Mentorships through the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders (CYL) Mentorship Program for the 2021-2022 program year are off to a strong start. Young leaders in the beef industry have been expanding their skill set through professional and personal development opportunities thanks to the generous support of this year’s industry-leading program mentors.
The CYL program is a national initiative of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) established in 2010 that provides young people ages 18-35 with industry-specific training and mentorship opportunities.
Each year,16 participants are paired with a hand-picked industry leader in their specific area of interest for a nine-month mentorship opportunity.
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There is an exciting range of mentorship focus areas this year, including sustainable grazing practices, succession planning, beef cattle nutrition, industry policy, building a successful business plan, direct marketing, and much more.
The 2021-2022 program year CYL mentorship pairings are as follows.
- Amanda Miller (B.C.) and mentor Larry Thomas
- Brock Larson (Sask) and mentor Ty Yeast
- Darren Dinsmore (NL) and mentor Victor Oulton
- Diane Van Essen (Alta) and mentor Ryan Copithorne
- Emily Seed (Ont) and mentor Andrea De Groot
- Holly Sparrow (Sask) and mentor Kelly Sidoryk
- Janine Rubin (B.C.) and mentor Jodie Griffin
- Julia Flinton (B.C.) and mentor Judy Guichon
- Laura Macrae (Alta) and mentor Brendan Scholten
- Laura Scott (Ont) and mentor Jaclyn Wilson
- Logan Houff (Sask) and mentor Pat Hayes
- Melissa Gablehaus (Alta) and mentor John McKinnon
- Nikki Olson (Alta) and mentor Kelly Smith-Fraser
- Rheanne Ritchie (Alta) and mentor Dr. Egan Brockhoff
- Tia Schram (Alta) and mentor Mike Panasiuk
- Victor Drury (Que) and mentor Graeme Finn
The formal portion of these mentorships began in November 2021 and will conclude at the end of July 2022.
Although the ever-changing nature of COVID-19 has presented some challenges, we are excited to see more plans coming to fruition for in-person opportunities for CYLs to connect and learn with their mentors, as well as CYLs participating in more in-person industry events.
“We’re grateful to this year’s CYL Program mentors who have generously volunteered their time to build the next generation of leaders,” said CCA president, Bob Lowe. “In my experience with the program, even as the formal portion of the relationship comes to an end, a new chapter is just beginning where the mentor and mentee can keep sharing ideas and challenging each other.”
The CYL Program would like to thank all present and past program mentors for their incredibly generous support and vision for the future by lending a helping hand to the next generation.
To learn more about this year’s CYL mentors and mentees, visit our Participant Spotlight page at www.cattlemensyoungleaders.com.
Applications for the 2022-2023 CYL program year are open until March 31, 2022, for young
people ages 18-35 who are passionate about the Canadian beef industry.
Click here to learn more and apply to the CYL Program today: CYL Program Application Forms
The CYL program is a national initiative of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association which provides young people ages 18-35 with industry-specific training and mentorship opportunities. Through networking, travel and mentorship, participants are equipped with the skills they need to further the success of the Canadian beef industry into the future. Learn more at www.cattlemensyoungleaders.com
