Beef and Forage Roundup

Shannon Carvey, the Executive Director at Manitoba 4-H Council Inc. is a generational 4-Her. She has been with 4-H since August 2016 in the role as Club Support Coordinator and recently transitioned into the Executive Director role in December of 2021. Shannon says that 4-H is the best youth development organization in the world. They are proud to offer over 90 projects that cover topics of interest ranging from Foods, Sewing, Outdoor Living, Livestock and much more.

Today I am chatting with Shannon about the many ways leadership is promoted and supported through the 4-H program. Throughout time in the program, members are given opportunities to participate in decision making, practice holding offices within the club, speak publicly at club, regional and provincial communication events, mentor others and so much more.

We focus some of our discussion on the Senior Leadership Events that are hosted in Manitoba, as well as those available for adult members.

To find out more about 4-H Manitoba, visit www.4H.mb.ca or find and and follow them on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

You can also call the Manitoba 4-H office with any questions at 1-204-726-1914.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: [email protected]

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Jarret Nelson grew up on a cow-calf operation in the Special Areas of Alberta. He completed schooling with a diploma in Agribusiness and was in the first graduating class of the AgTechnology Bachelors Degree at Lakeland College. While in school he worked with the Applied Research group to learn more about the technology that was being introduced to cattle producers. After graduating he worked in industry for a year before moving to southern Saskatchewan to be with his Fiancé and assist with her parent's mixed operation. In 2025 he was selected as a semi-finalist for the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders program which he successfully became a finalist and is scheduled to graduate from the program in August 2026. Jarret has a passion for Livestock Technology to assist with producers in the grazing and breeding fields. He loves to learn about new technology and how it will help to better the efficiency in the entire beef production chain.

Feel free to contact Jarret with questions, inquires, or comments by email at: [email protected] or by Facebook or LinkedIn @Jarret Nelson.

The program application for CYL is open to individuals who are 18-35 in the beef industry and are open from early January - late March each year. CYL is a national youth initiative of the Canadian Cattle Association that is used as a tool to equip the next generation of leaders with the skills and tools they need to continue to drive the growth and profitability of the Canadian Beef Industry.

Jarret was a successful applicant to the 2025-2026 program. To start the episode, he walks us through the initial application process, as well as the selection competition. He discusses ways he has been able to build his leadership skills through the program and what his experience being a mentee has been like thus far.

We talk about Jarret’s interest in technology in agriculture, and how this has been a focus of his time in the program. We wrap up talking about where Jarret will go from here in agriculture.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: [email protected]

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Braden and Misty reside on their family grain farm near Oakburn, MB with their children Adilynn and Clayton, operating a multi-generational grain & oilseed farm.

Farming has been a central part of both their lives, each growing up on family farms in nearby communities they learned the value of hard work, resilience, and dedication. Misty pursued her career as an X-ray/Lab technologist while Braden earned his Agribusiness degree from the University of Manitoba. After completing their education, they returned home with a shared vision of working with his parents expanding and strengthening the family farm. They married in 2016 and began laying the foundation for the next chapter of their family’s farming legacy.

The farming operation wasn’t the only thing expanding with the birth of their first child in 2017. While growing the business they recognized the importance of diversifying the operation and in 2019 they launched their equipment assembly business, offering supplemental income and employment opportunities for the farm. With Covid in full swing and the arrival of their second child in 2020, the growing business and family were equally flourishing. After adapting to the increased pace of life, their pursuit to grow and expand the business once again found them opening a Pioneer seed agency, reflecting their commitment to innovation, diversification, and supporting fellow farmers in their community.

Community involvement remains vital to them. They volunteer their time to local clubs, organizations, and initiatives, believing that strong rural communities are essential to strong farms.

They are grateful for the opportunities agriculture has given them and feel privileged to contribute to a farm that has been built through generations of dedication. Their goal is to continue growing the operation with integrity, dedication, and passion ensuring it remains strong for the sixth generation and beyond.

In today’s episode, I am grateful for the opportunity to sit down with Misty & Braden Drul, the 2026 winners for the Outstanding Young Farmers program in Manitoba! To start the episode, they share a bit about their current operation and their own backgrounds in agriculture.

They then walk us through their experience of the process of the Manitoba OYF competition, starting from the nomination and application process, to the Manitoba competition, to the work they are doing to prepare for the National Competition, which will be held in November in BC.

We wish them the very best of luck at Nationals and will be cheering for them this fall!

