Jay Foxof Eddystone was reelected to a second term as president of the Manitoba Beef Producers during their annual meeting in Brandon last month. Joining him on the executive are: first vice-presidentRay Armbrusterof Rossburn; second vice-presidentTrevor Atchisonof Pipestone; finance chairTheresa Zukof Arborg and secretaryMac McRaeof Stonewall. The Manitoba Beef Producers is the new name of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association whose members decided to rebrand their image to more clearly define the people they represent.

Richard Hornehas been hired as policy advisor to the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association. He is a recent Arts honours graduate in criminal justice and public policy from the University of Guelph. His duties include preparing position papers and strategy documents for the OCA executive and board.

The Manitoba Stewardship Award Winners for 2011 areToddandHeather Danielsof Pierson. The couple run a 225-head cow-calf operation and background all their calves. The award recognizes their efforts to improve the productive environment on their farm. Planting tree strips, running a pasture pipeline to supply clean water to most of their pastures and seeding most of their grain land down to forages were cited in the award presentation. They began bale grazing in 2009 and have always welcomed respectful hunters and bird watchers to their ranch along with visitors who want to learn more about what works in their operation.

The Canadian Beef Breeds Council (CBBC) has appointedMauricio Arcilaas its new technical services coordinator. Until recently he held the same post with Canada Beef Export Federation where he worked on brand marketing and support for incoming missions of international customers and regulators on behalf of Canadian beef exporters. In his new role he will be promoting the purebred sector both domestically and internationally. We suspect he won’t be the last CBEF employee to take on a new position as the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association continues to work at merging the staffs of the industry’s export arm with those at the Beef Information Centre.

Dr. Wendy Wilkinshas been appointed Surveillance Veterinarian with the livestock branch of Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Animal Health Unit. A 1999 grad of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Wilkins came out of private practice to work with a team of veterinarians on a large Western beef productivity study. She completed her Phd in veterinary epidemiology in 2009.

On November 15 the Ontario Feeder Cattle Co-operative program celebrated its 20th anniversary. Over that time the program has expanded to where today it ranks right behind Alberta with 19 co-operatives purchasing 103,000 head of feeder cattle in 2009. Similar results are expected this year when all the numbers are in.

Janet Kantersresigned as stakeholder communications manager with the Beef Information Centre last month to take up a position with Agri-Trend, the private crop-consulting group of companies. No replacement was named at press time.

Jeff Bynumof Southside, Alabama won that quarter qualifying heat we told you about last issue. The competition was held at the Vold, Jones &Vold Auction in Ponoka, Alberta to select the eight auctioneers who will go on to the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship in South Carolina next June. The reserve champion wasPaul Ramirez,Tucson, Ariz., and the runner-up wasRodney Charles Burnettof Enderby, B.C. They will move on along withRob Bergevin,Stavely, Alta;Charly Cummings,Yates Center, Kan.;Peter Raffan,Armstrong, B.C.;Travis Rogers,Westlock, Alta.; andShane Wolff,Golden Valley, N.D.

Border Line Feeders of Ceylon, Sask., won the ABEX 2010 Community Involvement Award presented by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce to recognize outstanding achievements in business excellence in the province. For more on why they won the award see our story on the feedlot in the November 2010 issue of CANADIAN CATTLEMEN.

The University of Saskatchewan Alumni Association has awarded its 2010 mentorship award toWilliam Frischkewho has run a mixed veterinary practice in Ponoka, Alta., almost from the day he graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1976.

After a long delay the RCMP has appointedConstable Terry Shedrukas livestock constable in the Kamloops, B.C. detachment.

Congratulations to federal government negotiators who obtained an agreement for duty-free access to a 20,000-tonne quota for the European Union market late last month. As a bonus the government also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the European Commission that opens the door to settling the long-standing WTO dispute on beef hormones and ultimately add 3,200 tonnes to the 20,000-tonne quota and provide compensation for the EU’s ban on hormone beef.

The Cattlemen’s Young Leaders program is now accepting applications for mentorship spots nationwide in 2011 following a successful pilot program earlier this year in Alberta. Young people between 18 and 35 who are enthusiastic about the beef industry and want to learn more about the different sectors of the business can apply at www.cattlemensyoungleaders.com to take on one of 16 eight-month mentorships beginning in April 2011. Applications are open until Jan. 25, 2011.