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Spotlight: CCA Student Internship Program

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) supports youth growth and development in the Canadian beef industry. The CCA Student Internship Program is committed to providing enriching opportunities focused in policy, research, advocacy, economics and market information, sustainable production, and industry outreach.


My summer experience By: Matthew Trefiak


My name is Matthew Trefiak, and I am a second-year university student attending the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources in pursuit of a Bachelor or Science (B.Sc.) in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science. I am also a recipient of the Loran Scholarship Award, the nation’s most extensive scholarship program. The Loran Scholars Foundation believes that integrity, courage, grit, and personal autonomy indicate overall potential better than traditional academic measures. The foundation carries out a comprehensive and thorough selection process to identify the character, service, and leadership potential an individual possesses. An integral part of the program is the summer internship program, where scholars are exposed to three primary sectors throughout their undergraduate program: public policy, community development, and enterprise. My internship with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) has been a fantastic learning experience, and I couldn’t have asked for a better public policy placement.

In reflecting on my experience with the CCA, I can’t help but admire the opportunities, knowledge, and awareness it has granted me and the dedication and passion the CCA board members and staff have for the industry they represent. The past three months have exposed me to many avenues of the beef industry, such as government affairs/policy development, environmental benefits/impacts, business risk management, research, and protecting the beef supply chain during uncertain times. This has allowed me to look at the agricultural industry from a more well-rounded perspective and taught me the importance of critical thinking and analyzing a situation before acting, an essential skill in policy development.

Being from a traditional seed stock operation by Edgerton, Alberta, I did not appreciate the important connection between government and the producer, specifically the exact role government played in facilitating programming, enforcing regulatory procedures, or helping to create a profitable, efficient, and sustainable agriculture industry. This summer, I witnessed first-hand the integral role, both positive and negative, the government plays in agriculture, particularly the beef industry. Participating in stakeholder meetings with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), analyzing the efficacy of current business risk management (BRM) programs, collecting, analyzing, and submitting industry concerns and feedback about the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program to the federal government, and analyzing Canadian beef profitability trends. I have always had the career goal of running a successful beef operation and/or being a large animal veterinarian. Yet, this opportunity has exposed me to new opportunities that I hadn’t considered. The importance of consistent messaging with government and bringing solutions rather than just issues to the table, was evident, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic drastically affecting the beef industry. Consistent advocacy on issues like transport regulations, trade and market access, agriculture and agri-food workforce shortages, protecting the beef supply chain from disruptions, and government support for farmers’ operations, to name a few, are priorities of the CCA and the Canadian beef industry and we will continue to explore and integrate solutions for these critical issues.

On the beef research side, working with BCRC has shown me the scientific advancements our industry has made in sustainability through the last few decades. In addition, by helping with the beef industry’s response to COVID-19, I explored the beef-value chain from beginning to end and the regulatory impacts at each point in the value-chain. I am humbled and inspired by the passion, unity, and dedication the people behind the industry’s policy sector embodied. Their devotion to the industry encouraged me to critically think and reflect on the industry as a whole and understand its role in society, both now and in the future.

I believe that working at CCA has better prepared me for the workforce and strengthen my skillset which will enable me to positively influence the agricultural community, specifically the beef industry, in decades to come. The CCA is a true testament to the success of the Canadian beef industry and the opportunities that arise when individuals value passion, advocacy, commitment, and, most importantly, education.

This experience has ignited a new passion in me that will continue to enrich my education and open new opportunities to learn, grow, and pursue my career. I can’t thank the staff at the CCA enough for the mentorship and friendship they have provided me, and the connections that have been created and will continue to flourish for the rest of my life.

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