Richard Ferland
Richard is known for his clear positions, his candor, his fondness for debate, his deep commitment to the cooperatives network, and his active role within the organization. As the member in first position on the Executive Committee of Quebec’s largest agrifood enterprise, Richard has many commitments. He strongly encourages farmers who want to stand out as leaders, celebrate their accomplishments, and learn from their successes.
Richard is passionate about regional development, wealth creation and redistribution, and farm performance. As one of the youngest members of Sollio Cooperative Group’s board, Richard is also dedicated to making sure tomorrow’s farmers have what it takes to succeed. Richard’s convictions, his ability to compromise, and his desire to learn make him a top-level director whose network of contacts is a real asset for Sollio Cooperative Group. This knowledgeable and committed expert believes that the farmers who will keep the industry going will be agricultural entrepreneurs, because one farmer’s success is also a success for the entire cooperative and its network.
Richard, a graduate of Institut technologique agroalimentaire de La Pocatière, is a dairy producer from the Chaudières-Appalaches region who is very involved in the cooperative ecosystem. He is also a director of La Coop Unicoop and was board chair for four years. Under his governance, the coop grew and overcame many challenges. He has also been a member of the Professional Agriculture Commission since 2016.