Welcoming our new and returning 2024 Delegates

This article was first published in Volume 3 Issue 4 of ABP Magazine (December 2023). Watch for more digital content from the magazine on ABP Daily.

All producers who put their names forward for a position on the delegate body for 2024 have been acclaimed, and we will not be holding an election.

Southwest zone candidates

Cole Barten

Cole Barten grew up on a cow-calf operation outside of Lillooet, B.C., where they raised and butchered Black and Red Angus cattle on the VBP+ certified Bar Ten Ranch. Cole moved to southern Alberta and currently lives and works on the Salt Ranch, south of Cardston, with his family. He is passionate about the cattle industry, specifically areas surrounding environment and research.

Cole thinks it’s important for the younger generation to have a seat at the table for these conversations, and looks forward to providing different perspectives and ideas, while also learning from previous generations.

Sheila Hillmer

Sheila Hillmer and her family have a farming and ranching operation near Del Bonita, and her two sons are beginning the process of succession in the family business. Sheila is a Key Account Manager with Elanco Canada, a global animal health company. Sheila works with corporate feedyards and is based in southern Alberta. She also spends a significant amount of time developing and executing Learning and Development, both internally within Elanco and externally to customers.

Sheila is Vice Chair of Alberta Beef Producers and Finance Chair of the Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency. She is passionate about the industry and the future of beef and sustainability.

Southeast zone candidates

Brad Mappin

Brad Mappin, along with his wife Terri and their two boys, operates a cow-calf and backgrounding/yearling operation near Byemoor. Brad attended the University of Alberta, receiving his B.Sc. in Ag Economics, and spent 20 years in ag finances. He has been a 4-H leader
for several years and, together with other like-minded producers, started the Palliser Grazing Club.

Northwest zone candidates

Bernie Doerksen

Bernie Doerksen runs a mixed commercial herd of roughly 35 cows, as well as a small oilfield lease mowing business. During the winter months he focuses on a public accounting and taxes contract.

Bernie is involved with the Whitemud Community Pasture as a director, and the La Crete Polar Cats
Snowmobile Club.

His interests including following his sons and daughter in their different sports and school activities, as well as being involved in his church.

Northeast zone candidates

Aydon Almberg

Aydon Almberg is a fourth-generation rancher of Lazy HE Ranch LTD in the Czar, Alberta area. Currently the ranch runs an 1,800-head cow-calf operation and retains ownership of their calves for backgrounding. Lazy HE Ranch also has a 3,000-head capacity feedlot, which includes cattle bought for backgrounding and future grass stock.

Aydon was part of the local 4-H club for nine years, where he showed cattle and took part in all of the judging programs 4-H offered. After high school he attended Lakeland College in Vermilion where he received a diploma in Agri-business. Following college, Aydon returned home to continue working on the family ranch. He also participated and graduated from the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders program.

On the side Aydon and his wife along with two young sons raise and train cow-bred quarter horses for use on the ranch. Aydon serves on both ABP’s Tier Advisory Team and Issues Management Committee.

Jay Hager

Jay Hager and his family run a 400-head cow-calf operation near Provost. They also operate a welding
business that fabricates cattle handling and feeding equipment, and custom fence in the summer.

In addition to his role on the Board of Directors, Jay sits on ABP’s Issues Management Committee.

Kaylee Chizawsky

Kaylee Chizawsky and her family run Foresee Cattle co. near Vegreville, where they raise a mixture of commercial cows as well as purebred red and black Simmentals. Kaylee graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science, and has obtained her Professional Agrologist recognition from the Alberta Institute of Agrologists.

Kaylee currently works as a territory manager for Zoetis in their cattle and equine division. She’s also a graduate of Canadian Cattle Young Leaders, and currently serves as the Alberta representative on the Canadian Cattle Youth Council. Kaylee sits on ABP’s Research Committee and is also the ABP representative for Alberta.

Central Zone Candidates

Colin Rice

Colin Rice has a B.Sc in Agriculture from the University of Alberta with a major in crop science. His farm has about 1,500 acres of grain west of Lacombe. The farm also has 250 cow-calf pairs and a 1,500 head backgrounder feedlot.

Colin grew up on a mixed farm and came back to farm full-time in 2010. Before that point he was an agronomist with Sturgeon Valley Fertilizers.

Colin looks forward to continuing as an ABP delegate and getting more involved in the cattle side of the agriculture industry in Alberta.

Doug Roxburgh

Doug Roxburgh lives near Bentley, where he and his wife Katie, run a first-generation cattle operation. In addition to backgrounding their calves, they also market bulls and females, and raise commercial bred heifers. Doug is a senior nutrition consultant who helps producers develop year-round nutritional programs.

In addition to his position on ABP’s Board of Directors, Doug is an Alberta representative to the Canadian
Cattle Association.