a provincial beef and forage specialist, and the regional crops specialist.
Over the years, she provided technical assistance to farmers on a wide range of topics from agronomy to livestock management, financial planning, farm water quality, controlling crop pests, evaluation of new crops and cropping practices.
Moats helped to develop leafy spurge biological and chemical control programs, and helped introduce two new crops, lentils and chickpeas.
She chaired the organizing committee for the popular regional pulse workshops held throughout the province, working with Saskatchewan Pulse Growers and Sask. Ag. She also remains as a member of the Saskatchewan Sunflower committee, working to continue the variety testing program and development of the province’s sunflower industry.
The life membership was presented to her by a longtime friend, Janice Bruynooghe, who formerly worked with Elaine at the Saskatchewan Forage Council.
“If you have the privilege of knowing Elaine, you know that she does not sit still. She is a doer — she gets things done,” said Bruynooghe.
“I have had many opportunities to see her rapport and connection with producers across our great industry. Elaine was never afraid to get out from behind her desk. She wanted to work with producers, hear them and deliver value to them when working on their behalf,” she added.
Pointing out that Elaine is also a community leader, she said, “Whether it’s the local ag society, curling, 4-H, local hospital catering committee or her significant involvement in the provincial cutting horse association, Elaine commits her time and energy fully and without any hold back. That’s one of my favorite aspects of her personality.”
She also noted that Moats was a mentor to her and to many others in the ag industry.
“Elaine was meticulous in sharing her resources and knowledge with the staff that she worked with and that were following in her footsteps. And she did that not just through stacks of paper but with her one-on-one time as well,” said Bruynooghe.
Elaine noted that she was excited when she was assigned to cover the Weyburn district as an Ag rep in 1978, as it was large and a highly productive area, plus it was one of the biggest districts in the province for Sask. Ag.
Later when the position for regional crops specialist came up, she said, “The experience I had meant I was really well-suited for the position, because I had the range of knowledge as the extension agrologist.”
As an avid curler, Elaine served on the board of the Saskatchewan Ladies Curling Association, and with her husband, Barry Good, they farm at Fillmore and raise and show cutting horses. She and Barry were awarded honourary life memberships in the Saskatchewan Cutting Horse Association for their involvement in that group.
