Who We Are

Kelcy Elford

Bio coming soon..

Cameron Carlyle

Cameron Carlyle is an Associate Professor of Rangeland Ecology at the University of Alberta. He teaches a course on rangeland conservation and management, and studies the effects of cattle grazing on forage production and soil carbon storage. While he grew up in northern British Columbia he has family roots in southern Saskatchewan. He lives in Edmonton with his wife and two young boys.

Miles McNeil

Miles runs a 250 head cow-calf and yearling operation west of Alameda, SK with his wife Melinda and four daughters Madison, Martina, Mary-Lee and McKenzie. In 2004, Miles took a Holistic Management Course to help with making farming decisions that are sociologically, environmentally and economically sound. They since have noticed immense improvements in their grassland health. Miles states, “As we continue to improve our grass, we also improve our profitability and our peace of mind.” Miles currently serves as a Director at Large for the SSGA and sits on the SSGF’s Producer Advisory Committee as well as the Finance Committee.

Jeremy Pittman

Jeremy Pittman is an Associate Professor in the University of Waterloo’s School of Planning. His research focuses on environmental governance and policy, and he works with a diverse range of communities and sectors in Canada and internationally on sustainability-oriented projects. Before joining the University of Waterloo, he worked for both provincial and federal governments in Canada as well as the private sector on issues related to the resilience of rural, agricultural, and fisheries-based communities to social and ecological change. He has held several prestigious fellowships and awards, most notably the Liber Ero Fellowship for young conservation scientists in Canada. He grew up on a farm in southern Saskatchewan, and the majority of his research focuses on the province.

Ray Glasrud

Ray was raised near Mazenod, SK where his grandfather had homesteaded in 1907 and went on to graduate from the University of Montana in Missoula, MT with a degree in Wildlife Management and a minor in Range Management. He also attended the School of Environmental Management Program at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Ray worked for various organizations such as the Canadian Wildlife Service and the New Zealand Forest Service as a Biologist and an Environmental Manager through the years. He lived in Millarville, AB for 20 years before moving back to the open spaces and grasslands on the east slope of the Cypress Hills in 2011 where Ray and his wife along with his son’s family are currently ranching.

Chad MacPherson

Chad MacPherson joined the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) as General Manager in May 2008.  Chad is responsible for the overall administration, communications, operations and programming of the SSGA.  Chad also serves on a number of industry groups including: Livestock Services of Saskatchewan, SaskTips, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation and Ministry of Environment Habitat Advisory Committee.

Calvin Knoss

Coming soon..

Taneile Hammond

Taneile grew up in the Bracken/Climax area on a grain farm and after graduating high school, she worked in various agricultural positions throughout western Canada but ultimately landed in the Maple Creek area. Taneile has worked for several ranches, the local sale barn but primarily rode for the Millie provincial pasture until 2019 when she took a managing position for the Claydon Grazing Coop. In 2020 she purchased a parcel of native grass to build her and her daughter’s cattle ranch but she also keeps busy with a photography business, wood working projects in the winter months and recently taught herself to play the guitar.

Brant Kirychuk

Received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture majoring in Agronomy from the University of Saskatchewan. Completed a Master of Agriculture in Range and Forage Management at the University of Alberta.  The majority of my career was spent with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and Agriculture and Agri-food Canada in a variety of roles.  Early in my career my focus was on Crown land administration, then range and forage extension.  Later I moved into a variety of management roles focussing on rangeland, riparian, biodiversity and conservation programming.  Most recently I spent six years at the Ministry of Environment as the Executive Director; Fish, Wildlife and Lands Branch.  I have had the opportunity to contribute to a variety of international development projects related to rangeland management, sustainable agriculture and agriculture extension in Ukraine, China, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.

Tom Harrison

Tom has a BSA ‘84 and MSc ’93 from the College of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan. His recent work experience includes serving as the Executive Director for SODCAP Inc. Tom has more than 25 years experience as a Professional Agrologist in agri-environmental

programming both as a consultant and also with agencies such as Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation/Water Security Agency, Saskatchewan Indian Agricultural Program and Agriculture Canada. Currently, he also operates a 250 head cow calf ranch with his wife Tracy and their daughter Kaitlyn.

Marika Sherman

Marika grew up in Regina, and obtained a degree in Environmental Biology from the University of Saskatchewan, where she focused on grassland conservation and plant ecology.  After convocation she moved to Dawson Creek, BC to work as a Range Agrologist for the BC Ministry of Forests. She’s recently returned to Saskatchewan to work for the SSGF and resides in Balgonie with her husband and two children.

Mindy Hockley

Mindy grew up on small ranch outside of Yellow Grass, SK and obtained her Diploma of Veterinary Technology after high school. She worked as a Registered Veterinary Technologist for 6.5 years primarily in mixed animal practice before working for the SSGF and she still practices part time as a Registered Vet Tech in a rural clinic. She currently resides southwest of Fir Mountain, SK with her husband on their generational ranch and helps on her own family’s ranch whenever she is able to.

Maggy Cooper

Maggy grew up in Maple Creek, SK where her family ranches south of the beautiful Cypress Hills. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan, majoring in Agronomy and currently holds her AAg with the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists. Her background and education instilled valuable experience in both the annual cropping and beef industry. In her spare time, she can be found travelling, helping out on her family ranch and riding her horses.