Berle Hebbes
Division 2 Councillor
I am third generation Wheatland County and growing up in agriculture has taught me hard work & perseverance and love of the land & livestock. My first job was at Western Feedlots Strathmore and from there I progressed to their new operation at High River. In my time there I helped grow the feedlot from 10,000 to 30,000 head in a few years’ time; requiring me to deal with engineers, contractors, suppliers, and the myriads of tasks required to build a project of that magnitude. This experience also laid the foundation for working with neighboring farms, ranches, acreages, and towns.
After 16 years with Western, I was contracted for one year as Cattle Manager at a 100,000 head feedlot in Nebraska – a very large controversial Intensive Livestock Operation near town. In addition to the exceptional experience gained by the challenge of managing very large diverse crews, this job also further developed my ability to constructively help farms/ranches co-exist with acreages, towns, and development. Following Nebraska, I was Cattle Manager for four years at a feedlot near Vegreville AB. I moved back to our small family ranch in Wheatland County in 2002 to work as Cattle Manager at a 24,000 head feedlot. After a wonderful 23 years of service, I retired in Spring 2025. Over my 44 years feedlot and ranch work I have managed dozens of industry-scale clinical field trials for cereal forage, vaccines, antibiotics, anti-parasitics, and feed efficiency. Many of these resulted in improved forage and beef production and, importantly, food safety.
From 2003 to 2021 I ran a free riding/roping arena where local youth and adults came to learn, practice, and hone their skills – giving me the opportunity to mentor others in animal husbandry, horsemanship, and practice habits. Additionally, I coached hockey for many years, judged numerous 4-H shows and various cattle handling competitions, have been a volunteer with Wheatland Conservation and Wildlife Association since 2002, and have been a moderator for Alberta Outdoorsman since 2018.
I can’t give enough credit to the love and support of my wife Brandy. She has also worked in Agriculture all her life and is a selfless volunteer with Wheatland Society of Arts.
I’ve always been acutely interested in all levels of politics and its effect on our daily lives. Community is very important to me and I have a deep desire to give back to Wheatland County. Organized, thought-out, collaborative action is essential to balance the competing facets in our County. I am pro responsible development, yet I care deeply about each resident’s quality of life. I would be honored to serve Division 2 and all Wheatland County residents – current and future – utilizing honesty, integrity, engaged listening, extensive life experiences, and management skills.
Regards,
Berle Hebbes
Division 2 Councillor