Last week was a busy one for some of our Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) and Canadian Cattle Youth Council delegates in different parts of the country.
Attending the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) AGM, Addy Bolduc and Brayden Schmidt, both recent CYL graduates and now involved on the Youth Council, got to take part in the tour and meetings held in Calgary and surrounding area.
The two-day event kicked off with the “Harvesting Knowledge” tour which stopped at Olds College and Wray Ranch – recipients of the 2023 Environmental Stewardship Award. The first day closed out with a reception hosted by Chop Steakhouse & Bar which was a great opportunity to reconnect with many of our Program Partners.
Day two kicked off with a keynote from Ashwin Ramesh, McDonald’s Canada’s Sustainability and Social Impact Lead. We are proud to work closely with McDonald’s Canada as a Platinum Partner of the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders Program. Ramesh highlighted the importance of youth involvement within the industry and as a part of the conversations going forward, stating:
“Right now, we’re at a turning point. I challenge everyone in this room to think bigger, be bolder, and most importantly, let’s make sure we bring our young leaders with us every step of the way. Because without their voices, we risk leaving our future behind.
Let us commit to amplifying youth voices in our industry. Let us commit to addressing the real challenges producers are facing. And let us commit to continuously improving our sustainability programs through open dialogue and collaboration.”
A powerful reminder of the important role youth plays in our industry and its sustainability.
The rest of the day was filled with insightful presentations from graduate students, Honorable R.J. Sigurdson, Alberta Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation, a CRSB panel, Kim Cornish with the Regenerative Living Lab, and many more.
It was great to connect with a number of past CYL graduates including CRSB Chair, Ryan Beierbach, and CRSB’s Member Engagement Manager, Cassandra DeMars to see where they are now in the industry and hear about how the connections that they made in the CYL program helped get them where they are today. Thank you to the CRSB for yet another incredible meeting, bringing together stakeholders from across the supply chain to engage in conversation and collaboration.
Meanwhile in Ottawa, our Member at Large Youth Council Delegate, Danika Mayer, and current CYL Chelsea Allan helped welcome parliament back on the hill by attending the Fall BBQ that CCA and senator Rob Black co-host.
This annual tradition is a great way to showcase our dedication to supporting young beef producers. It provides a friendly atmosphere for CCA directors, staff and youth to reconnect with parliamentarians and their staff.
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