Nominations for the 2027 Manitoba Outstanding Young Farmers Competition are open until October 30th, 2026. For more information, check out the Manitoba OYF website at https://oyfcanada.com/language/en/regions/manitoba/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: [email protected]

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

A recipient of many national and international business and marketing awards, Kim McConnell has a long, influential track record of advancing the agricultural industry, rural Canada, and emerging leaders. In 2012 he was inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame and at the time became the youngest recipient to be receive this prestigious award. In 2017 he was named a Member of the Order of Canada, one of few Canadians from the agri-food industry to receive Canada’s highest civilian award. And in 2024 he was named the University of Calgary ‘Inspired Business Leader of the Year’.

Kim McConnell is proud of his rural roots and Western Canadian background. Raised on a family farm in Hamiota, Manitoba, he’s thankful for the foundation provided by his parents, 4-H, and growing up in a rural community. His BSc. Ag from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Manitoba (1978) opened his eyes to opportunities and helped groom his leadership skills. Kim’s entrepreneurial career started in his early 20s when he founded one of the first North American marketing communications agencies dedicated to agriculture and agribusiness. Over the years he acquired and merged other complementary companies to co-create AdFarm, one of the largest and most respected marketing and communications firms in North America.

In 2007, at the age of 50, Kim retired from ‘operational leadership’ and turned AdFarm over to the next generation of management. For the next 15 years his career moved into ‘directional leadership’ where he became a director on many North American corporate, industry and community boards, and has led several special assignments important to the advancement of Canada’s agri-food industry. While his ‘directional leadership’ journey continues, today Kim’s primary focus is ‘inspirational leadership’ where entrepreneurs, business executives, and emerging community and industry leaders are tapping his connections, experience and philanthropic support.

Kim is a combination of big picture and hands on experience, and has a passion and track record for advancing Canada and Canadians. He is widely recognized as a respected champion who inspires next generation leaders.

Today’s episode is the first in our mini series on Developing Leadership in Agriculture, and we are honoured to have Kim McConnell join us on the show. Our conversation today moves from Kim’s experiences developing his own leadership skills, to how he put these to use with AdFarm, and finally how he is focusing on developing leaders today.

Kim shares some resources and tools listeners can use to advance their own leadership skills, and we chat about how important leadership is to the agricultural industry, especially today, when Canadian Agriculture has so much to offer and there are so many opportunities available.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: [email protected]

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Raf Otfinowski is an Associate Professor, in the Department of Biology, at the University of Winnipeg. Originally from Edmonton, Raf has a degree in Environmental Science from U of Alberta and a M.Sc. in biology from the Western University in Ontario. He first came to Manitoba in 2002 for his PhD at the U of Manitoba.

Since then, he has been working in grasslands and prairies in Manitoba, focusing on their conservation, grazing, and management. Raf’s research focuses on understanding links between plants and soils to conserve, manage, and restore prairie ecosystems. He is fascinated by the vast root systems that link plants and soil food webs and hopes to use his research to help understand how grasslands adapt to stress and changing environments.

Through his projects, Raf collaborates with conservation agencies, producers, and land managers, to contribute to the restoration and sustainable use of prairies ecosystems. His most rewarding challenge is to teach students about the evolution and function of grasslands and to learn from producers, Indigenous and community members about the history, cultural uses, and conservation of grasslands in Canada and around the world.

Raf loves travelling around Manitoba with his two dogs and discovering the hidden diversity of Manitoba’s grasslands from the south border, through the Interlake to western Manitoba and Riding Mountain National Park.

Raf has a current project underway with Living Labs Manitoba that focuses on soil carbon in grazed grasslands and pastures. He would be happy to connect with producers who would be willing to allow him access to a wet meadow they are grazing to collect some root and soil samples.

Today Raf joins us to discuss the “Drought Structure Project.” This international project was conducted in many locations to look at the impacts that drought can have by using structures to impose drought conditions.

Through this discussion, Raf tells us what terrestrial ecosystems are and how important it is to improve our understanding of the impact of drought on rangeland ecosystems and prairie communities.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Link to the International Drought Experiment: https://droughtnet.weebly.com/

MBFI Link to Drought Project: https://www.mbfi.ca/rangeland-drought-response

Contact Raf on BlueSky Social @PrairieLab

University of Winnipeg Prairie Lab page link: http://www.prairielab.ca/

University of Winnipeg Biology page link: https://www.uwinnipeg.ca/biology/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: [email protected]

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Join us as we introduce MBFI’s 2026 summer students!

