BMO FARM FAMILY AWARD: McMillin Ranching putting family and the farm first
SPECIAL AREAS NO. 2 - For Justin and Debbie McMillin, the 2025 BMO Farm Family from Special Area No. 2, raising cattle is a true family affair. “We always put the family and the farm first,” shares Debbie. “We’ve made it a real family operation and it’s been special to see our children play large parts and truly love it.”
The McMillin Family: from left, Justin, Sydney, Debbie and Spencer.
The roots of McMillin Ranching in Hanna trace their way back to both Powell, Wyoming, and Kathryn, Alberta. Justin was raised on a fourth-generation mixed farm in Wyoming where he was an active part of his family operation raising Commercial Angus cattle and irrigated row crops. Debbie was raised by her parents, Scott and Carol McKay, of Calberta Farms near Kathyrn, Alberta. Debbie was the fourth generation to grow up on the farm that her great-grandfather had established. Her grandfather operated it as a grain farm, but it was her father’s love for cattle that transitioned the farm into a mixed operation. “My dad loved cattle and he was one of the first breeders to bring Maine Anjou cattle to Canada,” reflects Debbie.
Debbie pursued her post-secondary degrees in the United States, where she met Justin. They got married in 2000 and soon after McMillin Ranching as a division of Calberta Farms was born. Debbie’s parents started purchasing land in Special Areas in the 1990s, so as Debbie and Justin looked to get their start, they purchased land in the Hanna area and moved in 2003. While they still work together, Calberta Farms and McMillin Ranching operate as two separate entities. Justin and Debbie’s children, Sydney and Spencer, have been very active in the operation since they were children. Sydney just finished her third year of university for a high school teaching degree and Spencer attends Olds Collage as part of their Ag Management program, with plans to return to the farm and continue to build his own cattle herd once he is finished.
McMillin Ranching runs a purebred and commercial cattle operation on 4,500 acres. They have over 500 cow-calf pairs, which include one third purebred Angus, one third purebred Maine Anjou and the remaining is a crossbred commercial herd. The purebred side of the business keeps the McMillins busy as they privately sell their purebred stock, keep and manage the seedstock, all while documenting the pedigrees and genetics to help improve the genetic makeup of their herd. Spencer has really taken an interest in the purebred side of the operation. “When Spencer was 14 years old, he took an Artificial Insemination (AI) course and got his certificate,” shares Debbie. “He now helps with of much of the AI program and genetic decisions.”
The McMillins work hard to keep their land in the best shape possible. When they moved in the early 2000s, most of the land was cultivated crop land and they seeded it back to tame grass. Over the last five years, as the tame grass has matured, they have started to rotate through cultivating small sections to grow barley, soft white wheat or corn for feed or silage, to help rejuvenate the soil, and eventually seed back to grass. About 10-15 per cent of their land is seeded for crops and the rest is tame or native grass. They also work hard to develop fresh water so their livestock and the wildlife in the area can thrive together. They have fenced off their dugouts and created water sources away from them, so the dugouts remain protected, and the cattle have clean water. It’s been rewarding to see more wildlife returning to the land after seeding it back to grass.
The McMillins have been active in their community in various facets. Justin coached minor hockey for 13 years, while Debbie managed several teams. They also helped with fundraising for school sports like volleyball, rugby and football. They are also very passionate about the future of the cattle industry and have spent many hours developing youth opportunities. They were part of the committee that started Canada’s Richest Youth Show (CRY) – Jr. Steer and Heifer Show, which has become one of the largest spring junior cattle shows in Canada. The youth show is held in Olds each April and Debbie and Justin continue to help with fundraising and organizing 18 years after its inception. Justin also volunteered with the Calgary Stampede International Youth Livestock Committee for ten years. Sydney and Spencer are also still active in showing some of their purebred and crossbred cattle at a variety of shows, such as Junior Shows and Summer Synergy.
“We’re really excited about the future of McMillin Ranching,” summarizes Debbie. “We look forward to growing, and improving not only our genetics, but our overall operation.” The future is bright for McMillin Ranching.