The Executives of the Purebred Sheep Breeders Association of Nova Scotia
President –Brianna Hiltz
Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia
My name is Brianna Hiltz, and I am your new PSBANS President! I am currently a 4th year Bioverterinary Science student at the Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture, with the goal of becoming a large animal veterinarian! I have been raising sheep my entire life, I started in the show ring at about 16 months old. My flock “Shamrock Show Sheep” is comprised of purebred Texels and Polled Dorsets. I served as a board member for the last year and was chosen for president at the AGM in January. In my first year on the board, I organized the first show at our annual Fall Sale. I am excited to continue this tradition and allow us to have a little friendly competition and fun with our animals before the sale. Raising sheep has been a huge part of my life and I am so excited to continue this and help grow the purebred sheep industry in Nova Scotia. Feel free to contact me if there are any suggestions for learning opportunities and activities!
Vice President – Jamie Fraser
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia
Jamie grew up and currently resides on a family farm in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia (Bayhead Farm), where we raise sheep and beef cattle. Currently, we have about 40 ewes (Purebred North Country Cheviot/ Crossbred Commercial) and 40 beef cows (Purebred Red and Black Angus/ Purebred Shorthorn/ Crossbred Commercial). We sell breeding stock and direct sale lamb and beef from the farm gate. Jamie participated in 4-H as a youth and is currently the sheep and beef leader for the North Shore 4-H Club. Jamie obtained a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Major: Aquaculture) in 2008, and a Master of Science in Agriculture (Fish Nutrition/Feed Product Development) in 2017. Jamie currently operates the Chute Animal Nutrition Centre (On-Farm Feed Mill) at Dalhousie University Agricultural Campus. Jamie is currently a board member of the Sheep Producers Association of Nova Scotia and the Purebred SheepBreeders’ Association of Nova Scotia. She is also secretary for the Northumberland Sheep Producers’ Association.
Treasurer – Dianne Sinclair
Goshen, Nova Scotia
Dianne lives on a dairy and sheep farm in Goshen, Guys. Co. with her husband Bruce. They milk 75 purebred Ayrshires and Holsteins. They have 30 purebred Suffolk and 50 purebred North Country Cheviots. They have 4 grow children who are the 7th generation on the farm. She has served 2 terms as director/secretary/treasurer for the Antigonish/Guysborough Federation of Agriculture. 2 terns as Eastern Region Director on the NS 4H Council. She was a 4H leader for over 30 years. She was a member of the Atlantic Agriculture Leadership Program and travelled to Ottawa, Washington DC and Chili to compare their agriculture departments. Dianne has been a director of PSBANS since 2007. Serving as treasurer and a few years as secretary. She retired in 2023 so she could get her Arbnb “Always On Lake Time” up and running and now is back to fill hopefully a one year term as treasurer. In her spare time she runs Upon The Mantle Trophies and Engraving.
Director – Erica Sullivan
McKay Section, Nova Scotia
Erica currently resides Brookfield, Nova Scotia well finishing a degree in Animal Science at Dalhousie University Agricultural campus. She grew up in McKay Section, Nova Scotia on a small farm. Erica was a 4-H member for 15 years. Over the years she tried nearly every livestock project that she could do but her passion stayed with the sheep project for 14 years, raising her own North Country Cheviots for 4-H since 2015. She has now been the sheep leader for the Newport 4-H club for the past two years passing on her knowledge and sharing her passion with up in coming 4-Hers’. She is the proud producer and owner of a small flock of North Country Cheviots that would not be possible without the help of her father Eric Sullivan, who supported her passion for the breed.
CSBA Representative – Bruce Sinclair
Goshen, Nova Scotia
Bruce has been the CSBA rep for Nova Scotia since 2008 and is the past president. He was a previous director on PSBANS for many years. He lives on a dairy and sheep farm in Goshen, Guys. Co. with his wife Dianne. They milk 75 purebred Ayrshires and Holsteins. They have 30 purebred Suffolk and 50 purebred North Country Cheviots. They have 4 grow children who are the 7th generation on the farm. He has been a 4-H leader for over 30 years. Past Chair of the 4H Market Committee. Past president of the Antigonish/Guysborough Federation of Agriculture. Current president of the Eastern Nova Scotia Exhibition. Current director and on executive of the board of Antigonish Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company. Current Chief of the Goshen Volunteer Fire Department.