Saskatoon (Rural Roots Canada) – The 2024 Reg Schellenberg Next Generation Legacy Award recipient has been announced.

The year’s recipient is Cassie Marchand from Vernon, B.C. The award honours those who embody the spirit of leadership, mentorship, collaboration and dedication to the Canadian cattle industry.

“It means so much to me,” she says. “It’s the first Buckle I’ve ever won so that’s really exciting. We’re actually in the rodeo world, raising rodeo stock. We have a lot of buckles going around, but I have never won one, personally. And I know family is such a big part of our life and our ranch, and it means a lot to the family, too.”

A member of the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) mentorship program, Marchand grew up in southern B.C. on a fourth-generation ranch started by her great-grandparents. She is still heavily involved in her family’s ranch while living and working on her husband’s family ranch.

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She admits she was slow to sign up to join the mentorship program but is so glad she did.

“It’s been so much more than I expected it to be. I had always heard great things about it from people who had taken part before. Everyone always has these positive experiences but until you’re a part of it and see how in-depth the program is and the connections you make, you realize just how amazing it is.”

The Reg Schellenberg Award was created following the death of the former Canadian Cattle Association president in December 2022. In lieu of flowers, the Schellenberg family requested donations be made to the Canadian Cattle Foundation to support the CYL Program. Through this fund, a CYL graduate is selected annually to receive the Reg Schellenberg Next Generation Legacy Award, recognizing the exceptional qualities and contributions of an outstanding young leader who embodies the same dedication and leadership for the Canadian beef sector that Reg displayed.