Meredith Evren grew up North of Minnedosa on a small grain and beef cattle farm with her parents and one younger sister. She was a member of the Minnedosa and Erickson 4-H clubs throughout her childhood where she learned how to show cattle and first got excited about working with livestock. Right after high school Meredith went to Vancouver and studied for a Bachelor of Science in Applied Animal Biology for two years at UBC. In just a few weeks Meredith will be starting her first year at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon.

Hannah Karpan was born and raised in The Pas and has been living in Brandon for almost 4 years. She is entering her second year of a Bachelor of Nursing through Brandon University. Hannah grew up spending time ice fishing and taking the quads down the trails.

She does not come from agriculture in any way, but started her journey in ag over the past couple of years at a family friend’s horse ranch in Minitonas. Since then, she has had the opportunity to work with some very knowledgeable people in the horse and cattle world. Ag has been such a wonderful place to be a part of, and Hannah is so grateful to be able to get her toes wet in the cattle industry through MBFI.

Monelle Bryant grew up on a mixed cattle and grain farm with her parents, two younger siblings and 3 border collies. Her family calves out approximately 300 head, and she has always enjoyed helping and learning from her dad on the farm, during any free time she had. Monelle grew up playing many sports throughout her childhood. In high school, she continued playing hockey, softball, and volleyball and she has been able to join rec teams during her time in university. Monelle continues to play softball with the Hamiota ladies’ team, when home for the summer.

Monelle spent the last 3 years working towards a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Animal Science at the University of Saskatchewan, and recently got accepted into the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. She will begin my DVM journey this fall, which she is very excited about.

Hailey Browning grew up in Winnipeg and is currently studying at the University of Manitoba. Growing up in the city and now working in the agriculture industry for the past five years has been a big step in her career. She wouldn’t wish to be a part of any other industry! Hailey is working towards my Bachelor Degree in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science. She has been a part of many clubs within the university, such as Stockman’s club, 4-H Future Leaders, and FASO (Faculty of Agriculture Student Organization) where she helps organize farm tours, presentations, fundraisers and socials for the students in the faculty of Agriculture. Hailey is looking into a masters degree and is very passionate about large animal research. She appreciates a live band, especially if they have a fiddle! Hailey also enjoys fishing and camping in her free time.

If you are interested in being a summer student at MBFI for future years, or know a student who might be interested, please watch for the annual advertisement for available positions. As an MBFI Summer Student, you are sure to gain hands-on experience in both the cattle and crop industries.

The ability to hire these summer students has been made possible through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: [email protected]

Devon Baete has a diploma in Natural Resources Management and 20 years field experience working one on one with landowners on agricultural issues. Devon got involved with wild pigs back in 2018 volunteering to apply for grants and distribute traps to local landowners affected in the Cypress River area. The Manitoba Pork Council was concerned about wild pigs posing a disease risk to operations even at that time and provided funding support to his work for many years to add traps. In 2021 the Manitoba Pork Council received a grant through the Canadian Agriculture Partnership to establish Squeal on Pigs Manitoba for landowners to report sightings. With sightings reported now province wide Devon was working evenings and weekends to expand trapping. In 2023 the Manitoba Pork Council received a 5 year funding agreement from the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Grant and Devon was hired on full time as the Manager of field Operations. Over the years the program has expanded greatly with wild pig surveillance and removal, but also in research and National collaboration. Devon has been involved with the removal of over 750 wild pigs in Manitoba to date.

In this episode, we are chatting about wild pigs! In Manitoba, wild pigs have come from farmed wild boar or tame pigs that have been released or escaped and become feral. These pigs create many threats to the environment, including the damage they do through rooting for food, as well as threats caused by disease transfer to Manitoba’s pig population and exports, as well as other livestock species.

Devon shares information about the “hot spots” for pigs in Manitoba, the “Squeal on Pigs” program and their efforts to trap and eradicate wild pigs in Manitoba, and so much more. Join us to learn more about these wild pigs and what you can do about them if you see pig sign on your land.

