Honouring Stewardship: Bettles Chosen as Canada’s 2025 TESA Winners

Across Canada, beef producers are balancing tradition with innovation, finding ways to care for the land while feeding communities. This year, that spirit of stewardship was recognized when the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) named Don and Geraldine Bettle of Passekeag, New Brunswick, as the 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA)winners.

A Lifetime Commitment to the Land

When Don and Geraldine Bettle look out over the Kennebecasis River near their farm in Passekeag, New Brunswick, they see more than water. For nearly five decades, the river has shaped their farming philosophy. It inspired their commitment to protect riparian areas, wildlife habitats, and the grasslands that sustain their cattle.

That commitment earned recognition on September 10, 2025, when the Bettles, owners of Passekeag Holdings Inc., received the 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) from the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA).

Their farm runs a 70-head Angus-based herd managed with rotational paddocks, soil testing, bale grazing, and adapted forage species. These practices strengthen soil health and build resilience against climate change. In addition, the Bettles set aside 300 acres of wetland with Ducks Unlimited and the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee. The effort created thriving habitats for waterfowl, hawks, swallows, otters, mink, and fish. Wildlife corridors now link wooded areas, helping animals move safely and maintain ecosystem balance.

“We’ve always believed that protecting the river and the land is about more than stewardship,” Don Bettle said. “It improves our productivity and creates a healthier ecosystem for everyone.”

Recognizing National Leadership

TESA, first awarded in 1996, celebrates producers who go beyond standard conservation practices. Each year, one national recipient is chosen from regional nominees. These nominees all show leadership in sustainable ranching and environmental care.

For 2025, the Bettles rose to the top from a strong field of seven nominees:

• British Columbia – Barnett Land and Livestock (Duncan and Jane Barnett): recognized for ecosystem protection, water conservation, and fire management along the Cariboo Gold Rush Trail.

• Alberta – Plateau Cattle Co. (Laura Laing and John Smith): committed to sustainable ranching, animal welfare, and wildlife conservation.

• Saskatchewan – Elford Ranch (Mark and Karin Elford): focused on preserving native grasslands and thoughtful grazing management.

• Manitoba – Breault Ranching Ltd. (Clayton and Shauna Breault): practicing regenerative agriculture on 22,000 acres with zero-till farming and rotational grazing.

• Ontario – Van Osch Farms Ltd.: combining certified sustainable beef and crop production with solar energy and regenerative practices.

• Quebec – A l’Herbe (Frédéric Lebel and Dominique Dumas): advancing grass-finished beef and carbon sequestration research through the Racines d’avenir Living Lab.

• Maritimes – Passekeag Holdings Inc. (Don and Geraldine Bettle): restoring wetlands, managing pastures, and protecting riparian zones.

“Each of these nominees represents the very best of Canadian ranching,” said Mike Duguid, Co-Chair of CCA’s Environment Committee. “The Bettles show incredible respect for the land and demonstrate how beef producers protect homes for birds, wildlife, pollinators, and fish.”

A Legacy of Stewardship

The Bettles’ award is more than a personal milestone. It reflects how Canadian cattle producers adapt to climate change, blend science with tradition, and enhance biodiversity while producing beef.