If you were asked to picture a Canadian farmer selling grain, you might imagine a truck, loaded up at the farm, headed for the local elevator.

Over a cup of coffee at Carver’s Steakhouse at the Sheraton Cavalier in Saskatoon, the city where he now lives, Bill Cooper framed his achievements in a team context. The sturdy, straight-talking 82-year-old farmer from West Bend, SK, is interim chair of the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission (SBDC), serves on the Barley Council of Canada, and operates Farm West Management Inc., his own agricultural accounting service and consultancy.

Since the single desk ended, the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) has been undergoing reforms. In particular, it moved to a full cost-recovery model with additional user fees as of Aug. 1, 2013.