CCA elects new leadership team, sets course for the coming year
March 27, 2023
Ottawa, ON – Last week saw the election of a new leadership team, essential discussions on important issues to Canadian cattle producers, and the setting of priorities for the coming year at the 2023 Canadian Cattle Association’s (CCA) annual general meeting (AGM). Nathan Phinney and Tyler Fulton were acclaimed President and Vice-President, respectively for 2023-24.
Phinney took over the role of CCA President in December 2022, following the sudden passing of Reg Schellenberg. The Schellenberg family was in attendance at the AGM and a dinner was hosted to honour Reg’s legacy and contributions to CCA and the broader Canadian beef industry.
“The transition to CCA President has not been an easy one – Reg left big shoes to fill,” said Nathan Phinney, CCA President. “It’s an honour to have the support of CCA’s board members to lead our organization and continue our work on the issues of importance to Canadian cattle farmers and ranchers.”
Over the course of the AGM, the key priorities discussed included: the recently launched consultation on the proposed changes to the traceability regulations, the impact of Bill C-282: An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act (supply management) on future trade deals, achieving reciprocal access for beef in the trade negotiations with the United Kingdom, the addition of new trading partners to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), raising awareness about animal welfare concerns associated with the mandatory use of electronic logging devices (ELDs) for livestock transporters, and the need for further enhancements to business risk management programs.
CCA board members also had an opportunity to meet in-person with Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau to have an open discussion about how the CCA and the Government can work together to ensure the economic and environmental sustainability of the Canadian beef industry.
CCA welcomed the following new board members for 2023-24: Renee Ardill (BC), Jana Harman (AB), Graham Overguard (AB), Greg Schmidt (AB), Curtis Vander Heyden (AB), John Schuttenbeld (NB), and Kevin Simmons (PEI). With the election of Tyler Fulton to Vice President, a new board member from Manitoba is forthcoming.
CCA appreciates the contributions of the following board members who retired from the board at the AGM: Linda Allison (BC), Melissa Downing (AB), Sheila Hillmer (AB), Brad Osadczuk (AB), Cathy Sharp (AB), and Peter Dixon (PEI).
For further information, contact:
Michelle McMullen
Communications Manager
Canadian Cattle Association
403-451-0931| [email protected]
Backgrounder
Nathan Phinney, CCA President
Nathan Phinney became President of CCA in December 2022. Phinney previously served as Chair of the New Brunswick Cattle Producers for eight years and Chair of the Maritime Beef Council for 10 years.
First elected as a director to the CCA in 2015, Phinney has been an active member of CCA’s Domestic Agriculture Policy and Regulations Committee and the Food Policy Committee.
Alongside his grandfather, Robert Acton, who previously served as a CCA Director, Phinney runs a family-owned backgrounding operation in Sackville, New Brunswick. He has been a strong advocate for cattle producers in Atlantic Canada. Namely, he has championed making Livestock Price Insurance available across Canada.
Phinney and his wife, Jill, have a son and twin daughters.
Tyler Fulton, CCA Vice President
Tyler Fulton was elected Vice President of CCA on March 24, 2023. Fulton also serves as Past President of the Manitoba Beef Producers.
Fulton was first elected to CCA in March 2020 and has served as an active member of the Domestic Agriculture Policy and Regulations Committee and Foreign Trade Committee. In 2022, Fulton was named Chair of the Domestic Agriculture Policy and Regulations Committee and previously served CCA in the capacity of Officer at Large.
Fulton and his wife, Dorelle, along with their kids Evan and Mae, own and operate Tyton Farm Ltd, a 600 head cow/calf/backgrounding operation south of Birtle, Manitoba. They are the third generation of cattle producers to operate the farm, with parents David and Verna Fulton still active on the farm.
The farm consists of about 6,000 acres in prairie pothole country with most of it being pasture and the remaining cultivated land used for hay, corn, and other feed production. The commercial cowherd is predominantly a mix of Angus, Gelbvieh and Simmental breeds with the calving season in mid-April to May timeframe.