Germination put out the call for nominations to identify some of our industry’s most important mentors who have played a role in helping the next generation develop their skills. We had three main criteria: they be a person who’s demonstrated proven mentorship skills; they be at least 55 years of age; and they be retired from their main seed industry job. Here’s the eighth of who we selected for 2022.
Age: 67
Location: Saskatchewan
Known for: Knowing the lay of the land — literally
Wes Woods retired in the summer of 2021, after making a career of mentoring and connecting agricultural sales reps across the province of Saskatchewan. For close to 20 years, he served as the Saskatchewan marketing rep for SeCan.
Woods worked the first half of his career for Westco Fertilizer, promoting direct seeding and coaching fertilizer retailers on business and marketing. Over that time, he honed his agronomic knowledge and completed Certified Crop Advisor certification. Over his career he has been a wealth of knowledge for soil fertility for all that work with him, says Lauren Wensley, northern Saskatchewan marketing rep for SeCan.
In his role for SeCan, Woods tirelessly promoted SeCan varieties, coached and mentored new staff and seed growers and championed pedigreed seed across the province.
“When it was go time, Wes was all in whether it was plot tours, trade shows, meals in the field for SeCan members at harvest, or driving truck to deliver stock seed to members during the busy spring rush,” Wensley says.
“To say Wes was connected in the industry is an understatement — at seed industry meetings he knew everyone in the room, their spouse and all their kids. Wes also knew every back road, rural hotel and restaurant in the province.”
For Woods, it was all about ensuring a SeCan was a positive place to be for both employees and customers.
“The workplace is a lot healthier when people work together and share information and strategies and ideas with others, rather than keeping things to themselves,” he says.
For more Mentors Who Matter visit:
Michael Patten Knows How to Equip Others for Success
Peter Marshall Showed Others How to Work
How Rick Turner Never Lost Focus on the Grower
How Daniel Perry Ushered in a Quiet Revolution of DNA-Based Seed Testing
How Cathy Breadner Makes People Want to be Seed Analysts
Plant Breeders! Do Your Work With a Collaborative Spirit, Says Harvey Voldeng
Never Stop Learning and Nourish Your Network, says Plant Breeding Legend Bryan Harvey
