FERINTOSH, AB.The CWB is introducing important new pricing options for grain producers. Farmer-elected CWB Directors are busy holding public meetings throughout their vast districts to explain the new options. But not Jim Chatenay, CWB Board of Directors member in District Two. Chatenay has chosen to hold only one banquet meeting less than 20 miles from his own Penhold, Alberta home.

To add insult to injury, the CWB will pay for the banquet and it is open to only 350 people. "Thats only about 2% of producers from one area of the district," noted Dale Fankhanel, a Ferintosh-area producer.

"If Mr. Chatney wanted to hold an appreciation banquet for his neighbours, he should have paid for it himself. At a banquet, how much time can there be for questions about this important new pricing option from the CWB?", asked Fankhanel. Fankhanel noted that he was willing to drive over an hour-and-a-half to attend but Chatenay told informed him there was no room and this is the only official meeting he is holding.

"As an elected member of the Board of Directors, I feel Chatenay has an obligation to meet with as many grain producers as possible to explain the new direction the CWB is taking and to explain his role in those changes. Hes let me and 15,476 other producers in District Two down," stated Fankhanel.

Fankhanel questioned Chatenays decision to have only one meeting with farmers in his district. "Other Directors are having two, three, or four. We made him aware back in February that one meeting was not adequate. Despite our letters and phone calls urging him to have several meetings in various locations, he chose to have only one meeting. He said it was to save producers money," concluded Fankhanel.

For more information, contact:

Dale Fankhanel (780) 877-2280