2025 Summer Intern Accomplishments

In May, CCA and the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC), Canfax and Public & Stakeholder Engagement divisions welcomed interns to our staff teams. The intern work terms have flown by, and we wanted to give each intern an opportunity to share their accomplishments in their own words.

CCA Intern Elise Mohler

Firstly, I want to say how incredibly grateful I am to have been a part of the CCA for the summer. From day one, the team welcomed me in with open arms and gave me the opportunity to truly make the most of my internship.

Over the summer, I worked on various projects and supported CCA staff in many different areas. One of my highlights was assisting with the CCA’s youth programs like the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) program and the Canadian Cattle Youth Council (CCYC). Under the guidance of Cailey Church, I wrote articles, created social media campaigns, and took part in coordinating the CYL Spring Forum and Selections. I was grateful for the opportunity to attend the Spring Forum alongside Cailey, where I engaged with the CYLs and supported the successful execution of the event.

Cailey Church (left) and Elise Mohler (right) at Douglas Lake Ranch during the CYL Spring Forum

Another unforgettable experience was collaborating with the Animal Health team to develop a biosecurity protocol for farm tours. This protocol was designed to help host organizations plan farm tours to mitigate risk of disease transmission. I also had the opportunity to sit in on several Animal Health meetings where I learned from industry experts discussing high-priority topics.

Additionally, I supported the Environment team assisting with The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) and participated in several environment meetings. I also developed a funding backgrounder that explored how various agricultural commodities in Canada are funded and how other national beef industries outside of Canada are structured and financed.

Through this internship, I’ve built many incredible connections which I am deeply grateful for. Each conversation and meeting allowed me a new opportunity to gain more perspective and deepen my knowledge on industry, policy and governance.

BCRC Intern Jenny Delorme

Working with the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) this summer has been a great opportunity for networking, gaining valuable work experience and learning about the industry from both an extension and research perspective. Throughout the internship, I contributed to a wide range of tasks that allowed me to build communication skills and better understand how research is translated into practical tools for producers. With the extension team, I worked on projects such as creating social media content, drafting blog posts and developing graphics to help share information in an accessible way. I was involved in vaccination, biosecurity, grazing and genetic topics, which gave me a deeper understanding of beef cattle health and nutrition.

Beyond extension, I grained exposure to the research side of the organization. I had the opportunity to sit in on science team meetings where I learned how projects are reviewed from the team’s perspective. I also attended presentations highlighting recent and upcoming research, which gave me a deeper appreciation for how new knowledge is generated and then communicated back to producers.

Overall, this internship provided a balance of hands-on work, professional development and industry insight, all of which will be valuable for my future career.

CanFax Intern Clare Starosta

As the Canfax intern for the summer of 2025, I had the opportunity to gain experience on both the market analytics and research sides of the organization. During the first two months, I worked closely with the market analytics team, filling in for staff members while they were away on vacation. In this role, I was responsible for collecting feeder cattle auction data from across Canada, creating the Daily Snapshot and the Canfax Weekly Report. I also updated the Beef Farmers of Ontario website, wrote radio scripts, and produced both daily and weekly Beef Farmers of Ontario market reports. These tasks gave me a deeper understanding of current and historical market trends, as well as the importance of timely, accurate communication within the industry.

Later in the summer, I transitioned to the research team where my responsibilities shifted toward more in-depth analysis and project support. I wrote literature and market reviews, contributed to updating the Cost of Production Network, and helped gather data for the ongoing drought impact project. Working with the research team gave me the opportunity to strengthen my Excel skills and gain a foundational understanding of a variety of subjects such as bull leases and bale grazing. Additionally, I assisted with communications by developing social media content to promote new articles and fact sheets published on the Canfax website, supported the launch of the Canfax YouTube channel, and occasionally recorded daily radio reports for both the Beef Farmers of Ontario and the Alberta Beef Producers. This internship provided me with a well-rounded view of the cattle industry’s data, communications, and research needs, and enhanced both my technical and creative skill sets.

Public & Stakeholder Engagement Intern Jessica Davey

This summer I had the fantastic opportunity to intern with the Public and Stakeholder Engagement (PSE) team with the Canadian Cattle Association, working alongside Amie Peck, Lynsay Beavers, Emma Cross, and Jenna Sarich. The PSE team’s mission is to build public trust in Canadian beef production through issues management, proactive communications, and strategic partnerships. My experience reflected this mission, giving me the chance to learn from strong mentors while taking on meaningful responsibilities and projects that strengthened my skills in communications and advocacy.

Throughout the summer, I contributed to a variety of initiatives, including event planning for the Homes on the Range short documentary launch, coordinating partnerships for the Guardians of the Grasslands Game, and assisting with the PSE influencer event, The Ranching Experience. I was also fortunate to represent the beef industry at public-facing venues such as the Calgary Stampede, contribute to media outreach and The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) articles, and explore my creative side through photography at cattle shows, facilities, and on family farms/ranches. These diverse experiences gave me a deeper understanding of how outreach, storytelling, and strategic communications can build transparency and trust with stakeholders.

Jessica at the Cattle Trail display at Calgary Stampede