Carley Henniger
Member at Large - President
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Carley was not raised in Agriculture, but quickly fell in love with the industry during her time living in Alberta and knew it was the place for her. She now lives in Kamloops, BC and is the Environmental Stewardship Coordinator for the BC Cattlemen's Association, the Secretary and Treasurer for the Cattle Industry Development Council and the Secretary, Treasurer and Junior Association Coordinator for the BC Angus Association. In 2017, Carley was selected for the Cattlemen's Young Leader's (CYL) Program and had the privilege of being mentored by Bob Lowe in government advocacy and business development. Carley looks forward to having her own cattle operation one day soon and continuing to advocate for the cattle industry. |
Martin Clausen
Alberta Delegate - Vice President
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Growing up on a purebred Angus cow-calf operation near Westlock, Alberta, Martin Clausen was introduced to the beef industry at a young age. Martin and his fiancée run Hazel Bluff Angus with his parents, as well as a small cash crop operation. Martin attended Olds College following high school and completed the Agricultural Equipment Technician Diploma program. Following that, he completed his Crop Technology Diploma at Lakeland College in Vermilion, Alberta where he was also General Manager of the Student Managed Farm’s crop division. He then proceeded to work for Bayer Crop Science in Field Marketing as an agronomist for six years before returning full-time to the family farming operation. Currently a delegate of the Alberta Beef Producers and now welcoming the opportunity to sit on the Young Cattlemen’s Council, Martin is excited to further his knowledge and be a positive voice for young producers in agriculture and the beef industry.
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Holly Sparrow
Member at Large - Past President
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Holly Sparrow developed her passion for beef cattle through her family's operation near Kelliher, Saskatchewan. Holly obtained a degree at the University of Saskatchewan majoring in Animal Science and is currently working for VBP+ Delivery Services Inc. and ranches alongside her husband on their mixed operation near Vanscoy, SK. Holly is a 2021 CYL finalist, involved in the Sask Forage Council and is passionate about contributing to a sustainable environment while producing high quality beef. Holly looks forward to the future with her husband, as they are both dedicated to improving their operations. |
Andrea van iterson
BC delegate
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Andrea van Iterson was raised in Westwold, BC on a small backgrounding feedlot. While always maintaining some connection to the farm, she was off farm for eight years. In 2012, Andrea and her husband made the decision to move their young family to Westwold to continue farming with her parents and brother. Their operation backgrounds 2,500-3,000 head annually.
Aside from her job in the feedlot, Andrea works as the Executive Director for the B.C. Association of Cattle Feeders (BCACF). BCACF allows Andrea the opportunity to participate with the National Cattle Feeders’ Association; something she enjoys very much. 4-H was an integral part of Andrea’s childhood and she continues to work with the program as one of the leaders with her boys’ club. Expanding her presence with multiple industry groups has become increasingly important to Andrea. She recently became a board member with AgSafe BC and participates in the Public Affairs and Education Committee with the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association. |
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Scott Gerbrandt
Saskatchewan Delegate
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Scott Gerbrandt was raised on a farm near Swift Current, SK. He obtained an Agriculture and Bioresource Engineering degree (with Great Distinction) from the U of S in 2010 and has been working as a design engineer in the ag machine industry since then. In 2015, Scott and his wife, Robyn, moved back to Swift Current to become more involved on Scott’s grandparents’ farm, which was a small beef and hay operation.
Scott has enjoyed learning about the cow-calf sector and has worked on increasing their herd over the past few years. He focuses on keeping up with best practices from research results, record keeping, business management, and trying to improve grazing techniques to increase production on the land they manage. He is proud of some of the changes implemented on their operation including eliminating confined feeding in the cowherd through the use of corn grazing, bale grazing, and calving on pasture while simultaneously increasing their herd size. He is also proud to have the opportunity to share daily chores on their VBP+ operation with four active generations. Scott is a graduate of the 2020 class of the Cattlemen's Young Leaders Mentorship Program and is looking forward to continuing his participation in the Canadian beef industry through the Young Cattlemen’s Council. |
Leah Rodvang
Manitoba Delegate
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Leah was raised on a cow/calf and backgrounding operation in rural Alberta. She pursued her love of Agriculture with a degree in Range and Pasture Management at the University of Alberta. In 2016, Leah moved to Manitoba to take a position as a Research Technician at Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives, where she does everything from data collection to animal health management. She uses skills gained in research to assist with record keeping on the family farm. Leah is excited to join the Young Cattlemen’s Council to gain a greater understanding of policy development, engage with other people in the industry, and represent young Manitobans in the beef industry. |
Charlene yungblut
ontario delegate
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Charlene grew up on a small commercial cow-calf farm in Niagara, Ontario. Her enthusiasm for farming led her to pursue an Agriculture Diploma from Ridgetown College. After college, Charlene spent several years working in the grape and tender fruit industry. In the summer of 2021, Charlene started working with the Member Service team at the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA).
Charlene is passionate about being active in agriculture and the beef industry, leading 4-H clubs and sitting as a director with the Beef Farmers of Niagara. Charlene was selected as a 2020 participant of the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders Mentorship Program where she completed her mentorship with Matt Bowman (CCA & BCRC). Charlene continues to be involved in her family’s farm and in recent years has been developing her own herd alongside the main operation. |
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Victory Drury
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Born and raised on his father’s beef farm outside of Wakefield in Western Quebec, Victor took an interest in farming at a young age. Since receiving his degree in Mining Engineering at Queen’s University in 2009, he has been working full- time on the farm. In 2017 he bought a farm neighboring the homestead and built his home where he lives with his wife and three children. He raises his own crossbred Red Angus herd, while also managing his father’s beef herd. The animals are rotationally grazed and the calves are sold as yearlings in the spring. Victor is excited to join the Young Cattleman’s Council to learn more about the cattle industry, and to see what farmers are doing in other parts of the country.
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Susan Hamilton
Atlantic Delegate
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Susan Hamilton was born and raised on a dairy and broiler chicken farm in Grand Pre, Nova Scotia, where her family also used beef bulls for cleanup and raised the beef crosses for a local plant. She always liked the beef calves and it was how her passion for raising beef began. She picked out some heifer crosses to breed beef and kept growing from there during college. She graduated from the Dalhousie Agriculture Campus with a Diploma in Business Management- Agriculture, and after working at home for a year after graduation, she moved to her husband’s family’s dairy and sheep farm in Truro, Nova Scotia. From there she continues to raise beef and added small scale and free-range pork and poultry to direct market to consumers.
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Laura Plett
Member at Large
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Laura Plett and her husband Ryan own and operate a cow-calf operation in Stead, Manitoba, alongside her family’s fourth generation grain farm. She started this cow herd in 2014 with the purchase of 30 bred heifers while based near Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan. Laura has since returned to her homeland (with the cows), gotten married, had a baby and retired from her previous career as a professional Hunting & Fishing Guide and Manager in the outfitting industry. She now works full time on their farm, raising commercial Black Angus cattle with a Hereford influence. They grow and put up their own feed, and are working to extend their grazing season and background a larger portion of their calves each year. They have also recently added a band of range sheep to diversify and better utilize the land and resources they already have to work with. A large part of the operation is within the Belair Provincial Forest. This land is a mix of forested areas and tame pasture, which was cleared by Laura’s family’s logging ventures in the early/mid 1900’s. Laura and Ryan’s operation, named “Sawmill Creek Livestock” after these historic endeavors, has seen aggressive growth over the past couple years, with plans for continued expansion.
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