Cattlemen’s Young Leaders
Janine Rubin grew up on an Angus cow-calf operation — Upper Pine Red Angus — in Rose Prairie, B.C. Rubin was active in 4-H, travelling to various events including National 4-H Conference in Toronto, Ont., and the provincial public speaking competition in Vanderhoof, B.C., where she placed second. Rubin then earned an administrative assistant certificate, a diploma in ag business and a bachelor of applied science degree in agribusiness from Olds College. Over 15-plus years, she’s worked for various agriculture businesses, ranging from Agricore to Douglas Lake Ranch. Currently she’s a program representative for the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture. She lives with her husband and young daughter in Fort St. John, B.C. They hope to move to the country soon and become involved as producers. Rubin’s mentor is Jodie Griffin, program co-ordinator for Saskatchewan’s Livestock Price Insurance program and 2020 recipient of the Deputy Minister’s Award of Excellence.
Julia Flinton grew up in Williams Lake, B.C. A third-generation cattle farmer, she currently lives in Williams Lake with her husband Anthony, daughter Eilidh and son Keane. Flinton earned her bachelor of science in ag business from the University of Saskatchewan. Upon moving home, she spent seven years with the B.C. Wildfire Service. In May 2020, she signed on with the Williams Lake First Nation as rights and title co-ordinator. She also helps with the 150 Mile Ranch, (owned by the Williams Lake First Nation). Flinton and her husband have also started their own beef herd, and Flinton has founded a new 4-H club (Williams Lake First Nation 4-H Club), based out of the 150 Mile Ranch. The club is able to keep the youths livestock on the ranch if their families are unable to house livestock. Flinton’s mentor is Judy Guichon, who ranches with her children in the Nicola Valley. Guichon has served in several industry leadership roles and was the lieutenant governor of B.C.
After four years with the magazine, Piper Whelan has left her field editor role with Canadian Cattlemen. She is now working as a copywriter with Think Shift, a Winnipeg-based agricultural advertising agency. Those of us at Canadian Cattlemen wish Whelan all the best and congratulate her on the new position.
Dr. Brenda Ralston, livestock researcher at Lakeland College in Vermilion, Alta., received the Alberta Farm Animal Care Award of Distinction in March. The award recognizes those who have contributed to livestock welfare through leadership, innovation or communication. Ralston began her 35-year career as a district agriculturalist with Alberta Agriculture before earning a graduate degree in veterinary parasitology from the University of Calgary and a PhD in veterinary and biomedical sciences from Murdoch University in Australia. Ralston is well known for her work in pain control and pathogen mitigation.
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association elected a new executive at its AGM in Ottawa in March. Reg Schellenberg (Sask.) takes the reins from Bob Lowe (Alta.), who is now past president and chair of the public and stake- holder engagement program. Nathan Phinney (N.B.) steps into the vice-president role. New to the board are Doug Roxburg (Alta.), Melissa Downing (Alta.), Brad Ozadczuk (Alta.), Philip Lynn (Sask.) and Jason Leblond (Ont.). The CCA also thanked retiring board members David Haywood-Farmer (B.C.), Charlie Christie (Alta.), Doug Sawyer (Alta.), Kelly Smith-Fraser (Alta.), Pat Hayes (Sask.) and Rob Lipsett (Ont.).
Bree Kelln is the new beef industry integrated forage management and utilization chair for the University of Saskatchewan. She is the first to hold the position, which was developed to address a forage research gap. Kelln was raised on a Saskatchewan grain and cattle operation, and still ranches with her family. She is a professional agrologist, has held various positions in the industry and is the co-owner and former consultant for ruminant nutrition company BeefSmart Consulting. Kelln holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science from the University of Saskatchewan, and will defend her PhD thesis this spring.
Our condolences to the loved ones of Norma Dunn of Cochrane, Alta., who passed away on February 4, 2022, at age 89. Dunn had a varied career in the beef business. In the 1970s, she began with the Calgary Stampede, and then switched to the Canadian Hereford Association. In 1976, she was a key organizer of the World Hereford Congress in Banff. That launched Dunn into world events: the 1981 World Chianina Conference, the 1984 World Percheron Congress and the 1986 World Sheep and Wool Congress. She was also involved with Canadian Western Agribition in Regina for more than 35 years. Following the death of her husband Paul in 1985, Dunn began leading agricultural tours to many parts of the world, including New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Spain, Sweden and Russia. Dunn also wrote up beef and farm industry news and features for numerous publications. Dunn’s three children survive her: Kelly Ann (Steve) Gross, Paul (Leslie) Dunn, and Robert Dunn; four grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
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