Youth Council
2023 marked the 10th anniversary of the Canadian Cattle Youth Council, which was created to give young beef producers an opportunity to learn industry leadership skills while bringing the viewpoints of the next generation to the table. Over 50 young beef producers from across Canada have held a seat on the council board since 2013.
The Youth Council plays an active role in the Canadian Cattle Association’s (CCA) advocacy efforts in 2023. In March, the Council attended the CCA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Ottawa and participated in the annual youth fly-in day involving 13 meetings with MPs, senators and government officials. Highlights included meeting with staff of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, and a special opportunity to meet with members of the Prime Minister’s Youth Council.
Youth Council delegates also attended events in Ottawa alongside CCA, such as the Future of Food Conference to Celebrate Canada’s Ag Day in February 2023, and the annual CCA Fall BBQ on the Hill. The Youth Council also submitted a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, to emphasize the Federal Budget 2024 priorities for young beef producers.
The Council had great success connecting with the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council, established by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. The youth council was invited to engage in two different youth-focused consultation sessions hosted by the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council in 2023. Discussion topics included youth development in ag, the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy, and business risk management programs.
While these conversations have been well-received domestically, delegates have also been active on the world stage sharing the message that Canadian cattle producers sustainably raise a high-quality, nutrient rich protein. Youth Council Past President, Charlene Yungblut, attended the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL) alongside CCA and participants of the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders Program in the fall of 2023. The Youth Council was pleased to see previous Ontario Delegate, Evan Chaffe, named as Chair of the new GASL Youth Advisory Group, serving alongside fellow Canadian, Sydney Fortier with the Beef Cattle Research Council who was also appointed to the advisory group.
In January 2023, delegates Scott Gerbrandt (SK) and Charlene Yungblut (ON) also participated in the CCA annual youth programs trip to the National Western Stock Show in Denver to build strong relationships with our US counterparts through various meetings and tours. A special thanks to the Consulate General of Canada in Denver for providing funding to support our travel to the US.
The Youth Council hosted a successful AGM at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Calgary, AB in August 2023. Guest speakers included Canfax’s Brenna Grant sharing the results of their Cow-Calf Cost of Production Network findings of significance to young beef producers, and Senator Paula Simons, who also was in attendance.
Funding for the Canadian Cattle Youth Council is made available through the generous support from Platinum Partner New Holland and the following associations: British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association, Alberta Beef Producers, Saskatchewan Beef Producers, Manitoba Beef Producers, Beef Farmers of Ontario, Quebec Cattle Producers, Nova Scotia Cattle Producers, New Brunswick Cattle Producers, Prince Edward Island Cattle Producers and the Canadian Cattle Association.
