Ron Kostyshyn was first elected as the MLA for Swan River from 2011 to 2016, and was elected as the MLA for Dauphin in 2023. He previously served as the provincial minister of agriculture and as the reeve for Mossey River Municipality. During his first tenure as agriculture minister, Kostyshyn helped to improve food safety and support Manitoba producers. He has also served on various boards including the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, Manitoba Conservation Commission, Intermountain Conservation District, Ethelbert District Veterinary Board and Farm Stewardship Association of Manitoba. He and his wife, Judy, raised two daughters and ran a family mixed farming operation for 40 years in rural Manitoba.