Youth take spotlight at OH Ranch

The Calgary Stampede launched the third year of its OH Ranch Branded Beef Youth Ambassador Program, with a Steer Selection Day, Oct. 18, at the historic OH Ranch.

The event welcomed 12 young agriculture enthusiasts who were selected to participate out of 52 applicants, based on criteria that centred on establishing they have a place to raise a steer and writing an essay explaining what they hoped to gain out of the experience.

The program—unique in Canada—offers participants aged 14 to 18 the opportunity to raise a steer from the OH Ranch herd and showcase it at the 2026 Calgary Stampede’s Junior Steer Classic. Participants will receive 80 per cent of the proceeds from their steer’s auction sale, with the remaining 20 per cent reinvested into the program to support future youth.

Images from Steer Selection Day Oct. 18 at OH Ranch (Photos by ABP)

Top-tier agri-educational experience

The Steer Selection Day included greetings from Stampede CEO Joel Cowley, an introduction to the ranch’s history by OH Ranch Manager Ken Pigeon, and a presentation on verified beef by Deb Pigeon. Attendees also heard from guest speaker Emma Balisky of BULLSEYE Feeds before participants learned judging basics and how to select their steers.

“You’re not just raising a steer — you’re learning how to evaluate, feed and present one,” Cowley told the group. “It’s about understanding the full process from start to finish.”

“We want you to come away from this program with confidence — not just in showing cattle, but in knowing what quality looks like.”

Throughout the year, ambassadors will take part in agri-educational experiences designed to support their livestock projects and foster leadership development in the agriculture industry.

The aim of the program is to encourage the youth to pursue careers in the beef industry.

“One of the goals here is to help you understand what makes a quality beef animal — from structure and balance to muscle and finish,” Cowley explained. “Those are the same fundamentals that apply in the real world of cattle production.”

This year’s 12 participants in the OH Ranch Branded Beef Youth Ambassador Program. (Photo courtesy Calgary Stampede) Back Row (L-R):  Tayden French, Brandt Lyster, Austin Cartwright, Shepherd Ostermeier, Dawson Finnerty, Heidi Pas, Sierra Brand, Brooklynn Konynenbelt, Front Row (l-R): Kurtus Pierson, Reese Morison, Rebecca Porter, Quinn Pedersen