Congratulations to the finalists recently selected for the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) mentorship program. They include Morgan Kitchen (Vanderhoof, B.C.), Raelynn Blumhagen (Jaffray, B.C.), Austin Ashbacher (Arrowwood, Alta.), Carling Matejka (Ponoka, Alta.), Delanie Ferguson (Crossfield, Alta.), Gleise Medeiros da Silva (Edmonton, Alta.), Heath Ferguson (Calgary, Alta.), Jill Renton (Cayley, Alta.), Nicky Nixdorff (Airdrie, Alta.), Russell Gallelli (Crossfield, Alta.), Tyson Ringdal (Outlook, Sask.), James Kinley (Cartwright, Man.), Stefan Bouw (Anola, Man.), Danika Mayer (Alexandria, Ont.), Holly McGill (Listowel, Ont.) and Madison Lewis (Meaford, Ont.). The CYL program has seen over 160 graduates since it was established in 2010.
Ontario’s Charlene Yungblut was elected president of the Canadian Cattle Youth Council at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference this summer. Yungblut takes over from Carley Henniger, who is a member-at-large from B.C. and has now moved into the past president role. Yungblut’s priorities include strengthening delegate relationships with provincial organizations and promoting the role of cattle production in environmental sustainability and climate change solutions.
Scott Gerbrandt has moved into the vice-president position, taking over that role from Alberta’s Martin Clausen, who completed his term in August. Gerbrandt hails from Swift Current, Sask. He holds an agriculture and bioresource engineering degree (with great distinction) from the University of Saskatchewan and works in the R&D side of the ag machinery industry. Along with his wife, Robyn, he’s active on his grandparents’ beef and hay operation, where he focuses on research results, record-keeping and improving the land’s production through grazing techniques. Rounding out the council are Kaylee Chizawsky (Alta.), Andrea Van Iterson (B.C.), Kimberly Lansdall (Sask.), Leah Rodvang (Man.), Laura Plett (Man.), Victor Drury (Que.) and Jacob McAffee (N.B.). Julie Mortenson (Sask.) is the new youth member for Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off Agency.
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After 17 years at Alberta Beef Producers (ABP), Katelyn Laverdure has signed on as senior communications specialist at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. Laverdure handled the stakeholder communications file for ABP and has handed the reins to Debra Murphy. Murphy has been working as an editorial content specialist for ABP since the spring of 2021, and previously worked in ag news media. She also ranches with her family in central Alberta.
Anne Wasko of Eastend, Sask., recently wrapped up her four-year term as chair of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. Ryan Bierbach of Whitewood, Sask., takes the helm as chair. Voting members include Don Badour (Beef Farmers of Ontario), Laura Plett (Manitoba Beef Producers), Andrea Stroeve-Sawa (National Cattle Feeders’ Association), Glenn Brand (JBS Canada), Clay Holmes (Intercity Packers Meat and Seafood), Stephen Clark (Chop Steakhouse and Bar), Jennifer Lambert (Loblaw Companies Ltd.), Kristine Tapley (Ducks Unlimited Canada), Tom Lynch-Staunton (Nature Conservancy of Canada) and Deborah Wilson (TrustBIX Inc.). Graeme Finn was also elected as a member-at-large, representing the Foothills Forage and Grazing Association. Government liaisons include Karen Clark (AAFC), Jamie White (Alberta Agriculture and Forestry) and Natasha Wilkie (Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture).
Katharine Cherewyk has stepped into the role of acting executive director for Manitoba’s Agriculture in the Classroom program. Cherewyk takes over for Sue Clayton, who served in the role for over seven years and will be the new director of the School of Agriculture at the University of Manitoba on October 17. Ag in the Classroom’s board will be searching for a new, permanent executive director in the weeks ahead.
Canada Beef and the Canadian Cattle Association, along with the Public and Stakeholder Engagement team, have organized on-farm visits for five Instagram influencers as part of a campaign titled “Good for you, great for the environment.” Zane Caplansky, owner of Caplansky’s restaurant at the Pearson Airport and former guest star on the Food Network, kicked things off with a visit to Keith Manders’s Garnet Valley Ranch in B.C. Caplansky also visited Kristine Tapley’s operation, Old Shore Cattle Company, in Manitoba. Dina Battistessa, a Calgary-area preschool owner and influencer (Move Play Mom on Instagram), took her family for a visit at CL Ranches. At press time, the ranch tours were about half complete. Chef Antonio Park was slated to visit Quebec’s Brylee Farms, CTV’s Michelle Jobin was scheduled to see Nova Scotia’s Manning Family Farms and Apryl and Sarah (This Kinda Life on Instagram) planned to visit Ontario’s Dibbhurst Farms. For more information and updates, follow Canada Beef on Instagram at lovecdnbeef).
