USask graduate advocates for the beef industry

“My goal is to contribute to feeding the world while being sustainable,” said Jessica Davey.

Davey holds many roles in the beef cattle sector. These include being a primary producer, an advocate who engages consumers about where their beef comes from, a leader for youth in agriculture, and a new graduate of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources (AgBio) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).

Davey will officially receive her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (major in Animal Science, minor in Agribusiness) at USask Fall Convocation on November 12.

“My experience at the University of Saskatchewan was life changing. I was able to further develop my passion, learn, develop new skills, and gain experience,” said Davey. “I was very involved with the College of Agriculture and Bioresources and the Agricultural Students Association and made lifelong connections in the agriculture industry.”

Davey maintained an extensive list of leadership roles in extracurricular agriculture activities on and off campus and earned 16 scholarships during her time as a USask student. One of these scholarships was the 4-H Canada Leadership Excellence Award of Distinction (LEAD) Scholar for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security. These awards are 4-H Canada’s most prestigious honour, recognizing outstanding youth members who demonstrate 4-H values in their everyday lives, have become exceptional leaders through their 4-H experience, and who share the best of themselves with their communities.

As a 4-H Canada LEAD Scholar, Davey led a student-raised beef initiative with Marquis Culinary Centre on the USask campus. This involved raising beef on her family farm, Rivendale Cattle Company, and selling it to USask for use at Marquis. She hosted a beef BBQ with Marquis during orientation week and spoke to students about farming and raising beef in Saskatchewan.

“It was a great opportunity for students to learn about where their food comes from and the story behind it,” said Davey. 

Davey’s advocacy work isn’t limited to the Prairies. She was one of two Canadian ambassadors for the World Food Forum Student Ambassador programme led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. She participated in a youth policy pilot project about food waste and school nutrition in which she developed policy materials with a focus on beef production systems.

Her advocacy work continued this past summer when Davey was as a public engagement and stakeholder intern with the Canadian Cattle Association. She was responsible for public outreach and programming such as hosting a documentary launch event and connecting with online influencers.

“Connecting with youth and consumers builds trust and transparency around farming and ranching,” said Davey. “People learn about cattle and the environment, the sustainability of raising beef, and the nutrition of eating beef.”

Throughout her extracurriculars and summer work experiences, Davey was able to draw upon her USask education to advance her career.

“The Bachelor of Science in Agriculture program provides very diverse opportunities to learn both the academic and practical knowledge of agriculture and livestock production of various species,” said Davey. “The professors and academic advisors in the Animal Science program are engaging and work to enhance the student experience. There are so many hands-on learning experiences, such as the ANSC 301 Animal Production Tour course and the ANSC 315 Animal and Poultry Nutrition course.”

Led by Dr. Greg Penner (PhD) and department assistant Colin Peterson, ANSC 301 is a seven-day field tour across Western Canada, exploring both traditional and exotic livestock operations, marketing enterprises, and feed processing facilities. In ANSC 315, taught by Dr. Tim Mutsvangwa (PhD), students conduct laboratory work including practical nutritional exercises. Davey and her classmates assisted PhD candidate Cassidy Ross (thesis supervisor Dr. Gabriel Riberio (PhD)) with a cattle research study.

Originally from Montrose, Sask., Davey has a strong family connection with USask and AgBio, with her mom, dad, brother, and aunt all alumni of the college.

“The College of Agriculture and Bioresources is just full of so much history and agricultural legacy in Saskatchewan and is the future of the ag industry.” 

Davey’s future plans include continuing her beef advocacy work and being involved in provincial and national organizations. She co-owns and operates Rivendale Cattle Company, a purebred and commercial beef cattle operation, with her family. Davey also has her own photography business, Jessica Davey Photography. She is looking forward to continuing her career in the agriculture industry.

“I have the opportunity to utilize my knowledge, skills, and experiences gained through academia and farming, to build connections in the agriculture industry, and to provide support to other farmers and ranchers.”