B.C. dairy farmers donate to food banks
British Columbia dairy farmers will donate $100,000 to Food Banks BC following a six-week fundraising campaign this summer.
Dairy products are one of the top requested items at food banks, which provide more than 248,000 meals a month through shelters, soup kitchens and school lunches.
Food bank visits have increased 31 percent since 2019 to 163,000 per year from 124,000.
Thirty percent of all food bank users in B.C. are children while the number of seniors accessing food banks increased by 20 percent in the past two years.
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Since 2020 and the start of the pandemic, the province’s dairy farmers have partnered with Food Banks BC to donate approximately 50,000 kilograms of dairy products and more than $200,000 in cash donations.
CJHA Honour Roll awards presented
The Canadian Junior Hereford Association has presented its Honour Roll awards to members recognized for their contributions to and activities within their local, provincial and national Hereford communities:
- Daniel Schuepbach was born and raised near Claresholm, Alta., and is the third generation to raise purebred Hereford cattle at Lilybrook Herefords. He is the current president of the Canadian Junior Hereford Association and has completed his third year in a bachelor of science in agriculture (animal science) program at the University of Saskatchewan.
- Kailey Wirsta’s family owns and operates K-Cow Ranch near Elk Point, Alta. She is involved with the day-to-day operation of the ranch and the decisions to exhibit cattle at major cattle shows across Canada. Wirsta completed her ag business diploma at Lakeland College as well as an online graphic design program. She has a herd of 14 purebred Hereford females, which she plans to continue expanding and showing across Canada.
- Christopher Bell is a third generation Hereford breeder and fifth generation farmer who resides in Ontario’s Prince Edward County. He works on his parent’s farm, Double-Knot Polled Herefords, and his grandparents’ farm, Roxwood Polled Herefords, and has his own herd of four breeding females. Bell is a graduate of Loyalist College’s interactive media and animation program. He is a director on the Ontario Junior Hereford board.
- Connor McNaughton was born in Markham, Ont., and his family are first generation Hereford breeders. He is attending Seneca College in an honours bachelor of aviation technology program.
- Bobbi-Jo Foster grew up in Alberta and Manitoba with her family raising purebred and commercial cattle. She is a recent graduate of Lakeland College with a bachelor of agriculture technology degree minoring in livestock technology. She works as a sales agronomist with Twin Valley Co-op Agro and continues to develop her purebred herd. She is the communications officer for the CJHA and has served on both provincial and national Junior Hereford boards.
- Molly Loane grew up on a beef cow-calf operation in Prince Edward Island raising purebred and commercial cattle. She bought her first Hereford heifer at age 12 and is currently up to 25 purebred and commercial Herefords. Loane is active in 4-H and Hereford junior events including serving on the CJHA national council as secretary, the Bonanza 2023 planning committee and president of the Maritime Junior Hereford Association. Loane works at Agro Co-op in Charlottetown as its seed sales representative.
Agency announces board members
The Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency has announced its board for 2023-24.
They are:
- Producers: Andrea Van Iterson, British Columbia; Jeff Smith, Alberta; Sheila Hillmer, Alberta; Chad Ross, Saskatchewan; Mary Paziuk, Manitoba; Jack Chaffe, Ontario: Sylvain Bourque, Quebec; Trevor Welch, New Brunswick; Larry Weatherby, Nova Scotia; David Francis, Prince Edward Island; and Julie Mortenson, Young Cattlemen’s Council
- Canadian Meat Council: Russ Mallard, Atlantic Beef Products; Andre Forget, Montpak; Jeff Cline, Cargill; and John Curtis, St. Helen’s Meat Packers
- Retail and foodservice: Steve Christie, Sysco Canada
- I.E. Canada: Coral Manastersky, Maple Leaf Foods
The agency’s executive committee will comprise chair Jeff Smith, vice-chair Trevor Welch of New Brunswick, governance chair Larry Weatherby of Nova Scotia and finance chair Sheila Hillmer of Alberta.
The agency’s marketing committee elected two members-at-large this year: Mike Guest of Saskatchewan and Jim Clark of Ontario.
The marketing committee is responsible for planning and establishing Canada Beef’s strategic, business and operational goals and objectives and for the overall management and operation of the business and affairs.
This year’s committee members are:
- Elected: Cam Daniels, Harmony Beef; Clay Holmes, Intercity Packers; Mike Guest, Western Prime Meat Processors; Jack Chaffe, Beef Farmers of Ontario; Chad Ross, Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association and Jim Clark, Ontario Corn Fed Beef & Ontario Cattle Feeders Association
- Appointed: Jeff Cline, Canadian Meat Council, John Curtis, Canadian Meat Council and Russ Mallard, Canadian Meat Council
