12/17/2025
There is so much news to share, and the ASBA board sincerely apologizes for the delay! The new board of directors really felt like we needed to have our first meeting and get our ducks in a row before posting. We hope you have the time and the interest to read what is going to be a fairly long post!
After the AGM in November here is your almost-completely-new Board of Directors for 2026:
We start with our esteemed President, Dr. Lynn Tait of OC Flock Management and long-time Katahdin breeder, of Bentley.
New Vice-President Lorri Lyster, Canadian Arcott and Shropshire breeder of Halkirk.
Our only director from the previous administration, we heartily thank Gerrit Brinkmann of Medicine Ridge Ovine (Rideau Arcott, Canadian Arcott, Ile de France) of New Norway for staying on as our Finance Chair.
Our Acting Secretary (as there is currently no provision for a Secretary in the bylaws) is Emma Grimmeyer (Dorset) of Clyde.
Our CSBA representative is Steph Arndt of Sheep Wrangler Farms (Suffolk, Ile de France), Barrhead.
Last but not least, the guy who may have taken on the biggest job of them all, Mike Grimmeyer of Sheep Lake Suffolks, Clyde, has agreed to chair the Classic committee.
News for all members:
For those not aware, previous President Bernadette Nikkel and Secretary-Manager Linda Brandes both stepped down after the AGM in November. We thank them, as well as other outgoing board members Kristen Kobitzsch, Cindy Crawford, Isabelle Nicol, and Kathleen Raines for your years of service to the organization.
The proposal is in progress for Alberta to host the 2027 All Canada Classic. Details to be announced after the CSBA AGM in March.
We apologize for the lack of communication, we have had to change over the 800 number and set up a new phone; we are in the process of looking into building a brand new website because of ongoing issues with the current one; we are still in the process of changing over the e-mail.
There is currently no plan in place to fill the Secretary-Manager position. We are revisiting that for the next fiscal year but feel we have enough on our plates for now.
There is a plan in place to go over the ASBA bylaws with a fine-toothed comb and give them a much-needed overhaul, so please expect some voting in your future!
Also keep an eye on your e-mail in the next few months, as we are planning on sending all members a comprehensive survey to know what is important to the members.
The 2026 Board of Directors welcomes member volunteers to sit on various committees! We have had an overwhelming response for the Classic committee (but that doesn't mean we won't take more volunteers), and we are setting up a Bylaw committee, so anyone who wishes to sit on either of those committees, please feel free to raise your hand.
For now, until phone and email issues are worked out, probably the best way to get in touch is either here through Messenger, or contact me (Lorri Lyster [email protected]). Once the kinks are worked out there will be another new admin added, but this will do for now!
REMINDER- if you are a paid-up member of CSBA (make sure you renew for 2026!), and are based in Alberta, you are a member of ASBA. Our door is open. Welcome!
