It is with great sadness that Alberta Beef Producers shares the news of Chris Mills’ passing. Mills was a dedicated leader in the Canadian beef industry, serving as the western representative of the Canadian Cattle Association from 1972 to 1981, and as the general manager of the Alberta Cattle Commission, now ABP, from 1980 to 1987. His contributions continued through the 90s with contract work for both organizations. Mills was inducted into the Alberta Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2004, recognizing his many achievements, including eliminating the Crowsnest Freight Rate Subsidy, which significantly boosted western cattle feeding.
The Canadian Cattle Association welcomes Tina Zakowsky to the Canadian Cattle Association team as the new communications manager. Zakowsky has been in the industry for many years, having spent the last 18 years working in communications roles at the Canadian Angus Association. She volunteers for the Calgary Stampede and has volunteered with the Canadian Beef Industry Conference since its inaugural conference in 2016. Her background includes interactive marketing, project management, editing, writing, and research in children’s educational publishing.
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Former Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association president Marilyn Jahnke has died. She was the first, and only, female president of the 111-year-old organization. Jahnke led the SSGA from 2002-04, at the same time her late husband, Neil, was the Canadian Cattle Association president. Both were on the front lines after the discovery of BSE in Canada in May of 2003. The couple ranched near Gouldtown, Sask., and were heavily involved in all aspects of cattle policy and politics.
They received the Saskatchewan Livestock Association honour scroll in 2010 for their contributions. Jahnke received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. She was 80, and is survived by her daughter JJ, son Shane and grandchildren.
Congratulations to François Allard, owner of Allard Farms/Allard Logging Ltd. and ALUS Northern Sunrise participant, who has won the ALUS 2024 Dave Reid Award for demonstrated leadership in agricultural stewardship (see photo at top). Victor Drury, cattle producer, and Brian Maloney, owner of Brylee Farm, were the two runners-up for the award. The Dave Reid Award recognizes ALUS farmers and ranchers who demonstrate excellent agricultural stewardship and innovative approaches to producing ecological services on their lands. Allard began working with ALUS in 2022. He has since undertaken several environmental projects on his land, planting over 100,000 native trees of eight different species and enrolling 160 acres of marginal land as a restored wetland and watercourse habitat. Both projects support biodiversity and wildlife, while the wetland project directly benefits the ecological function of nearby Pat’s Creek. Allard is a motivated advocate for environmental stewardship in the Peace River region. He’s a member of the County’s Watershed Advisory Committee and the ALUS Northern Sunrise Partnership Advisory Committee.
Congratulations to Shauna Breault, who was recently added to the Manitoba Forage and Grazing Association’s wall of fame. Breault is a regenerative rancher from north of Ste. Rose du Lac, Man. Breault and her family operate Breault Ranching Ltd. where they run 4,300 head across 22,000 pasture acres, which includes forage leases under the agriculture Crown land program. She has been a strong voice in forage and lease matters and served on MFGA’s board for two terms until 2023 and has been involved with organizing MFGA’s regenerative agriculture conference. Lawrence Knockaert, a dairy farmer from Bruxelles, Man. who recently termed out as MFGA past chair after serving a full term on the MFGA Board as Dairy Farmers of Manitoba (DFM) representative, was also inducted into the MFGA hall of fame.
Canadian Western Agribition has announced the 2024-2026 Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship program’s cohort, which consists of six mentees and mentors. The goal of this program is to help the next generation of agricultural producers and leaders develop their knowledge, skills and networks in the industry. The 2024-2026 group will attend various training events, including board and governance, financial literacy, industry learning events, networking opportunities, and one-on-one time with mentors.
The mentees and mentors are Casey Bradford paired with mentor Breeanna Kelln, Emma Syroteuk paired with mentor Adrienne Hanson, Emmersen Close paired with mentor Gordon Roger, Hannah Eckstein paired with mentor Kara Annand, Karter Kattler paired with mentor Kris Babbings, Morgan Lehmann paired with mentor Scott Wright, Paige Freitag paired with mentors John and Deanne Chuiko and Raeanne Pettifer paired with mentor Jean Clavelle.
