Canadian Cattle Young Leaders
Ashley Perepelkin is an owner/operator at Perepelkin Farms, a mixed farming operation with commercial and purebred cow-calf and a grain farm. Alongside her cow-calf operation, Perepelkin runs a successful farm-to-table beef program and a newly founded tallow lotion company. She is the mother to four children and when not busy on the farm, she and her husband, Andrew, are running kids to and from hockey, cheerleading and other activities. Perepelkin solely manages the cattle while supporting Andrew during harvest and haying seasons. Although born and raised in the city, Perepelkin did not let that hold her back in her agricultural career. She continues striving to expand her knowledge through both practical and continuing education programs. Perepelkin is the United Farmers of Alberta delegate for the Rocky, Rimbey and Sylvan Lake locations, has spoken at conferences and meetings about her movement through the agriculture sector and wishes to continue her advocacy for sustainable agriculture. Her mentor is Deane Young, who is a co-owner of High Country Cattle Services at Breton, Alta., and has a purebred Simmental herd of 100 cows, which has been developed over 40 years. Young was a founding board member of the Young Canadian Simmental Association, served on the Canadian Simmental Association board of directors and is currently a board member of the Friends of Canadian Simmental Foundation.
Beatriz Montenegro grew up on a ranch in Mexico and was exposed to agriculture and animal production from an early age, as both her parents are agronomists. She immigrated to Manitoba in 2006 with her family and enrolled at the University of Manitoba where she earned her Beatriz Montenegro animal science degree. After graduating, Montenegro began working at a beef processing plant in High River, Alta., where she eventually became the food safety superintendent for the facility before leaving to work at a veterinary clinic in Lethbridge, Alta. It was during this time that she met her current partner and began getting involved in their cow-calf and feedlot operation in Picture Butte, Alta. Her involvement with her partner’s family operation, her background in beef processing and supply chain, and her passion for animal agriculture and sustainability led her to pursue further education in ruminant nutrition. She is currently in the second year of her master’s degree at the University of Saskatchewan, under the supervision of Gabriel Ribeiro, and is focused on increasing use of feed by-products, such as oilseed screenings in feedlot diets to provide producers with more economical and sustainable diets. Her mentor is Maureen Cousins, who is the policy analyst for Manitoba Beef Producers. Cousins was raised on a mixed beef and dairy operation near Portage la Prairie, Man. Her experience as a reporter and as a policy analyst in both government and in an official Opposition setting has given her a unique perspective on issues and opportunities in the agriculture sector.
Flavia van Cleef has been appointed as the new beef industry integrated forage management and utilization chair at the University of Saskatchewan. As the industry chair, van Cleef will explore the soil-plant-animal interface to help maximize the agronomic, economic and environmental benefits of forage. Van Cleef joins USask’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources with a joint appointment between the department of plant sciences and the department of animal and poultry science. As the industry chair, she will work to advance forage utilization by enhancing system health, productivity and resilience.
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Congrats to Van Osch Farms, which was named the 2025 Ontario recipients of The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA). The award was presented to the family at Beef Farmers of Ontario 2025 annual general meeting banquet, which was held in Toronto in February.
Van Osch Farms, operated by the Van Osch family — Fred, Gerald, Brendon and Kurt — is located in Middlesex County, Ont. The farm, with a feedlot capacity of 11,500 head of cattle, is certified with the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. The family is committed to making decisions that improve cattle performance and efficiency, while also improving the land that supports their farm. They’ve upgraded their barn facilities to include natural light and ventilation, and integrated new technologies like recirculating water bowls to eliminate hydro use. They also use solar powered cameras to monitor feed bunks and minimize feed waste. Forty per cent of the feed ration used on Van Osch Farms is made of by-product ingredients, keeping these products out of landfills and reducing food waste. Over the last few years, they have planted over 1,000 trees on their farms. This includes establishing multi-species perimeter shelterbelts at two of their large barns and planting a naturalized buffer around a pond and wetland.
During the Saskatchewan Cattle Association annual general meeting in January of 2025, it was announced that Christina Betker will replace Grant McLellan as CEO. Betker has been with the association for nearly 10 years, serving as policy manager. She has extensive experience in the agriculture sector, along with time spent working in both the Canadian and U.S. governments.
The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association held its 2025 semi-annual meeting on February 7 in Whitecap, Sask. During the banquet, five people were presented with Honour Scrolls for their exceptional work and leadership. The 2025 Honour Scroll recipients included Matthew Flaman of Vibank, Sask.; Wayne and Linda Libke of Hanley, Sask.; and Lloyd and Jean Thompson of Estevan, Sask.
Prince Edward Island Premier Denis King has announced changes to the senior management team within government, including Dr. Carolyn Sanford to serve as Deputy Minister of Agriculture. Sanford is a veterinarian who graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College. She went on to specialize in epidemiology and earned her PhD in 2006. She has worked in private practice, at the University of Prince Edward Island and the CFIA. In 2008 she joined the chief public health office, Department of Health and served as the provincial epidemiologist for a number of years. In 2017 she was appointed as the chief provincial veterinarian in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
