Kelsie Cosens

Katie's Bio

Katie is the marketing manager at Alberta Beef Producers, and has had an extensive career in brand development. She is also a third-generation farmer from central Alberta, and has dedicated over 30 years to the beef industry, focusing on seed stock production. Katie farms with her family at Rocky Mountain House, and has judged most of the major beef shows in Canada. This includes the Agribition Beef Supreme Show, also known as the Super Bowl of cattle shows.

Alberta Beef Producers

Emma's Bio

Emma Cross is a rancher from Tofield, Alberta, about an hour outside of Edmonton, where she raises cattle, sheep, and horses. When not out tending to her animals, Emma is passionate about connecting people with where their food comes from. Emma works in communications for the Public and Stakeholder Engagement program of the Canadian Cattle Association, which focuses on building and maintaining public trust in the way beef cattle are raised in Canada.

Canadian Cattle Association

Tara's Bio

Although, she wasn’t raised on a farm, Tara’s experience in agriculture spans over 30 years, first in dairy, then cattle and now chicken (25 years).

In 2011, Tara’s first husband lost his battle with cancer. During this difficult time, she was faced with the choice to stop farming or forge ahead. Her passion for agriculture persisted and with the encouragement from her father-in-law, the support of her church family, and neighbouring farmers she persevered.

Today, alongside her husband Darren, they farm near Devon, Alberta.

“I am very passionate of the fact that if we don’t tell our story someone else will… and we know that it won’t always be the correct story. Being out in the community has given me the opportunity to firsthand correct some of the myths around our industry. And hopefully our story gets spread just a little more with each encounter.”

Family plays a huge part in Tara’s life and when she isn’t busy volunteering at agriculture education events, hosting a farm tour, helping to create videos to counter myths, or tending to her flock, Tara spends time with her three children, their spouses and her and Darren’s nine grandchildren.

Alberta Chicken Producers 

Dr.'s Bio

Ed is an internationally-recognized expert on the behavior and welfare of a wide variety of species (Beef cattle, Dairy cattle, Swine, Poultry, and Lab Animals) as well as having expertise in animal welfare standards and legislation. Dr. Pajor has published over 140 scientific papers and consulted with numerous national and international companies.

An effective and enthusiastic teacher, Professor Pajor was named a University Peak Scholar, was awarded the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Great Supervisor award, and served on the AVMA’s Model Animal Welfare Curriculum Planning Group which was charged with developing an animal welfare-based curriculum for veterinary schools in North America. Ed is a graduate of the University of Waterloo with an Honors Co-op B.Sc. Degree in biology. In addition, he earned a MSc. and PhD. degree in biology from McGill University specializing in Animal Behaviour.

W.A. Ranches