Websites mentioned in the episode: 2025 Squeal on Pigs Annual Report https://squealonpigsmb.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Squeal-on-Pigs-Annual-Report-2025.pdf

www.squealonpigsmb.org

Facebook: @Squeal on Pigs Manitoba

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: [email protected]

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

As the Grassland Conservation Manager for Birds Canada, Ian’s work largely focuses on finding solutions for conserving birds that rely on the Canadian Prairies. Along with his colleagues at Birds Canada, he works on finding systemic solutions to conserve birds, while sustaining the livelihoods of the people on the land. He received his BSc in Agriculture from the University of Manitoba in 2013, and is a Professional Agrologist.

In today’s episode, Ian shares his agricultural background and information about his current position with Birds Canada.

We talk about the benefits wetland protection and conservation offer, as well as how Birds Canada monitors waterfowl numbers. We discuss some of the many species of waterfowl and other birds that are endangered in Manitoba.

We also chat about the challenges to conservation of wetlands and grasslands, both with agriculture and outside of the ag industry.

Finally, we discuss ways producers can work with nature and the environment to reduce their impact on wetlands and grasslands.

Ian’s email address: [email protected]

Birds Canada Facebook: @Birds Canada

Birds Canada Instagram: @Birds.Canada

Main Website: birdscanada.org

Prairie Focused Information: birdscanaca.org/grasslands

Birds Canada Incentives Guide: https://www.birdscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Birds-Canada-Grassland-Conservation-Incentives-Guide-2.pdf

Bird Friendliness Index: https://www.birdscanada.org/bird-science/bird-friendliness-index

Marsh Watch Webinar Series: https://www.birdscanada.org/bird-science/marshwatch

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: [email protected]

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Adrienne Hanson is the National Grazing Coordinator with the Canadian Forage & Grassland Association, where she works directly with producers, provincial partners, and national collaborators to advance practical, profitable grazing management across Canada. Her work focuses on producer-led learning, mentorship, and building strong networks that support resilient forage systems and prairie conservation.

Adrienne brings more than a decade of hands-on grazing experience to her national role. Since 2010, she and her husband Joey have co-owned and operated a custom grazing enterprise at Worley Hanson Ranch near Langbank, Saskatchewan. Their operation includes managing day-to-day herd care, grazing planning, water systems, record-keeping, and fence line management, as well as working with patrons and delivering high-quality custom grazing services.

Her environmental background is equally strong. Adrienne has co-owned Hanson Environmental & Rentals Ltd. since 2008, providing vegetation and soil assessments, Phase 1 site assessments, environmental monitoring, and reclamation support across private and Crown land. Including rental services and custom fencing for oilfield and conservation outreach.

Deeply rooted in Saskatchewan’s ranching community, Adrienne serves on the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association board and has long supported youth through 4-H, local community organizations, and agricultural events. Her leadership style is grounded in practical experience, producer-to-producer learning, and a commitment to keeping prairie landscapes healthy, productive, and resilient.

In this episode, Adrienne shares information about the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association, including their goals and how they are working towards grassland conservation here in Canada.

On the CFGA website (https://www.canadianfga.ca/en/) it is shared that, “In 2020 alone 1.8 million acres of grassland were lost across North America’s Great Plains, more than 2 football fields per minute.” Adrienne discusses some of the challenges to conserving grasslands, and why this conversion is occurring at such a high rate. We also discuss the impact tilling grasslands to convert to crop acres has on carbon storage, carbon offset credits, and other projects and incentives that are available for producers to help with grassland conservation.

To contact Adrienne, please email her at: [email protected]

You can find out more at CFGA’s website: www.canadianfga.ca

Or find CFGA on X: @CFGA_ACPF

Instagram: @CFGA_ACPF

Facebook: @CFGA-Saskatchewan-OFCAF

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: [email protected]

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

During his career in ag, Reynold Bergen has held roles within technology transfer, extension and research management with both government and private industry. He is now the Science Director for the Beef Cattle Research Council, a role he has held since 2010. In this position, Reynold is involved in identifying industry research priorities, coordinating research funding among industry and government funding agencies, and contributes regular producer-level technology transfer articles to industry publications. As he puts it, he explains research to cattle producers and explains cattle producers to researchers.

In today’s episode, Reynold shares information on what the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is, and what the Canadian Beef Research and Knowledge Mobilization Strategy is and what it focuses on. We discuss how this strategy is developed, how it works and what it covers, as far as core principles.

We also discuss the importance of coordinating research and how this benefits the Canadian Cattle Industry. Focusing on industry, we also chat about potential opportunities Reynold sees coming in the future as a result of research, as well as potential threats or challenges facing the Canadian Beef Industry research landscape.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: [email protected]

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011