Meet your ABP delegates and candidates

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect changes that occurred after publication, including the withdrawal of two candidates from their respective zones. Candidate information was also reviewed and revised where appropriate to address concerns and ensure accuracy and consistency throughout the article.

As ABP Producer Meetings take place across the province over the coming weeks, here is background information on the delegates and candidates in each zone.

Each zone is represented by up to seven delegates, elected by producers to serve two-year terms. In this election cycle, four two-year delegate positions in each zone are up for consideration.

Elections will be held in the Southeast, Central, and Southwest zones. Nominees in the Northeast and Northwest zones will be acclaimed, effective upon announcement at the Annual General Meeting.

Current delegates for each zone can be found on AlbertaBeef.org. The biographies below are from producers who submitted their names for consideration for the delegate positions open to nominations this fall.

NORTHEAST ZONE – ACCLAIMED

Zach Bourassa

Zach Bourassa is involved in his family’s cow-calf operation in Venice, AB., near Lac La Biche. Agriculture has been part of his family’s history for five generations, and he is proud to carry on that tradition.

Outside the farm, Bourassa works in the energy industry and volunteers in several community leadership roles. He looks forward to learning from fellow producers, building connections within the industry, and contributing to a strong future for Alberta’s beef sector.

Josie Pashulka

Josie Pashulka operates a cow-calf operation near Derwent in the County of Two Hills, AB. The operation includes 400 purebred Simmental, Black Angus, and Maine-Anjou cows, along with a commercial cow herd.

In addition to cattle production, the family operates a grain farm, growing wheat, barley, and canola, while also planting grazing and silage corn.

Pashulka has a strong interest in artificial insemination and embryo transfer and actively incorporates both into the operation. She also teaches those skills at Lakeland College.

Her operation has participated in the Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) program since its early days and was among the first producers to become involved.

Kailey Wirsta

Kailey Wirsta and her family own and operate K-Cow Ranch, a 300-head purebred cow-calf operation raising Hereford, Charolais, and Black Angus cattle.

Through her experience in cattle management and breeding, Wirsta focuses on producing high-quality genetics for both commercial and purebred markets.

In addition to ranching, she serves as Chair of the Stoney Lake Community Association, where she helps manage social media and community engagement efforts. Wirsta is passionate about the future of Alberta’s beef industry and looks forward to advocating for producers and supporting sustainable growth within the sector.

Miles Wowk

Miles Wowk and his family operate a commercial cow-calf operation in Alberta’s northeast zone. He grew up in the beef industry and was actively involved in 4-H for 10 years, experiences that helped shape his passion for agriculture and the cattle sector.

For the past six years, Wowk has served as an Alberta representative with the CCA and currently chairs the Animal Health and Care Committee. He believes a strong producer voice is essential to moving the industry forward and is committed to helping build a sustainable future for the next generation of ranchers.

NORTHWEST ZONE – ACCLAIMED

Becky Kimble

Becky Kimble is a fifth-generation cow-calf producer in the Grande Prairie area and has been involved in her family’s operation her entire life.

The cattle industry is extremely important to her, and she is committed to helping ensure future generations can continue ranching in Alberta. Kimble is proud to see her nephews carrying on the family ranch and hopes they can do so for many years to come.

In addition to cattle production, Kimble raises APHA and AQHA horses and serves as a State Director for the American Paint Horse Association. She looks forward to working with fellow producers and supporting a strong future for Alberta’s beef industry.

Dyanna Marquardt

Dyanna Marquardt calls Big Lakes County home, where she and her young family operate both commercial and purebred cattle operations.

Balancing family life with ranching, Marquardt is passionate about supporting her community, stewarding the land responsibly, and helping ensure a strong future for agriculture for generations to come.

Jess Verstappen

Jess Verstappen is a cow-calf producer in the Big Lakes County area, where she and her family operate purebred and commercial Red and Black Angus cattle.

Through her involvement in 4-H and her agribusiness education at Lakeland College, Verstappen has gained experience in many areas of the beef industry. She is passionate about agriculture, land stewardship, and supporting a strong future for the cattle sector, and looks forward to bringing that perspective to ABP.

Jamie White

Jamie White is a third-generation farmer from Teepee Creek, where he was born and raised. His children represent the fourth generation of farmers on the family’s land.

On his father’s side, White’s grandfather brought the first registered Shorthorn cattle to the Teepee Creek area from England in 1920. On his mother’s side, his grandfather brought the first registered Black Angus cattle to the area via the Edson Trail in 1918.

