Cattlemen’s Young Leaders
Greg Stavert is a fifth-generation farmer from Freetown, P.E.I. He farms with his father and uncle at Stavert Farms Limited, where they produce seed potatoes for local and domestic markets. They also feed 175 natural Angus cattle and have a flock of free-run laying hens. Stavert is a board member of the Prince Edward Island Cattle Producers. He sits on the board for the Summerside Farmers Market, where he sells eggs, meat chickens and turkeys. He’s also the chair of the Prince Edward Island Agriculture Sector Council. Stavert’s mentor is Dean Manning, who raises beef and grows vegetables in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley. Manning and his wife Catherine also received the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Award for practices ranging from grazing management to streambank conservation.
Iva Harberg was raised on a mixed farming operation near Hay Lakes, Alta. Growing up, she was active in 4-H in both the beef and horse clubs, as well as helping out on the family farm. Harberg always knew her future would be in agriculture, and when her dad started to think about retiring from cattle, she decided to step up and take on a more active role. As she began to take a look at growing her commercial cattle herd, she became interested in extended grazing concepts. Harberg is willing to experiment with different ideas to find what will work best for their operation. Harberg’s mentor is Dr. Kim Ominski, a professor in the department of animal science at the University of Manitoba. Ominski has established a research program improving the productivity and sustainability of beef cattle production in Western Canada.
Alberta’s Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) recently announced its first elected board of directors. The board includes D’Arcy Hilgartner, Fred Lozeman, J.P. Brouwer, Stanford Blade, Brian Brewin, Melissa Downing, Steve Kenyon, David Chalack, John Kolk and Jason Lenz. As well, Dr. Mark Redmond is the new CEO of RDAR. He takes the place of Dr. Gerald Hauer, who has served as the interim CEO.
The Alberta Veterinary Medical Association held its virtual meeting in late February. Dr. Pat Burrage is the association’s president. Burrage initially owned and operated a mixed veterinary practice in southern Alberta, but for the last 15 years has operated a practice in central Alberta (Bluffton).
Congratulations to Stan Eby, who was inducted into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame. Eby, a beef producer from Kincardine, led the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association through two crises: the Walkerton water emergency and BSE. Eby and his cohort helped the CCA stabilize the cattle industry by developing set-aside programs and expanding processing.
Jeffrey Fitzpatrick-Stilwell, formerly the senior sustainability manager at McDonald’s Canada, recently became a senior sustainability manager with Cargill’s North American protein business. Fitzpatrick-Stilwell leads targeted sustainability efforts with McDonald’s and Walmart as well as Cargill’s certified sustainable beef program.
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Dr. Terry O’Connor was also inducted posthumously into the Ontario Ag Hall of Fame. O’Connor had a vet practice in Stouffville for 25 years before becoming the regional vet and program manager for the provincial government. He oversaw the Beef Cattle Financial Protection program, led the identification of animal welfare issues at stockyards and sales barns, and helped develop acceptable levels of care.
Fawn Jackson, director of government and international relations for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, was elected to Ducks Unlimited Canada’s volunteer board in March. Jackson, who lives in Chelsea, Que., was also the founding executive director of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.
The Beef Farmers of Ontario held its AGM in late February. Rob Lipsett of Annan stayed on as president; Jack Chaffe of Mitchell is vice-president. Also on the board are Kim Jo Bliss, Jason Leblond, Jordan Miller and Jason Reid.
During the AGM, the BFO awarded Jackie and Steven Pemberton of Pemdale Farms at Inkerman the Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) for practices related to managing nutrients and protecting waterways. Denise and Jeff Byers of MurrayHill Farm at Durham received the Mapleseed Pasture Award.
The Alberta Beef Producers elected a new board in March. Melanie Wowk (Beauvallon) is chair, Jason Hale (Bassano) vice-chair, Brodie Haugan (Orion) finance chair and Kelly Smith-Fraser (Pine Lake) past chair. Rounding out the board are Darren Bevans, Colin Campbell, Rod Carlyon, Sheila Hilmer, Kent Holowath, Lee Irvine, Chris Israelson, Fred Lozeman and Mike Nadeau.
The Manitoba Beef Producers elected its executive earlier this winter. Tyler Fulton is president (District 7), Melissa Atchison vice-president (District 6), Matthew Atkinson second vice-president (District 8), Mark Good treasurer (District 12) and Mike Duguid secretary (District 10). The board also includes Alfred Epp, Nancy Howatt, Andre Steppler, Kevin Duddrige, Steven Manns, Trevor Sund, Arvid Nottveit, Mary Paziuk and Jim Buchanan.
The federal government announced a Canadian Food Policy Advisory Council earlier this year to help address food systems challenges and identify opportunities. Among the council members are Mary Robinson, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, and Brenda Schoepp, Nuffield scholar and writer.
