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August 23, 2016

CYL News Release 8-23-16 CYL 2016 Mentorship Recipients (pdf)

Calgary, AB – The Cattlemen’s Young Leaders (CYL) program is pleased to announce its 2016 national mentorship recipients. The 16 recipients were selected following the final selection round at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference (CBIC), held in Calgary on August 9, 2016. A total of 23 semi-finalists vied for a spot in the national youth initiative of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA).

The 2016 CYL mentorship recipients are:

• British Columbia: Ryan Scorgie – Kamloops
• Alberta: Becky Tees – Cochrane, Grayden Kay – Lloydminster, Jessica Sperber – Rimbey, Jesse Williams – Hanna, Katie Songer – Sylvan Lake, Luke Marshall – Innisfail, Madeleine Knodel – Seven Persons, Mel Hermanson – Hussar, Nicole Viste – Hanna
• Saskatchewan: Kylie McRae – Kisbey, Mona Howe – Leader, Roxanne Olynyk – Regina
• Manitoba: Kristy-Layne Carr – Marchand, Wilco van Meijl – Brandon
• Ontario: Jason Hurst – Guelph

The CYL Selections at CBIC brought together the semi-finalists, current graduates, and industry leaders for a week of networking and learning. The event included the five-year reunion celebration of the CYL national launch, where over 60 alumni mentors and mentees gathered for the graduation of the current group and acknowledgement of the success of the program.
“Before the creation of the CBIC, CYL selections were held in the spring as a standalone event and with so many people attending the conference in August, it just made sense to combine the two” said Jill Harvie, CCA Programs Manager. “In the end, it was both a huge attribute to the conference and a considerable benefit to the semi-finalists and graduates. Between the speakers, sessions, and ample networking opportunities, these young cattlemen and women gained a lot from the experience, whether they were chosen as finalists or not. Many positive comments were also made by other CBIC delegates about the amount of young faces in the crowd and the strong representation by the future of Canadian beef.”
Congratulations to the 2016 recipients, who will soon be paired with an industry mentor to guide them over the next eight months. The CYL Program provides industry-specific training and mentorship opportunities to young producers. CYL participants have the opportunity to explore a potential career choice or involvement with a provincial/national producer organization, while gaining the expertise and business acumen necessary to sustain the cattle industry into the future.
Funding for the CYL Program is made available through its foundation partners, UFA Co-operative Ltd., the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA), Cargill, and MNP. The program also receives support from Gold Sponsors Farm Credit Canada and New Holland.

For further information, contact:
Jill Harvie
Programs Manager
Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
403-275-8558 x 316 | [email protected]