Canadian Cattle Young Leaders
Madison (Madi) Lewis grew up in Meaford, Ont., and went on to enrol in the bachelor of science, honours agriculture program, at the University of Guelph. She plans to pursue a master of science in beef nutrition. Lewis is an active member of the Ontario Beef Youth Alliance. When she is not in school, Lewis works as a beef nutrition intern for Cargill Animal Nutrition and is very active within a purebred association. She recently graduated from the Canadian Junior Limousin Association, and Ontario Junior Limousin Association as well as the 4-H Beef Club, where she served in several different roles such as president and treasurer over eight years. Lewis enjoys showing cattle and being outdoors with her Australian Shepherd puppy, Jules. Lewis’s mentor is Jack Chaffe, president and owner of Chaffe Farms Ltd., a family-run feedlot that markets 3,000 cattle a year. Chaffe has been active in cattle politics, as president of the Beef Farmers of Ontario, vice-president of the Ontario Cattle Feeders, and in positions with the Canadian Cattle Association, Canada Beef and many more.
Nicky Nixdorff grew up on a mixed farm northeast of Carbon, Alta., and attended the University of Alberta to complete undergrad and graduate degrees in animal science. While working on her graduate degree, she studied the relationships between feed efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions in beef cattle on pasture and dry lot settings. She spent five years working with Vytelle as a research analyst and product manager. Nixdorff currently works with Elanco as a ruminant sales representative in southern Alberta. She also farms east of Airdrie, Alta., with her husband and family where they raise purebred Herefords and run a commercial cow-calf herd and grain farm. Nixdorff ’s mentor is Sheila Jensen, who owns and operates Jensen Brothers Herefords in Courtland, Kansas, with her husband and family. She’s also a livestock insurance agent, a director and treasurer for the Republic County Kansas Livestock Association, and is on the Kansas State Fair 4-H Championship Grand Drive beef committee.
Read Also
Growing Canada’s beef herd: CCA’s priorities working with new federal government
This is my first column since the federal election. The Canadian Cattle Association works with all elected officials and parliamentarians, regardless…
The Canadian Cattle Association elected a new leadership team at its AGM in March. Nathan Phinney of Moncton, N.B., and Tyler Fulton of Birtle, Man., were acclaimed president and vice-president, respectively. CCA welcomed the following new board members: Renee Ardill (B.C.), Jana Harman (Alta.), Graham Overguard (Alta.), Greg Schmidt (Alta.), Curtis Vander Heyden (Alta.), John Schuttenbeld (N.B.), and Kevin Simmons (P.E.I.). With the election of Fulton to vice-president, a new board member from Manitoba is forthcoming. The following people retired from the board at the AGM: Linda Allison (B.C.), Melissa Downing (Alta.), Sheila Hillmer (Alta.), Brad Osadczuk (Alta.), Cathy Sharp (Alta.), and Peter Dixon (P.E.I.).
Don and Bev Campbell were recognized for their contributions to the holistic management community during the Western Canadian Holistic Management Conference in Lloydminster, Sask., earlier this year. The Campbells have been leaders in Canada’s holistic management movement for over 30 years, making major contributions to the community. They arranged and delivered courses, encouraging the growth of the holistic management community and helping it become a more mainstream thought process of value-based decision-making. Don was also a regular contributor to this magazine, penning his Holistic Ranching column for 13 years. Former Canadian Cattlemen editor Gren Winslow approached Don to write the column after sitting in on Don’s presentation at the Manitoba Grazing School. Bev and Don, together with their family, still run B-C Ranch, a cow-calf and long yearling operation, near Meadow Lake, Sask.
The Beef Farmers of Ontario held its AGM earlier this year. Jack Chaffe of Michell, Ont., and Craig McLaughlin of Renfrew County were re-elected president and vice-president, respectively. Joost van der Heiden of Perth County and Jairus Maus of Bruce County joined the board of directors as background director and feedlot director, respectively. Don Hargrave of Maxwell was acclaimed for a second three-year term and will continue to represent the cow-calf sector on the board.
The University of Saskatchewan’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence Strategic Advisory Board has welcomed a new chair and new board members. Robert Johnson, who raises bison with his wife at Fairlight, Sask., is the new chair. The Johnsons run 400 cow-calf pairs and finish about 800 bison annually, which are then shipped and processed in the U.S. The three new board members are Calvin Gavelin of McCord, Sask., Kyron Manske of Coronach, Sask., and Dr. Leigh Rosengren of Midale, Sask. Stepping down from the board after serving the maximum of two terms are Duane Thompson (chair from March 2018 to November 2021), Tamara Carter (chair from November 2021 to March 2023) and Neil Block. All three have served since the board was established in March 2018. Carter will continue as an ex-officio member for the next year, supporting Johnson.
Congratulations to brothers Brad and Travis Hopcott of Pitt Meadows, B.C., who were named B.C./Yukon’s Outstanding Young Farmers earlier this spring. The brothers, along with their family, run Hopcott Farms about 40 minutes from downtown Vancouver. The operation includes a feedlot, abattoir, retail store, bistro and cranberry operation. The Hopcotts also compost steer manure and sell it to customers. The family also has on-farm events including cooking classes, cranberry tours and a rib fest, and offers a venue for outdoor weddings.
