The people who make it happen
The Waldron is the result of people coming together under the shared value of grazing cattle, land stewardship, community, and conservation.
The Waldron truly is a coming together of community. Our shareholders and staff are key to achieving long-standing tradition of grazing cattle and conserving one of the world’s most endangered ecosystems.
The management of the cattle and land at the Waldron is achieved through a board of directors elected from the shareholders, as well as the managers and seasonal ranch hands.
Managing a Living Legacy
Board of Directors
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ChairJohn Smith carries on the 3rd generation from the homeplace ranch, just west of Nanton, Alberta, with his wife, Laura Laing, at Plateau Cattle Co.
John’s grandfather John Hay was not only an active board member of the Waldron Grazing Co-operative, but also one of the founders.
Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father Daniel Smith, John is an active member of the Waldron Board and the Spruce Grazing Co-operative, and has served on the Stavely and Fort Macleod Feeder Associations, Pekisko Group and other Nanton Community organizations.
Outside of ranching and before his succession at Plateau Cattle, John successfully owned and operated Precision Vegetation Management for over 15 years, providing vegetation control and advisement for irrigation, government lands and the oil and gas industry.
Striving to ensure the sustainability of our industry and environment, John and Laura are strong advocates for our watershed and native grasslands and were awarded the 2025 Alberta Beef Producers Environmental Stewardship Award.
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Vice ChairDiane Sawley is a fourth-generation rancher and proud steward of her family’s operation, Anchor P Cattle Company. Alongside her husband Cody, son Remington, and mother Ethel, Diane manages the day-to-day operations of the ranch while upholding a deep commitment to land, livestock, and legacy. Her three children—Remington, Colt, and Jesse—represent the next generation of this long-standing ranching tradition.
Before returning to the ranch full-time in 1996, Diane built a diverse career in event management and the livestock industry. She served as Assistant Marketing Manager at the Westerner Exhibition Grounds in Red Deer and later as Manager of the Foothills Cowboys Association. She also worked as a sales clerk with the Southern Alberta Livestock Association, deepening her ties within the agricultural community.
Diane has been a passionate advocate for sustainable rangeland management, serving as a Director for the Rocky Mountain Forest Range Association for over 12 years and participating as a member of the Alberta Operation Grazing Committee. Her leadership in these roles reflects her dedication to conservation and practical land use.
A respected voice in Alberta’s ranching community, Diane brings a wealth of experience, generational knowledge, and a strong commitment to collaborative land stewardship to the Waldron Board of Directors.
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Director
Logan Nelson’s connection to the Waldron runs deep—his great-grandfather first came to the area as the manager of the original Waldron Ranch. Over time, the family established their own ranching operation on neighbouring land, where Logan and his family continue to live and work today. This multigenerational legacy fuels his commitment to land stewardship, community, the ranching industry, and the care of animals.
Logan brings a well-rounded perspective to the board, shaped by a diverse career that includes experience in building construction, guiding in Alberta’s backcountry, and working in the oil and gas sector. These roles have equipped him with a broad skill set and a deep respect for both the land and the people who depend on it.
As a rancher rooted in the very landscape his ancestors helped shape, Logan is passionate about upholding the values passed down through generations. He brings practical ranching knowledge, a strong work ethic, and a deep understanding of the region to the Waldron Board of Directors.
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Past ChairFrank is a farmer and rancher in the Pincher Creek region of Southern Alberta. Received a bachelor of management after high school and came back to help operate the family farm ranch and feedlot, which is ongoing.
In 2010, Frank and his wife Sarina purchased their own farm and ranch, and have grown it over the years and now operate as In the Coulee Ranch Inc. They have 2 children who love growing up on the ranch.
Frank previously served on the Economic Development Committee for Pincher Creek and currently sits on the agricultural services board for the MD of Pincher Creek, which he previously chaired also.
Frank believes in the Waldron Co-operative model, where the group can accomplish more than individuals own and provide affordable options for ranchers to access well managed grazing for their cattle.
Interests include sustainable and regenerative agriculture to produce high-quality beef and improve soils through cover crops and proper grazing management.
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Director
My great grandparents immigrated to the area east of Stavely in 1903. My grandfather was the oldest of 10 children and he purchased the farm where I now live in 1926.
Our family has always been passionate about the Waldron. My grandfather, father and uncle were all original shareholders when the ranch was purchased in 1962. My uncle was one of the original 5 who spent all the hours of driving and phoning to get the funds necessary to purchase the ranch.
We currently run a grain and cow/calf operation. My wife Cheryl, sons Jared and Mason and our granddaughter Dakota are all active in the day to day operations on our farm.
I feel honored to have been elected to the board of such a dynamic and progressive organization as the Waldron.
It has been a real pleasure working with the other members of the board. We are all focused on the same thing which is making the Ranch a better place.
The staff at the ranch is unbelievable to work with as they all have the best interest of the ranch front and center. I have enjoyed being part of the “Waldron Family”.
Our family likes to volunteer for any cause in the Stavely area and if there’s any spare time left we like to camp and fish.
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Treasurer
Kim is a professional accountant (CPA, CMA) and a fourth-generation rancher at Burke Creek Ranch, established in 1890.
She brings more than 20 years of experience in the oil and gas sector, where she held operational, project management, and leadership roles before returning to her family’s cow/calf stocker operation in 2018.
