36 Our Advertisers Appreciate Your Business Better Farming | January 2024 UP CLOSE any transition. It’s a long road ahead. Depending on what stage you are in life – me and my husband are in our mid-20s – there are so many question marks about how things could unfold in the next few years. That’s a tricky piece. How do you manage teamwork with your family? There is a certain amount of keeping the family piece centered in the work we do. During some of the longest days or seasons on the farm, there’s always a dinner at the end that we look forward to, or there is going in for coffee time and enjoying fresh baked goods together in the house. I think keeping that family aspect and the enjoyment in the farm work you’re doing really helps the teamwork aspect of it too. What advice would you give other young beef farmers? Take advantage of as many connections and networks as you can. It’s overused but that’s because it works so well. It’s not always what you know but who you know. More often than not, people are willing to lend a hand to the next generation. Be vulnerable, get involved, ask questions when you can, and show up. Also apply to the Canadian CYL program, but that might be a little biased. How does your work with the Canadian CYL Program help your farm? Mostly by having access to the different mentors and training. All the people that I see coming through the program are now industry contacts that I can lean on for support. Also, the ability to be on the farm helps with some industry work and puts it into perspective and makes sure it’s practical and benefitting who it needs to. What’s a goal that you have for your herd? I would say becoming more efficient with what we have, whether that’s improving rotational grazing strategies with solar waterers and cross fencing or also looking at the amount of beef we are producing per animal. I am looking forward to working together with everyone as we work towards that shared goal. How do you see the beef industry changing in coming years? I’m optimistic and I think that we are going to see a lot more young people involved in industry conversations around board room tables or within their communities. It’s been a challenging time in the beef industry, but I try to look at it through the positive lens of the opportunity we’ve been given. There’s a growing demand for protein and food for the population globally and I think the Canadian beef industry can do that in a way that’s sustainable. I think there’s a great story to tell in the Canadian beef industry. We just have to weather the current storms. I think we have a strong next generation here. What do you enjoy doing in your time off? I like riding my horse and checking cows. I go through the coulee pasture in the summer and it’s an amazing place. I like going back to High River to see my family and I like snowmobiling in the winter in the mountains. I like getting involved in community, with 4-H clubs and the Hereford community. I also like to cook ‘eggs benny’, especially in calving season when you can come in for brunch and a nap after working with calves all morning. BF Calving this year with purebred Herefords. Jessica Radau photo
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