Kristelle Harper is a rancher from Brandon, Man., with a passion for pasture improvement through grazing management. She has a degree in animal science, a diploma in applied sustainable ranching and is a professional agrologist. When Harper returned to the family farm in 2016, she purchased breeding stock to start increasing her beef cattle herd while working at Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives. In 2018 her family’s operation, Circle H Farms, was awarded with the national Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA). In 2021, Harper became a farm management consultant at MNP in Brandon and officially moved back to the farm with her partner. In 2022 they welcomed a baby boy. Harper’s mentor is fellow national TESA recipient Catherine Manning of Falmouth, N.S. Manning runs a beef and vegetable operation and has served in leadership positions in 4-H, the Nova Scotia and Maritime Angus associations and the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture.
Laurie Côté-Sarrazin is the owner of Viandes à Côté du Bordeleau inc. in Clerval, Que. She has been market- ing high-quality Angus and Wagyu-Angus cross beef since 2020. Her goal is to offer superior quality and affordable meat to as many people as possible and to democratize the taste of Wagyu thanks to the Angus-cross (F1). Buying Côté-Sarrazin’s meat means adopting minimalist and fast cooking, without having to follow complicated and lengthy recipes. She also promotes direct contact with customers via home delivery, public markets and the farm shop. As a CYL finalist, she hopes to learn more about the Angus and Wagyu cross-breed and to meet many people related to this unique industry. Her mentor is Michelle Ball, president and chief operating officer of Brant Lake Cattle Corp. at High River, Alta. Ball is a board member with the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association, and has also served on the boards of the High River District Health Care Foundation, Rowan House and the Twilight Festival Society.
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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….
The winner of the Manitoba Environmental Stewardship Award has been announced, with the Association of Manitoba Community Pastures (AMCP) taking home the award. The AMCP formerly comprised 19 Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Association pastures. For the past 10 years, AMCP has continued to produce more grass despite variable growing conditions, while protecting the environment and enhancing a wide range of wildlife habitat.
Congratulations to Frédérique Lavallée and Simon Lafontaine, owners and operators of Ecoboeuf, who were named the winners of Quebec’s Environmental Stewardship Award for 2024. They launched Ecoboeuf in 2019 to develop an efficient, high-quality beef production system while applying farming practices that encourage biodiversity, protect water quality, improve soil health and minimize negative effects on the environment. Their farming operation, which in many respects is a living laboratory, includes plans to share their knowledge with other beef producers.
At the Alberta Beef Industry Stampede Summit, Taylor Ranches was named the winner of Alberta’s Environmental Stewardship Award. Audrey and Robert Taylor’s operation is spread out over many locations, including near Warner and Milo, Alta. Priorities for Taylor Ranches include maintaining water security and quality, maintaining wildlife populations, helping species at risk and improving range health.
Congratulations to Neil and Denise Block, who were awarded the Saskatchewan Envi- ronmental Stewardship Award on June 10 in Swift Current, Sask. Block’s Ranching Ltd. is near Abbey, Sask., and consists of approximately 60,000 acres. The family runs cow-calf pairs and yearlings and grazes year- round. Taking care of the grass is one of their primary objectives, and they are working to re-establish native species.
After completing his two-year term as the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association president, Garner Deobald has moved into the past president role, while welcoming Jeff Yorga as the new president. Yorga is based near Flintoft, Sask., where his family has raised purebred Limousin cattle for over 50 years. Kelly Williamson is the first vice-president and Henry McCarthy is the second vice-president. There are also three new directors at large: Neil Block, Gord Kozroski and Kurtis Reid. Chay Anderson will continue as finance chair.
Congratulations to Johanne Ross, who was awarded an Assiniboine College honorary diploma in recognition of her dedication to education in agriculture. Ross was a foundational builder with Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) in Manitoba and then across Canada, ultimately serving as the national organization’s first executive director. Since retiring from AITC, Ross has been working in human resource management specializing in the agri-food sector. Ross and her family operate a beef farm north of Minnedosa, Man.
Four agricultural champions from across Canada have been selected by the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame as its 2024 inductees. Bruce Coulman, Michael Eskin, Paul Larmer and Charles Vincent will be formally inducted on November 2.
Coulman is an award-winning forage crop researcher who developed 24 novel forage crop varieties throughout his 40-plus year career. Coulman’s forage breeding work at McGill University and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Saskatoon Research Centre set the stage for the profitable production of forage seed and forage crops for cattle feed. Many of his forage varieties were industry firsts, including bloat-reduced alfalfa, hybrid bromegrass and smooth-awned forage barley.
Larmer has dedicated his professional life to improving cattle genetics and establishing Canada as a global leader. From his early days as a dairy cattle sire analyst, to overseeing the formation of the Semex Alliance and 17 years as CEO, Larmer’s leadership and vision have influenced the success of the Canadian farmer-owned companies in the global cattle breeding improvement industry. Larmer seamlessly led Semex through a transition from a Canadian company exporting Canadian genetics to an international company providing global solutions in cattle genetics.
