Holly Thompson 
Saskatchewan Delegate - President

Holly Thompson 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 alongside her dad and brother on their mixed operation. Holly is 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 fiancé, as they are both dedicated to improving their operations.

Jessica Sperber
Member at Large - Vice President 

​Jessica Sperber grew up on her family’s commercial cow-calf and grain operation near Ponoka, Alberta. Her passion for the beef industry was sparked at a young age, completing nine years as a 4-H beef member and spending countless summers exhibiting cattle at Junior Shows across Western Canada. In 2016, Jessica was selected as a Cattlemen’s Young Leader, completing her mentorship under Ryder Lee of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association. Upon completion of her Bachelor of Science at MacEwan University, Jessica continued with graduate education, obtaining a Master of Science in Meat Science at West Texas A&M University in 2018. Jessica is currently working towards her Ph.D. in Ruminant Nutrition at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Kayla Weston
Member at Large-Past President

Kayla Weston was raised on a cow-calf operation in Fort Macleod, Alberta. Her passion for the beef industry guided her to enroll at Lethbridge College, where she graduated with a Diploma in Animal Science. During college, she worked for a feedlot and was also employed as a Brand Inspector for Livestock Identification Services. After graduating, she went to work as the Manager of Livestock Veterinary Services. While working at the vet clinic, she also took on the roll of the Southern Alberta Farm Safety Instructor. After a few years, Kayla and her husband decided to focus on developing their own welding business, where they design and manufacture livestock equipment, as well as anything which involves structural steel. Along with her passion for the beef industry, Kayla loves the sport of rodeo, and participates in barrel racing and team roping events. While still being involved with their families’ operations, Kayla and her husband have hopes of starting their own cattle operation one day soon.

Ian Lauder 
BC Delegate

​Born in 1987, Ian Lauder grew up as the fifth generation on his family ranch in the Nicola Valley. He now runs the ranch which spreads from rolling hills of blue bunch wheatgrass to the mountain plateaus of Douglas fir forest, where his family has raised cattle since 1876.  His priorities for the future of the ranch are to improve the efficiency of its farming and irrigation, and to build up the infrastructure to make greater use of the more marginal pastures. Committed to the health of the rangeland and sustainability for the future, Ian works to ensure this unique sliver of British Columbia grassland is maintained in good health for the future and the wildlife in the area.

Martin Clausen 
​Alberta Delegate

​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.

​Kate Barnett
​Manitoba Delegate 

​​ Kate grew up on a commercial cow-calf ranch near Williams Lake, BC. Her passion for the beef industry began at a young age, completing ten years as a 4-H beef member and completing every beef project possible. She is a 2019 Cattlemen’s Young Leaders Program participant, where she is currently being mentored by Mick Taylor of Cattleland Feedyards.  Kate achieved a degree in Agribusiness from the University of Saskatchewan in 2018 and has since moved to Dropmore, Manitoba working as a Customer Account Representative for Viterra. She remains actively involved in the beef industry with her own cattle and continues to be involved with 4-H and her family’s cattle operation.

Evan Chaffe
Ontario Delegate

​Evan grew up on a beef and cash crop farm just North of Mitchell, Ontario. There he found his passion for both agriculture and the beef industry. Currently, they finish around 2500 head, mostly for the Ontario Corn Fed Beef program. He and his older brother also run a 50 head cow-calf herd on the side of the main operation. He recently finished his Bachelor of Commerce in Food and Agricultural Business at the University of Guelph. Evan hopes his knowledge from university combined with his experiences at home, will not only help him be a very positive advocate for young producers, but also the beef industry as a whole.

​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.

Carley Henniger 
Member at Large

​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. ​​