The year 2020 provided many opportunities for the Young Cattlemen’s Council (YCC) to be involved in industry advocacy and lobbying efforts on behalf of young beef producers across Canada. I joined the YCC because I’m interested in providing a youth voice to important agriculture policy decisions and had the privilege of stepping into the role of YCC President at our Annual General Meeting last August. My involvement in the beef industry includes raising cattle on both my family’s and my fiancé’s farming operations in Saskatchewan and working for Verified Beef Production Plus.
The Young Cattlemen’s Council was established in 2013 as a youth subsidiary of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), representing young beef enthusiasts ages 18-40. The Council is made up of nine delegates who gain exposure to industry policy development by serving on CCA committees as non-voting members, where we are able to bring fresh ideas to the table.
In September 2020, I represented YCC by joining CCA in virtual fly-in meetings with both Conservative Ag Critic, Lianne Rood, and Federal Agriculture Minister, Marie-Claude Bibeau. It was an excellent opportunity to speak to the importance of young producers having access to bankable and equitable business risk management programs. At our October YCC monthly meeting, CCA’s Fawn Jackson also joined us to provide an update on CCA’s current policy files and the important work being done on behalf of producers.
Council delegates strengthened our government relations skills last Fall alongside participants of the CCA’s Cattlemen’s Young Leaders Mentorship Program. In November, the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association and CCA hosted a two-part virtual government relations training series, where we learned how young people can get involved and engage with various levels of government to communicate industry priorities.
December was another busy month to wrap up the year for the Council. As the Beef Value Chain Roundtable meeting shifted to a virtual event on December 1, myself and a few other YCC delegates participated in the meeting. It was an excellent opportunity for us to engage in discussions and learn from industry stakeholders through several presentations on topics such as retail, public perception and lessons learned through COVID-19. On December 17, I was able to contribute to the important ongoing industry discussions about business risk management programs by highlighting why proposed changes to AgriStability would help young beef producers through a video posted to our YCC social media, as Ministers across Canada continue to evaluate BRM programs.
To watch the video, click here.
Looking ahead into the New Year, we’re excited to explore options to engage with our membership and serve as a conduit of information between industry organizations and youth of the Canadian beef industry. If you’re interested in becoming apart of the Young Cattlemen’s Council, or know of a young person who would be, please visit www.youngcattlemenscouncil.com for more information. It’s free to become a member and we’re always looking for more young people to become involved!
Holly Thompson
President, Young Cattlemen’s Council
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