Congrats to Gemstone Cattle Company of Gem Alta. and Polyculture Plante 1987 Inc. of Saint-Pétronille, Que., who were national winners from seven regional farms at Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF) Program’s national event held in Lethbridge, Alta., November 27- December 1, 2024. Brothers Daniel Lorin and Barry Doerksen operate Gemstone Cattle Company. After Daniel obtained his diploma in animal science, he made his first purchase of irrigated land and joined his dad and uncle in their fourth-generation grain and beef farm. His brother Lorin joined him in 2013 and started implementing regenerative agriculture practices. They saw their soil improve by introducing rotational grazing, polycropping for silage and winter grazing.
The brothers began a beef marketing business in 2018, Gemstone Grass Fed Beef. They now market their beef online and at their butcher shop/food kiosk at Calgary’s Farmers Market. Their younger brother Barry also joined the farm. The three Doerksen brothers were honoured to be part of Avenue Calgary Magazine’s, Top 40 Under 40, Class of 2023. Polyculture Plante is run by Simon Plante and his wife, Alison Blouin. Plante began working on the family farm at a young age and at 18 was the sales manager. He took up ownership in 2021. Now, they produce strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, sweet corn, tomatoes, onions, squash, pumpkins and maple products sold on-farm at Marché Plante. They are looking at recycling irrigation water to reduce water and fertilizer usage.
The Canadian Beef Breeds Council (CBBC) has a new program administrator, Macy Liebreich. Liebreich participated in the junior beef programs with the Canadian Angus Association and 4-H while growing up. Her family’s operation, Merit Cattle Co., breeds 200 purebred black Angus females annually and is based in Radville, Sask. She earned her bachelor of commerce at the University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business in 2020. Her passion for the agriculture community brought her from Vancouver to Alta Genetics in Alberta where she co-ordinated international shipments of semen and embryos for Canadian breeders.
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Congrats to Farm and Food Care Ontario, who won the Government of Ontario’s annual Excellence in Agriculture Award, which recognizes farmers, processors, industry organizations and businesses whose contributions strengthen growth across the province’s $50.7 billion agri-food sector. Farm and Food Care Ontario is a not-for-profit organization in Guelph that builds partnerships to raise awareness about food and farming in Ontario.
The Canadian Beef Breeds Council (CBBC) elected four new directors at their 30th annual general meeting in Edmonton, Alta. during Farmfair International. The new directors are Cory Ducherer, past president of Canadian Speckle Park Association; Brad Gilchrist, beef marketing manager with Semex; Ken Lewis, past president of Canadian Simmental Association; and Garth Rancier, past president of the Canadian Simmental Association. Andy Schuepbach, a current director of the Canadian Hereford Association was re-elected to the board. They join directors Kevin Blair, Eddie Marsman, Scott Severtson and Shawn Wilson to comprise the 2024/25 CBBC board of directors.
Immediately following the annual general meeting, the board elected Shawn Wilson to serve as chair and Scott Severtson as vice-chair for the upcoming year. Wilson owns and operates SW Cattle Co. with his family near Strathmore, Alta., and Severtson operates Severtson Land and Cattle along with his family south of Innisfail, Alta.
The Honourable Rob Black, Senator for Ontario, announced his nominations for recipients of the King Charles III Coronation Medal in September. The Coronation Medal, a Canadian honour, commemorates the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III as King of Canada. To be an eligible candidate, one must have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada. Notable nominees include Hugh Maynard, longtime secretary of the Canadian Farm Writers Federation; Kelly Daynard, executive director of Farm and Food Care Ontario; and Lillie Ann Morris, key account manager with Glacier FarmMedia and a big supporter of the forage sector.
Congrats to Komie Hossini, who is the recipient of the 2024 W.R. Motherwell Award by Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmer program (see photo at top). The award was presented to Hossini at the national event held in Lethbridge, Alta., on November 29.
Hossini is a brand and advertising manager with Bayer, where he has worked for the past 18 years, and is located in Calgary, Alta. He grew up on a family farm and always had a passion for agriculture. Hossini has been involved with Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmer program for years, and has held positions on many different committees and boards, helping to make the program stronger over the last 12 years. Hossini also contributes to the Canadian agricultural sector through his involvement with 4-H and the Youth Ag Summit. The award is presented annually to an individual or couple who has demonstrated excellence in leadership and dedication to both the OYF program and Canadian agriculture.