An active community contributor, Kim has served on several nonprofit boards and committees. She currently sits on the finance committee of the Reset Society of Calgary and on the board of directors for the East Trout Creek Grazing Association.
Kim has built strong working relationships with a range of industry, government, and environmental organizations, including Cows and Fish, the Alberta Conservation Association, Multisar, and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. She brings expertise in leadership, governance, finance, government relations, and grant writing to her volunteer roles. Since joining the Waldron Board of Directors in 2020, she has served as Treasurer.
Together with her husband Darren and their two daughters, Fara and Cate, Kim ranches in the Porcupine Hills while also maintaining a home in Calgary. She enjoys time outdoors, travelling, skiing, and reading.
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Director
Dana Brown is a proud 4th-generation rancher and carries on his family’s cow/calf operation that is rooted in Southern Alberta’s foothills since the early 1900s. A 1994 University of Lethbridge graduate, Dana ventured into the global energy sector as an oil and gas exploration consultant. Through this experience Dana was able to develop strong public relations, and safety practices, while developing stakeholder engagement skills strategic operations understanding.
In 2018, he returned to the family ranch near Stavely, Alberta, with a vision to blend time-honored ranching traditions with sustainable land management.
A self-taught entrepreneur, Dana brings leadership and innovative thinking to sustainable agriculture.
He is also a board member of the East Trout Creek Grazing Association and drives impactful change in the ranching community. Dana has worked with groups like the Alberta Conservation Association and Cows and Fish, through sustainable grazing practices that blend tradition with modern innovation.
Management Team
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General Manager
Dr. Christy Goldhawk brings a unique blend of scientific expertise, practical livestock knowledge, and a deep commitment to sustainable agriculture to the Waldron Ranch board. With a PhD in veterinary medicine and more than a decade of experience in beef production research and data science, Christy has worked across Canada and internationally in the areas of animal health, welfare, and production.
Her career includes serving as a global lead in animal welfare and production for a major international animal health company, as well as working in agricultural technology development—particularly focused on low-cost, low-impact remote monitoring solutions for livestock.
Christy is an advocate for informed, efficient, and compassionate agricultural practices. She values collaborative problem-solving and has extensive experience in data and project management, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable production systems.
Her volunteer contributions include work with 4-H Alberta, nature schools, and international science communication initiatives—reflecting her passion for knowledge-sharing and supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders.
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Area Manager
Calvin was born and raised in the agricultural industry. He spent most of his life ranching. With these past ranch experiences have enabled him to bring valuable skill sets to the Waldron. Calvin is married to Alyssa and has a son Colton and daughter Hannah. He enjoys the outdoors and spending time together with his family. He started working for the Waldron in 2022. He appreciates the uniqueness the Waldron offers. He is grateful for the community of the Waldron and enjoys communicating with the shareholders, board members, and co-workers, sharing common interests and goals.
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Area Manager
Kyle Johnson brings more than three decades of hands-on ranching experience and cattle management expertise to the Waldron Ranch board. Born and raised on a ranch west of Stavely, Kyle has spent his life immersed in the grasslands of southern Alberta, managing cattle and pastures with a focus on production efficiency, land stewardship, and practical problem-solving.
For over a decade, Kyle was part of the cattle management team at Soderglen Ranches, where he oversaw daily operations with an emphasis on herd health, low-stress cattle handling, and strategic breeding programs. His skill set bridges traditional ranching knowledge with modern data management practices and sustainable land and water management.
Kyle is passionate about ensuring ranches remain productive, healthy places to live and work—for both families and livestock. His interest in the Waldron stems from a desire to contribute to a landscape he knows well, bringing his family back to the area where he grew up, and supporting the long-term sustainability of beef production in Alberta.
Kyle brings a strong work ethic, practical field experience, and a commitment to doing things right. In his free time, he enjoys being with his family, hunting, and working with leather and wood.
Careers at the Waldron
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The Waldron is currently fully staffed for the 2026 season.
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Seasonal riders (a.k.a. ranch hands, or pasture riders) are the heart of daily operations. They are responsible for fencing, water management, herd health and moving cattle during our peak season (typically May-November).
Qualifications include animal-first stockmanship, ability to be a part of a community, owning your own horses and being a skilled rider, herd health, and some use of technology for communication and tracking operations.
While we accept applications year round for consideration should positions become open, hiring is often in the late fall for the next season.
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Day riders are that extra helping hand that we can count on to take care of our cattle and land, and support our team.
We hire day riders as-needed for extra help with herd management.
Qualifications are similar to the Seasonal Rider positions, with a heavy focus on stockmanship and communication.
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Our Maintenance Lead is responsible for the maintenance, operation, and upkeep of ranch infrastructure, water systems, equipment, and facilities, while while ensuring compliance with lease requirements, regulatory standards, and safety expectations.
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Our management team at the Waldron have diverse roles that complement each other to ensure the success of our crew, cattle, and rangelands.
Area managers oversee year-round operation of an assigned geographic area of the ranch, ensuring it runs efficiently and sustainably. They are responsible for range health, coordinating grazing plans, and engage shareholders in the care of their cattle. They also manage our seasonal riders and recruitment, as well as safety and record keeping at the ranch.
The General Manager is responsible for the year-round leadership, operation, and strategic management. This includes overseeing all daily operations, managing financial performance, leading and developing the ranch team, and acting as the primary contact for all stakeholders.