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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • MARCH 2020


Cariboo cattlemen take steps with 20-year plan Succession planning important for both industry leadership and ranchers


by ANGELA ABRAHAO WILLIAMS LAKE – The


Cariboo Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) held its annual general meeting in Williams Lake on February 11 with both the city’s mayor Walt Cobb and local MLA Donna Barnett in attendance. Both politicians voiced similar sentiments about the land base. Cobb told producers attending the meeting that now – more than ever – there is a need to emphasize the rancher’s role in rural wealth creation and urged the cattle industry to step up and lead that charge. Producers gave a standing


ovation for Barnett who recently announced she wouldn’t be running for re- election. A champion of the


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ranching community, Barnett’s key message for producers is to step up and stand up for the land base. BC Cattlemen’s Assocaition general manager Kevin Boon provided an update on the association’s activities. He discussed stock water regulations, revitalization of the Agricultural Land Reserve, amendments to the Trespass Act, UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and livestock transportation. It has been a busy year for both associations, which are facing governmental challenges and regulations. Boon noted that the flooding in the Cariboo last summer highlighted the importance of having associations such as the CCA advocating for regional interests. CCA president


Cordy Cox negotiated with government on behalf of affected ranchers, devoting her time to securing additional relief funding. The outcome was the 2019 BC Forage and Transportation Assistance Initiative that provided assistance towards the purchase of additional hay for Cariboo ranchers who were required to purchase more hay than normal due to flooding. Producers are facing


significant cost of production increases and over the years have seen increasing governmental regulations that have left them with tough choices as they look to the future. “If we’re not careful the


government will regulate us out of business. Our cost of business keeps going up and up,” said Roger Patenaude, director with the CCA who sits on committees with the BCCA.


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Speaker Renee DuPont of MNP spoke about maximizing AgriStability, emphasizing the importance of business risk management programs to producers. The key to maximizing AgriStability’s benefit is actually signing up for the program. “Producers may not receive a benefit from the program and wonder why they should participate if they pay in but don’t get a payout,” DuPont said. “It is a good thing if you


never have to rely on the benefits. The program is there to help with risk management. You don’t want to be in a situation where you have one disastrous year and loose the farm.” Featured speaker Clint Ellis


of Ellis Cattle Co. gave his perspective for producers with a 2020 marketing outlook. Producers regularly note


his presentation as an annual highlight. Ellis gave a favourable outlook for markets in 2020, estimating that prices would be up, barring unpredictable events on the global stage.


Strategic plan David Zirnhelt presented


the CCA strategic plan to members. The plan was developed by the board of directors in June 2019 and identified the key themes of Vision 2040: a highly valued and inspiring description of the future for Cariboo cattlemen and their organization in the year 2040. Key takeaways from the


strategic plan are that CCA is developing an action plan for regenerating the industry with a focus on collaboration with community partners, including First Nations. “We need young people,


First Nations people and women to be involved,” notes Zirnhelt. “They are essential in keeping our organization


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strong and serving our needs as producers.”


The general consensus among CCA directors at the strategic planning session was that the regional association is strong but ranchers must face growing concerns among the public and do a better job at telling their story of being stewards of the land, producers of healthy food and good practices in caring for their livestock. “We want government as


the regulator and hopefully an economic partner to share in our strategy to thrive to keep people on the land,” says Zirnhelt. “The vast majority of the Agricultural Land Reserve is in pasture range and forage fields that produce good quality protein to feed people. Range-raised cattle can and do keep the land healthy.”


A main concern for the


organization is succession planning within the industry and greater support for ranching families seeking successful transitions. “There is a need to give thought to the economic position the industry is in,” says Zirnhelt. “Although the market could be great for a while yet, rising costs and average tight markets may – at the next downturn – tax us to be low cost producers.” Producers were reminded that succession planning in the organization is important to maintain the strength of its board. Many members are past retirement age and carry with them many years of experience.


The association is hoping


to increase membership and recruit new board members while there is still an opportunity to transistion the knowledge of previous generations to help those coming up adapt to the changing industry.


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