b"The Potato Grower General ManagerDan Sawatzky plans to retire this year following decades working in the Manitoba potato industry, both as a grower and with the industry association.BY: ASHLEY ROBINSONFOR DAN SAWATZKY, becoming general manager of the Keystone Potato Producers Association (KPPA) was the logical next step after retiring from potato farming. Ten years ago, as Sawatzkys family wound down their potato operations, KPPA was looking for a new leader after long time General Manager Gary Sloik had announced his retirement. I was approached and gave it some thought. Felt that this would be a way that I would still be involved with potato industry, even though the farm had stopped growing potatoes. And it'd be a good way to continue on with people that I've worked with throughout my career and serve them in that capacity, Sawatzky explains in a phone interview.Sawatzky had grown potatoes on his family farm, Spudman Farms/Sawatzky Enterprises, near Bagot, Man. for decades. His father Glen Sawatzky had started growing spuds with his brother David Sawatzky and Ed Penner in the 1960s just as the processing potato industry was getting off the ground in Manitoba. Over the years the partners involved in the farm changed and in the 1980s Sawatzky became a partner. We farmed, rented quite a bit of land at the start. We always found that new potato ground always produced a little better yield than tired land. And I guess during the late 80s, early 90s there wasDan Sawatzky, retiring general manager of the Keystone a bit of a push in the province to have potatoes under irrigation. SoPotato Producers Associationthat changed the makeup of the farm a fair bit, he says.Sawatzky in the end was running the farm with his brothers Tim and Ron. In 2010, the brothers decided they wanted to work theirIt was very comforting to know way out of potato farming. His brothers still planned to (and do) run the farm as a strictly commercial grain operation, but Sawatzkythat we had someone from the was approached to take over the reins at KPPA. As a potato growerindustry. It was nice to have Sawatzky had been involved with the KPPA serving on the board of directors and as chair of the board even.someone come into the position It was very comforting to know that we had someone from thethat understood what the farm industry. It was nice to have someone come into the position thatpositions were to start with. understood what the farm positions were to start with, Chad Berry, current KPPA board chair, explains in a phone interview.CHAD BERRYAt the time Sawatzky took over the KPPA helm, the potato industry was going through rough times. The popularity of the Atkins diet had caused many to reduce their spud intakes, andwith planning the annual Manitoba Potato Production Days although the Canadian dollar was at parity with the Americanconference and he helped write a book about the history of KPPA for dollar, this made Canadian potato prices more expensiveits 50th anniversary. He has worked closely with MaryAnn Sareault internationally. In his role, Sawatzkys focus was negotiatingand Marlene Sponarski in the KPPA office. Sawatzky also served contracts and making sure to get the best prices for the growers heas the secretary treasurer for the Potato Marketing Association of represented.North America. As he looks toward retirement, Sawatzky plans to We've been able to continue to hold pricing or improve pricingtravel more with his wife Sandra on their own schedule not tied to to levels where it has given somewhat of return for the growers, tothe potato production year. be able to keep the industry somewhat healthy and keep peopleWe don't have any real bucket list things at this point, but I think engaged, he says. as I find my feet in a different phase of life, we'll discover things that Throughout Sawatzkys decade with KPPA, hes been involvedwe want to do, he adds. SPUDSMART.COMSummer 202327"