In the Cariboo-Chilcotin, one of the sure signs of spring is the birth of calves in local pastures. Some of our ranchers have already begun calving, and many more will be starting soon.
This is an exciting season for ranchers, as these calves represent a new year of growth and prosperity for their businesses.
Ranching is a way of life in the Cariboo-Chilcotin. It is important to both the social and economic fabric of our region.
Each year, an average of 33,000 cattle are sold through the Williams Lake Stockyards.
These cattle come from ranches in and around our area — from Quesnel all the way south to Clinton.
The first BC Livestock cattle sale of 2016 was held in mid-February, and it looks to be another promising year for our ranchers. The money spent on cattle at these stockyards goes directly to our hardworking ranchers, who invest this money back into our local economy. When they succeed, we all benefit.
To ensure ranching continues to have a strong future in our region, it is important that we remain responsive to the needs of industry.
In 2015, our government announced more than $150,000 of funding to Thompson Rivers University to establish a new Sustainable Ranching Enterprise Diploma in Williams Lake.
Now underway, this diploma program addresses the needs of the local ranching environment in our region.
It focuses on sustainable management of natural resources and building resilience into ranching enterprises, both at home and abroad.
The diploma program was created by an advisory committee of ranching representatives from our region. It truly is a program built by industry, for industry.
I am confident that this program will help to prepare students for success in an evolving economy, ensuring the continued prosperity of ranchers in our region for years to come.
Donna Barnett is the Liberal MLA for the Cariboo-Chilcotin.
