Tim Hofstra, Chair

Tim has been actively involved with Agrifoods for over 20 years. His journey started as a delegate, and through his desire to contribute in a more meaningful way he progressed to being elected as a Director in 2010. Demonstrating strong leadership abilities through other Board positions as President – Wetaskiwin Coop Association, Westgen, Semex, and Alberta Milk) – Tim was appointed Chair of the Agrifoods Board in 2016. In addition to his duties as Chair, he is also involved in the following committees: Governance & Member, Investment, Finance & Audit, and Human Resources.

Participating in 4-H as a child, while also growing up on a dairy farm, expanded Tim’s skills and passion for the industry. In July of 1978, after spending two years working as a herdsman for the University of Alberta Dairy Farm, Tim and his wife Deb starting their own farm in Alberta with 40 dairy cows. Back then they had to do everything themselves, from early morning milking to late-night calving, but now they are lucky to have help from their family as they manage 350 cattle (approx. 120 milking cattle and 60 beef cow calves).

In the last 40+ years, they have come a long way and are excited for the future as they transition from a tie-stall barn to a fully robotic dairy barn. Animal care and comfort are paramount on their farm, which is evident in the naming of the cows – they all have a name and are not just a number. What makes their farm unique is that they have 250 purebred Holsteins and a couple of purebred Jerseys. They also sell replacement heifers, breeding bulls, and embryos to several countries worldwide.

Tim continues to make significant contributions to Agrifoods, and the Dairy Industry. He believes that involvement is the key!

“I am a big believer in doing my part to give back, and cooperatives are a great way to do that. It is rewarding to be connected to the processing side and see our products through to the end-use by consumers. Agrifoods has come a long way in the past few years and looks forward to being a leader in providing unique, niche foods. The pursuit of excellence in the food industry is very exciting!”

When Tim and Deb take time away from the farm, you can find them in the outback enjoying quadding, camping, and catching fish (something he learned from Deb’s dad). They also love travelling and have explored more than 25 countries around the world.