Becoming a director

The strength of any organization depends on the leadership and engagement of the men and women involved in it—and the UPA is no exception. When you become a director of the UPA, you have a unique opportunity to make progress on important issues and take an active part in the decisions made by your syndicate. Here’s what you need to know if you are up for the adventure.

Syndicates are often on the lookout for new members, and all producers are welcome, regardless of experience level. Whether you are a next-generation farmer, a veteran producer, a woman farmer, a small-farm owner, or a producer in an emerging sector, agriculture needs you!

Your contribution is critical to making our organization thrive.

If elected, you will have the chance to serve as a director (or even in multiple positions) on:

Your local syndicate

Your specialized group

(i.e., the body for your production type)

Directors and the Board of Directors

As a director, you and your fellow directors on the board will coordinate the implementation of strategic actions, within the guidelines approved by the members. You will also represent them, both within the UPA and in relation to external stakeholders and groups.

Directors are elected from and by the membership at AGMs for the various local and regional syndicates and groups. AGMs are also where farm producers set the strategic directions and actions of the UPA. These annual gatherings are the bedrock of union life.

To become a director, you must:

Be a UPA member in good standing
Attend the AGM for your local or specialized syndicate, run for a position, and get elected by your peers.

The first step is to learn how the election process works, which may vary from one syndicate to another.

The elected directors form the Board of Directors and are entrusted with the legal responsibility of overseeing the activities and budget of the syndicate or federation they serve.

Generally speaking, board members:

Are responsible for keeping their syndicate or federation running smoothly
Receive their main mandates from decisions made at AGMs
Represent producers operating in their territory or production sector within the different UPA bodies
Are called to take action in their community or sector to defend the interests and voice the concerns of their constituent producers
Organize activities to consult with, train, and inform producers and other stakeholders
Work on initiatives to promote agriculture, the farming profession, and the UPA

Accordingly, board members’ duties may be very diverse and reflect the needs of the group as well as the availability and expertise of each member.

Women and young farmers: the importance of diversity

Thirty years ago, young farmers and women farmers formed dedicated regional syndicates, which in turn became part of province-wide UPA affiliated federations. To encourage their full participation in the organization, the Farm Producers Act allows representatives from these groups to become UPA directors even without farm producer status.

Discover the faces of the next generation

In order for the union to flourish and grow, it’s essential for people like you to get involved and help make decisions. Anyone who serves the community has a place at the table.

Discover their story