Today, White and his son raise Salers-Angus cross cattle and run approximately 100 cow-calf pairs. A longtime supporter of the agricultural community, White was a 4-H member and, later, a 4-H leader. He also served on the Teepee Creek Stampede Association Board of Directors. In 2025, White and his wife Debbie were honoured as Wagon Masters by the Teepee Creek Stampede Association in recognition of their years of dedication and service.

White currently volunteers at the Teepee Creek Museum and serves as President of the Peace Country Racing Association, an organization he helped establish in 2010. He is seeking to serve as an ABP delegate to help ensure local beef producers’ voices and concerns are represented.

CENTRAL ZONE – ELECTION

Phil Hamar

Phil Hamar is the owner and operator of Lazy H Ranch, a family-owned cattle operation established in 1929. As a fourth-generation rancher, he continues a legacy spanning nearly a century, combining time-tested ranching practices with modern approaches to cattle production.

Under his leadership, Lazy H Ranch specializes in developing high-performance heifers through its custom backgrounding program, helping set producers up for breeding success. Committed to agriculture and the ranching way of life, Hamar is focused on supporting a strong and sustainable future for Alberta’s cattle industry while preserving the values that have guided the ranch for generations.

Paxton Homeak

Paxton Homeak is a fourth-generation beef producer who lives near Glenevis, AB. Agriculture has been an important part of his life, and he is passionate about carrying on his family’s legacy while contributing to the future of the beef industry.

Homeak hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing producers while bringing the perspective of a young producer to the table. He is committed to keeping young producers informed, engaged, and connected.

Brenda Rosadiuk

Brenda Rosadiuk, along with her husband, two sons, and their families, operates a cow-calf operation approximately one hour west of Edmonton.

During her four-year term as an ABP delegate, Rosadiuk served on the Audit and Governance committees. For the past two years, she also served as a Director and, most recently, held the role of Finance Chair on the Board of Directors Executive.

Throughout her time as a delegate, she has gained valuable insight and experience while helping navigate issues such as the proposed withdrawal from the CCA, tariff threats, and traceability. Rosadiuk believes ABP’s presence at both the provincial and federal levels is essential to ensuring producers’ voices are heard and their interests represented.

Jason Smith

Jason Smith is a first-generation rancher who operates alongside his wife, Melissa, in the Eckville area. He began raising whitetail deer in 2000 and has since transitioned to cattle and bison production.

Throughout his career, Smith has served on a number of boards and industry organizations, including Safari Club International and the Alberta Whitetail and Mule Deer Association. He looks forward to working with ABP to make the industry stronger.

Kirk Wildman

Kirk Wildman’s family has been ranching in Alberta since homesteading west of Innisfail in 1887. The current operation near Sangudo has been in place since 1974 and raises purebred Red and Black Angus cattle. In 2027, the operation will mark its 48th annual bull sale.

Wildman has served on numerous cattle and community-based boards and foundations and currently serves as a Director of his local natural gas co-op. Since March, he has been involved with ABP’s Research Committee and Traceability Working Groups and would welcome the opportunity to continue contributing to those portfolios.

SOUTHEAST ZONE – ELECTION

Dylan Biggs

Dylan Biggs of TK Ranch south of Coronation, along with his wife Colleen and their four girls started direct marketing beef to consumers in 1995. Today they operate a provincially inspected abattoir on the ranch and a beef processing facility at Lyalta.

TK Ranch serves a loyal following of customers throughout Alberta. Biggs knows well every facet of beef production.

Biggs has actively presented livestock handling clinics to all segments of the cattle industry across Canada and in the U.S. since 1995. He is dedicated to practices that will facilitate successful family based private cow/calf operations in Alberta into the future.

Kent Holowath

Kent Holowath, along with his wife Jill and their three adult children, operates a grain and cow-calf operation near Rumsey, Alta.

The family runs a commercial Black Angus herd and a backgrounding operation, and is actively involved in all aspects of the business. Holowath currently serves as Chair of the Palliser Grazing Club and the Big Valley Feeder Association, and values opportunities to support local initiatives and strengthen Alberta’s cattle industry.

Craig Lehr

Craig Lehr was born and raised on his family’s farm, Short Grass Ranches, near Medicine Hat. After attending Olds College, he returned to the operation, where he and his wife Nicole are raising the fourth generation of the family alongside their two children.

Short Grass Ranches includes a cow-calf operation, a backgrounding feedlot, and both irrigated and dryland farming enterprises. Lehr currently serves as Chair of ABP’s Research Committee, vice-chair of the Governance Committee, and as one of Alberta’s representatives on the CCA.

