COVID-19 has wreaked havoc with industry events this summer. Event organizers have postponed some events to 2021, while others have been shifted online. Following is a rundown of changes to the calendar.

The board of the Canadian Beef Industry Conference (CBIC) has postponed the conference originally scheduled for August in Penticton, B.C., to August 17 to 19, 2021, in the same location.

CBIC is in the process of planning a virtual conference for August 11 to 13, 2020, so that people in the Canadian beef industry can connect, learn and support one another. This event will be offered as a free online tool for the entire industry. To stay up-to-date on the virtual conference details please visit canadianbeefindustryconference.com and follow CBIC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for updates.

The 2020 Manitoba Youth Beef Roundup and Canadian Junior Shorthorn Weekend, which were to be held July 31, August 1 and 2, 2020, in Neepawa, Man., are bumped to July 30 to August 1, 2021. Meanwhile, the committee is currently working on online workshops for any junior members interested in participating. Check the Manitoba Youth Beef Roundup Facebook page and website, as details will be posted there once finalized.

The Manitoba Youth Beef Roundup Scholarship entry forms went online in early May. Entry deadline is July 1, 2020. Senior members please complete the applications, as these funds can be a way to help fund future education. As well, for this year, the Manitoba Youth Beef Roundup-Canadian Western Agribition Judging Team will be selected through an online application process. Deadline is September 1, 2020.

The Canadian Hereford (CHA) and Junior Associations (CJHA) are busy planning a virtual Bonanza 2020 and Hereford Week that will be rolled out over the week of July 27 to 31, 2020. The association will be using various social media platforms to host the different events. Some the activities they are planning include a virtual cattle show (open and commercial classes, bred and owned, semen donation and their first heifer lottery class), art show, marketing competition, CHA and CJHA AGMs, education video series and a fundraising auction with proceeds going to the Keith Gilmore Foundation scholarship programs and CJHA. More information is on the CHA and CJHA Facebook pages and websites.

The CHA also looks forward to seeing everyone next year in Brandon, Man., for Bonanza 2021.

The Canadian Angus Association is holding a virtual AGM on June 11 at 7 p.m. MST. Highlights will include a review of the 2019 financial results and annual report; key events from the past year; 2020 initiatives; introduction of 2020 Canadian Angus Association board members and new executive; and Canadian Angus Foundation 2019 highlights. The meeting will also include a presentation from J.P. Gervais, vice-president and chief agricultural economist of Farm Credit Canada. Gervais will talk about COVID-19 and the beef cattle sector, and what we can expect for the rest of the year.

And finally, the Canadian Simmental Association (CSA) and the Manitoba Simmental Association have decided to postpone this year’s Canadian Simmental Convention and Young Canadian Simmental Association (YCSA) National Show to 2021. It was originally slated for July 23 to 26 in Portage la Prairie, Man.

The CSA board of directors has decided to still hold the annual general meeting via the internet on July 25. Registration details will be made available by June 15. The Friends of the Canadian Simmental Foundation will also hold their AGM online on July 25, and will push the fundraising auction to July 2021 in Manitoba, to coincide with the CSA event. At press time, the CSA had cancelled provincial shows in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec.