Purebred Breeder of the Year - coming soon for 2022!
Nominations for British Columbia Purebred Breeder of the Year are accepted annually. The winner is presented with their award at the Annual General Meeting or a mutually agreed upon event as well as announced on our social media channels and website.
2022 Purebred Breeder of the Year: Coming Soon!
Stay tuned for details!
Congratulations! Being named the 2022 Breeder of the Year is a reward well deserved.
Commercial Producer of the Year
Nominations for the Commercial Producer of the Year are accepted from the membership each year and are decided on by the board. The winner is presented with their award at the Annual General Meeting or a mutually agreed upon event as well as announced on our social media channels and website.
2022 Commercial Producer of the Year: Nicola Ranch, Merritt, BC
Nicola Ranch was established in 1919 by Major Charles Sydney Goldman. Today, the home ranch location was once the town of Nicola. The ranch has changed ownership four times during its history. In 1958 Major Goldman sold to the Parker family from Texas. The Parkers owned the ranch from 1958- 1978. An ownership group from Alberta then owned the ranch for period of 1978-1988. Current owners, the Liu family, purchased the ranch at that time. John Liu, serves as president of the company. Nicola Ranch is made up of four different ranches totalling 300,000 acres.
Why Angus
Much like many ranches in BC's interior the cowherd has changed over time. Nicola Ranch cowherd has had Shorthorn and Hereford influence but now all straight Black Angus. Nicola Ranch owners, management and cowboys are extremely proud of their herd today. Black Angus only bulls have been purchased and turned out for the past 20 years. For the past decade, Angus bulls have been purchased from McGillivray Livestock, Alex & Jenny Robinson and Sealin Creek Angus with straight Canadian Angus genetics. Using these Angus genetics; "our program has become more rounded and predictable" says ranch manager John Parks. "Within our approx 1500 cowherd, calving problems are almost non-existent; the maternal instincts of the Angus cows are second to none as our ranch calves weight is right up with exotic crossbreds." The Nicola ranch targets nine months on grass while during the wintering month's cows are feed first cut silage and mineral.
Marketing
For many years, Nicola Ranch marketed their steer calves on TEAM (The Electronic Auction Market) however recently; they have experienced good results marketing through BC Livestock Co-op, Kamloops.
Replacement Heifers
Approximately 300 replacement heifers are selected annually with the balance of the heifer calves being sold or placed in their yearling grosser program.
Ranch Management
John Parkes, better known as JP, is the ranch manager and has been at Nicola for a total of fifteen years. Nicola Ranch employs seven full time and four seasonal employees.
Acknowledgement
Nicola Ranch is honoured and wishes to thank BC Angus Association for acknowledging their operation as a candidate for the prestigious Commercial Breeder of the Year 2022.
Congratulations to Nicola Ranch on being named Commercial Producer of the Year!
Canadian Honourary President
The Honourary President is elected by the membership during the Annual General Meeting. The title of Honourary President is given for recognition without the usual requirements, duties, and privileges that formally go along with the role of the president. A pin is presented to the recipient at the Canadian Angus Association Annual General Meeting and they are recognized in the CAA Annual Report.
2022 Honourary President: Tom deWaal, Prince George, BC
Tom deWaal has been elected the Honorary President for the BC Angus Association for 2022. Tom was born in Calgary, Alberta and raised on a dairy farm in Airdrie. As a young man he showed dairy cattle in 4H as well as across North America from Toronto’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair to Madison, Wisconsin to Richmond, Utah.
In 1980 Tom attended the Reich World Wide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa. After graduating college, he started his auctioneering career selling livestock at the Rimbey Auction Market and soon after he was hired as one of the three lead auctioneers at the Edmonton Public Stockyard where he spent eight years selling livestock four days a week. In time Tom started selling farm equipment, heavy equipment and automobiles. It was then that his career path would change and Tom would start selling automobiles at weekly auctions across Western Canada, from Vancouver to Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon and Regina.
In the fall of 1989 the opportunity to purchase 50% of a car and truck auction in Prince George arose; with the intention of being a silent partner. However, by the summer of 1990 Tom had bought out the partner and became the sole-proprietor of the car auction, which he still runs today. Currently the car auction re-markets over 3000 vehicles annually for major financial institutions, fleet lease, dealer and rental companies.
During his career as an auctioneer Tom has always stayed with his rural roots and his interest in cattle. In 2003 he purchased his first registered Angus cattle which has led to today’s Harvest Angus herd, consisting of 120 mother cows. Harvest Angus promotes their brand at local and national livestock shows.
During his chosen careers, as both an auctioneer and as a seedstock producer, Tom has held numerous volunteer positions. Included would be his 10-year Presidency of the BC Auctioneers Association and this year he will be completing his fourth year as the Canadian Angus Association Director for the BC Angus Association.
Over the years Tom has been a big supporter of “Giving it Back” and has supported numerous organizations offering his professional auction talents. Tom is a three-time BC Auctioneering champion and also a BC Hall of Fame Auctioneer, a career that he has enjoyed for the last 37 years.
Tom is honored to be recognized by the BCAA as their choice of Honorary President for 2022.
Congratulations to Tom deWaal on being named Honourary President!