Wacey Manning

Wacey Manning grew up on a cow-calf operation near Cadogan, Alta. Three years ago, he and his family relocated to the Sounding Lake area, where they live and work on the GW Murray Ranch.

Manning is also an active member of the Highway 13 Cattlemen’s Club. As the parent of two young children, he is passionate about the future of the beef industry and creating opportunities for the next generation of producers.

Lance Neilson

Lance Neilson and his wife Karyn run a family cattle operation in Stettler County that includes both cow-calf and backgrounding enterprises, with a focus on raising quality replacement heifers.

Agriculture is a family endeavour, where Lance and Karyn have raised four children, with the next generation becoming increasingly involved in the farm. Their operation focuses on cattle, forage production, and grazing, with an emphasis on practical management and building a sustainable operation for the next generation.

Lance is seeking election as an ABP delegate to represent working cattle producers and help ensure their voices remain central to the industry.

Ryan Slenders

Ryan Slenders operates a 2,500-head backgrounding feedlot in Newell County and works alongside his father on a mixed farming operation.

He is actively involved in his community, serving as the local fire chief and supporting his children’s activities. During his first two years as an ABP delegate, Slenders has participated in discussions surrounding CCA matters and traceability, and he looks forward to continuing his committee work and representing producers.

SOUTHWEST ZONE – ELECTION

Adeleen Bolduc

Addy Bolduc is a fifth-generation Alberta rancher who grew up immersed in feedlot production and has been actively involved in the beef industry throughout her life.

Today, she and her husband Mat raise purebred and commercial Black Angus cattle in southern Alberta with their three children. Bolduc holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Calgary and is a committed life-long learner.

Bolduc graduated from the American Angus Associations Beef Leaders Institute and the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders program in 2023. Currently, she sits on the Canadian Cattle Youth Council and the Canadian Beef Checkoff Agency.

Andrea Croll

Andrea Croll, along with her husband Jeff and their three children operate a mixed farm near Sylvan Lake.

Dedicated to youth growth and involvement in the agriculture industry, Andrea brings a unique perspective from the lifestyle of the small family farm.

Brianna Elliot

Brianna Elliot is a cow-calf producer in Mountain View County, raising Angus cross cattle. She grew up on her family’s purebred Black Angus operation in British Columbia and has built her career in Alberta’s beef industry.

She works in applied livestock and forage research, leading producer-focused projects in grazing management, pasture productivity, and livestock technology. Elliot also serves as a Director with the Western Stock Growers’ Association.

Elliot hopes to bring her experience as both a producer and applied researcher to ABP, provide a practical perspective, advocate for producers, and contritube to a competitive and sustainable cattle industry.

Lee Irvine

Lee Irvine lives northwest of Cochrane, Alta., with his wife and two sons, where they operate a grass backgrounding and cattle brokering business.

Through roles in agri-finance, animal pharmaceuticals, and cattle brokering, Irvine has gained experience working with a wide range of production systems across Alberta and internationally. He holds a degree in Animal Science and Agribusiness from the University of Saskatchewan, serves as a Beef Specialist with ATB Financial, and brokers cattle through TEAM Auction Sales. He is committed to using his experience and market knowledge to represent producers and support a financially sustainable cattle industry.

Ashley Perepelkin

Ashley Perepelkin and her family operate a mixed grain and Simmental cow-calf operation near Condor, AB.

Not only is Perepelkin passionate about the future of Alberta’s beef industry, she is a UFA Delegate and a graduate of the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) program. She enjoys advocating for producers, building stronger connections between agriculture and consumers, and supporting policies that strengthen the beef sector.

In addition to farming, Perepelkin owns PF Tallow, a value-added business utilizing beef tallow – continuing to bridge the gap between urban and rural lifestyles. She is committed to representing producers and ensuring their voices are heard through Alberta Beef Producers.

Jordan Staudinger

Jordan Staudinger is a fourth-generation cow-calf producer who farms with his wife and children near Benalto in Red Deer County. He has a long history of volunteering in Central Alberta, including service with Ski Patrol and the local Fire Department, as well as on his church, constituency association, and Rural Crime Watch boards.

Staudinger is committed to learning, building connections, and contributing to strong rural communities. He looks forward to helping support Alberta’s cattle industry and ensuring opportunities remain available for current and future generations.

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ABP is a producer-led organization, and the dedication and hard work of passionate people is what keeps us moving forward as an industry. Thanks to past, present, and future delegates for your contributions.