Canadian Cattle Young Leaders
Adeleen Bolduc is a fifth-generation Alberta rancher. She ranches alongside her husband, Mat, and three kids at Cudlobe Angus West near Stavely, Alta., where they raise purebred Black Angus with Mat’s family. Bolduc also runs commercial Angus cows with her mom near Cereal, Alta. Feeder cattle and her oilfield maintenance job funded her post-secondary education. She moved to her husband’s family operation in 2012 and has found her place working outside as well as managing the office for the ranch in addition to her own branded beef program, Cudlobe Angus West AAA+ Beef. Bolduc’s goals for her mentorship focus on finding and harnessing new opportunities in the industry related to beef marketing. Bolduc’s mentor is Glenn Brand, who has over 35 years of experience in the meat industry, including as the CEO of the Beef Information Centre, and working with packers and exporters such as JBS and Sunterra Meats. Brand is the founder and president of Brand Marketing and Management, Inc.
Ashley Nicholls grew up in rural New South Wales, Australia, in sheep and wheat country. He was raised alongside agriculture, but it wasn’t until moving to Canada that he was fully introduced to the western lifestyle and the cattle industry. Nicholls spent several years guiding in Kananaskis which eventually led to a position with the University of Calgary WA Ranches where his passion for Canadian beef flourished. Nicholls is now in Okotoks, where he works with TELUS Agriculture as the animal health field lead, managing a team of field technicians assisting feedlot consultants and servicing clients worldwide. His focus will be on “low stress people and cattle handling” and creating space for those to join the industry while mitigating the roadblocks youth come across when looking for a career in agriculture. His mentor is Dr. Michelle Calvo-Lorenzo, chief animal welfare officer for Elanco Animal Health. Before joining Elanco, she was an assistant professor at Oklahoma State University and developed a research and teaching program centred on livestock behaviour and welfare.
The Saskatchewan Ag Hall of Fame announced its slate of inductees for 2024 recently. Forage breeder Bruce Coulman, who developed 24 novel forage varieties in his 42-year career, is on the list. So is public servant Abdul Jalil, who helped create University of Saskatchewan ag research chairs and establish the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence and Global Institute for Food Security. Stewart Stone, whose career in the beef industry included the Saskatchewan Beef Stabilization Board, as well as committee work with Agribition, Canada Beef Export Federation, Livestock Services of Saskatchewan Corporation and the Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan, is also to be inducted. Les Johnston’s work supporting 4-H, as the Saskatchewan representative on the National Quality Starts Here Program and his contributions to the Verified Beef Program are also being recognized. Brian Olson, known for improving farm safety by developing a standard hitch connection between tractors and implements (the drop-pin hammer strap), is scheduled for induction. And finally, farmer Grant Carlson is being recognized for his work in the pulse sector, including the formation of the Saskatchewan Pulse Crop Board and his participation in multi-year research projects with the Crop Development Centre.
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Condolences to Dennis Johnston’s loved ones on his passing
Dennis Harry Johnston of Johnston Angus at Conquest, Sask., passed away on June 6, 2025, with family by his side….
Bill Robinson (see photo at top), an alumnus of Alberta’s Lakeland College, has donated $1 million to the college. Half of his gift will fund bursaries for first-year students enrolled full time at the Vermilion campus. The other half will support beef cattle projects, such as campus farm improvements and applied research projects. Robinson graduated from Vermilion’s “two-in-one” agriculture program in 1958. Thirty years later, he returned to Vermilion to take electrical training. He’s been a monthly donor for years and has supported past campaigns. Robinson’s family has roots at Lakeland. His mother, Annabel, was the dean of women for three years and his father, Lyle, graduated from the college in 1927. The college has named a 150-seat classroom the Lyle and Annabel Robinson Theatre in honour of his parents.
After four years as the communications manager at the Canadian Cattle Association, Michelle McMullen has joined Swine Innovation Porc as the communications and stakeholder relations manager. McMullen previously worked as a communications specialist with Bayer Crop Science, as well as in the Office of the Prime Minister and the Minister of State, from 2012 to 2014.
McMullen has handed the reins to Carol Reynolds. Reynolds brings over 20 years’ experience, having filled roles in government relations, media, public relations and communications. She has worked with all levels of government and multiple stakeholders, including producers and researchers. Reynolds grew up on a mixed farm in northeast Saskatchewan. In her spare time she treasures time with friends and family, bodybuilding and enjoys the mountains.
Julieanne Puhallo-Brown is the new communications manager at the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association. Puhallo-Brown was raised on a cow-calf operation north of Kamloops, and still ranches with her son and father. She’s a third-generation 4-H alumni, and still supports the program as a volunteer and vice-president of the Kamloops senior council. She’s also the vice chair and marketing rep for the B.C. Agricultural Expo. She has spent the last 15 years in the real estate industry, but was ready for a new, meaningful challenge supporting B.C.’s beef producers.
The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) has bid a fond farewell to its general manager, Anne Brunet-Burgess. Brunet-Burgess joined the CCIA as general manager in 2015. She’s led the agency through several milestones, including the opening of the agency’s national distribution centre in Calgary, and expansion of the CCIA’s value-added services. That expansion has been driven by the agency’s data solution and management expertise gained from its development of the Canadian Livestock Traceability System database. Through this, the CCIA has become the sole verifier for chain of custody services for the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. The CCIA also performs a similar role for one of Canada’s biggest beef processors, Cargill. Brunet-Burgess joins the agriculture division of MNP.
