After a 50-year career in agriculture, they were lining up to praise — and gently rib — Dennis Stephens at the recent Canada Grains Council annual meeting.

“Dennis is first and foremost a journalist with a passion for detail,” said Will Hill, president of Flax Council of Canada. Not to mention one with an appetite for hard work and new challenges.

Stephens began his career as a reporter, and went on to work 15 years for Federal Grain as a director of corporate affairs and then manager of transportation. He then joined the newly created Canadian International Grains Institute until 1989, and later became an assistant deputy minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. In recent years, he has served as administrator for the Canada Grains Council until his retirement last December.

Stephens was praised for his persuasiveness and ability to get people to work together, his mentorship and his sense of humour.

Stephens isn’t done with the grain sector yet. He will continue to work for the International Grain Trade Coalition, which he helped create. The coalition, consisting of 22 national and international non-profit trade associations and councils and more than 8,000 members, advises government on global commercial trade requirements.