Bob Friesen was acclaimed President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) on February 25, 1999 at the CFA annual meeting in Regina, Saskatchewan.  Prior to his election, Bob served as CFA’s 2^nd Vice-President and Chair of the CFA Trade Committee. 

Bob has represented the interests of Canadian producers on an international level. He was an official member of the Canadian delegation to the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations in Doha, Qatar, in 2001.  He currently serves on the Executive of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP). 

Here at home, in addition to being CFA President, Bob chairs the National Safety Nets Advisory Committee, which advises the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.  As the Manitoba Director to the Canadian Turkey Marketing Agency (CTMA), Bob has had a seat on the CTMA Executive Committee since 1993, serving as chair for four years as well as the representative for poultry on the CFA Executive Committee. Since 1989, Bob has been a Director of the Manitoba Turkey Producers' Agency, serving as chair for two of those years. 

Bob operates a turkey and hog farm with his wife, Julie, and brother, Gerry (who is also the chair of Manitoba Pork), in south eastern Manitoba near the town of Wawanesa. Bob and Gerry are both actively involved in farm organizations. Bob and Julie have two children, Ajay and Carley.