Canadian Cattle Young Leaders Program Reveals 2026 Semi-Finalists

May 21, 2026

Calgary, AB—Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) is pleased to announce the semi-finalists for the upcoming 2026–2027 program year.

Established by the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) in 2010, the Canadian CYL Program welcomes young people ages 18–35 from across Canada involved in all areas of the beef supply chain. The program aims to build the next generation of industry leaders by providing unique mentorship, training, and professional and personal development opportunities in the Canadian beef industry.

With impressive submissions from youth across the country, our judging panel had a tough task of selecting this year’s semi-finalists. Applications are available annually from early January to the end of March on the Canadian CYL Program website.

Semi-finalists will be invited to attend the annual Selections Competition in August which will be held this year in conjunction with the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Winnipeg, MB. The semi-finalists will participate in judged roundtable discussions on timely beef industry related topics to compete for a spot in the upcoming program year.

“Being named a semi-finalist is a meaningful achievement, and we congratulate those selected for distinguishing themselves through their leadership and forward-looking perspective on the future of the Canadian beef industry. We look forward to welcoming this impressive group in August as they advance to the next stage of the process,” said CCA President Tyler Fulton.

The 2026 semi-finalists, in alphabetical order and from west to east, are:

  • British Columbia: Sarah MacDonald (Vanderhoof)
  • Alberta: Caith Cameron (Didsbury), Andria Carlyon (Dapp), Quinn Devine (Innisfree), Sydney Fortier (Diamond Valley), Derek Friend (Rosalind), Fisayo Oretomiloye (Lethbridge), Jordyn Prior (Irma), Karin Roen (Oyen), Shayelyn Scott (Sundre), Lauren Stefaniuk (Airdrie), Ralph Thrall IV (Lethbridge), Paulina Wolswinkel (Red Deere County)
  • Saskatchewan: Blythe Clemence (Broadview), Jessica Davey (Southwest of Saskatoon), Olivia Woytiuk (Shell Lake)
  • Manitoba: Doris Doelger (Beausejour), Emma Falconer (Tesswater), Mae Fulton (Birtle)
  • Ontario: Shayne Dow (Lucan), Elizabeth Teel (Listowel)
  • Quebec: Emilie Blondeau (Princeville)
  • Nova Scotia: Jacy McInnis (Bass River)
  • New Brunswick: Katie Yerxa (Wakefield)

Following the competition, the selected finalists will be matched with an industry leader in their specific area of interest in the beef industry for a nine-month mentorship opportunity. They will also be granted a travel budget to fund engagement in various industry events, networking experiences, and learning opportunities throughout the program year.

These exceptional opportunities would not be possible without the generous support of program Platinum Partners, McDonald’s Canada and Cargill; Foundation Partners, MNP, and Elanco; and Gold Partners, Farm Credit Canada, and RBC.

About the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders

Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) welcomes young people ages 18–35 across Canada, involved in various aspects of the beef supply chain, to be paired with an industry leader in their specific area of interest for a nine-month mentorship. Through mentorship, networking, and travel, the Canadian CYL Program acts as an industry succession planning 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. Since established by the Canadian Cattle Association in 2010, the program has seen over 200 CYL graduates. Program applications are open annually for ages 18-35 on our website from early January to the end of March. Learn more at www.canadiancattleyoungleaders.ca.

For further information, contact:

Tina Zakowsky
Communications Manager
Canadian Cattle Association
403-451-0931 | zakowskyt@cattle.ca

For a PDF of the release, click here