OPEN SUMMER HOURS Monday to Friday - 8:30 am to 4:00 pm ~ 403 227 2742
Nutrition Team
Lee Eddy - President
Lee Eddy grew up in Nanton, but now resides a few miles from Markerville, Alberta. He has been a leader, researcher and practitioner with the agriculture industry throughout his career. He graduated from the University of Alberta with a BSc in agriculture majoring in Soil Science, Animal Science and Economics. He started his career in the industry working with Feed-Rite in Linden and then took a position with Hoffmann-la Roche on the animal nutrition side for the next 10 years.
Lee wanted to work more closely with the primary producer, so in 1998 Lee formed Blue Rock Minerals. He has been working with Alberta producers developing custom mineral premix and balancing rations to help producers ever since. Lee has been involved in innovative nutrition research in the industry. This research included vitamin E and calf immunity, vitamin E for meat preservation, biotin for hoof health and folic acid research in swine nutrition. Lee has spoke on and published many articles about cattle nutrition and is incredibly knowledgeable in the field. He is always looking for a research project to help propel our industry into greater profitability.
Lee has volunteered for many years as a hockey coach, Special Olympics Nordic Skiing coach and rodeo judge. He has also been a very active volunteer and advocate for his community through politics.
Lee has held several board and executive positions such as: President Western Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, Director and President Wildrose Party Innisfail/Sylvan Lake Constituency. He is currently VP of membership for the UCP Innisfail/Sylvan Lake Constituency Association and a board member for the Innisfail Chamber of Commerce.
Kristen Ritson-Bennett - Managing Partner
Kristen Ritson-Bennett is a ruminant nutritionist and the managing partner of Blue Rock Animal Nutrition. Kristen has navigated her team and business through significant growth and expansion over the last decade. Kristen originates from a purebred Simmental operation near Markerville, Alberta. She graduated from the University of Saskatchewan majoring in animal science and nutrition. Kristen has broad knowledge of agriculture systems throughout the world including the EU, Australia and New Zealand. Her focus has been on reproductive success of the first and second calf heifers, cow-calf nutrition, and small ruminant nutrition.
You will find Kristen very knowledgeable and practical about livestock production and nutrition. She is passionate about the agriculture industry in Western Canada and is driven to ensure producers are meeting their operations nutrition needs and goals.
Kristen has been involved with and supported the provincial forage associations, Alberta Forage Industry Network (AFIN), Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association (CFGA), Success for Women in Agrifood in addition to other volunteer opportunities in her home community. She is currently serving as a mentor for the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders program. In addition to business management and nutrition consulting, Kristen and her husband have 3 children, a small purebred sheep operation and a veterinary clinic in Penhold, AB.
Courtney O'Keefe - Ruminant Nutritionist
Courtney is a consulting ruminant nutritionist with Blue Rock Animal Nutrition. A combination of growing up rural and around livestock has allowed Courtney to gain a practical and logical approach to many issues producers face daily. She graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a B.Sc. Ag., and continued to pursue a M.Sc. Ag, majoring in ruminant nutrition. Her research was focused on extensive grazing systems for beef cattle, particularly refining the recommendation for time of harvest for swath grazing cereal crops in western Canada. Recently, she has been assisting with the Blue Rock applied research project. This project is collecting nutrition data on pastures throughout the growing season in multiple locations throughout the province.
She is dedicated to the agriculture industry and wants to ensure producers are meeting their production goals while being mindful of making nutritionally sound decisions for their operations. Courtney deeply cares about the success of the producers she works with and appreciates helping navigate through the individual challenges that arise from each operation. She also enjoys giving presentations to producer groups that are keen on learning more about ruminant nutrition.
Courtney and her partner Ben live east of Rockyford, where they are working on growing their commercial cow-calf herd. They both value the importance of their community and are involved in many events throughout the Rockyford area. She is also involved with Ringette Alberta as a player and a referee, serves on the Farming Forward Board (formerly West Central Forage Association - WCFA) as the secretary, and serves as a director for Alberta Forage Industry Network (AFIN).
Abby Ann Redman - Ruminant Nutritionist
Abby grew up on an off-grid crop farm north of Manning, AB. She spent her early years homeschooling and exploring every nook and cranny of the countryside on her horse. Abby attended the University of Alberta completing an undergraduate degree in Animal Health and went on to complete a dual master’s degree in Denmark (Aarhus University) and the Netherlands (Wageningen University) in Sustainable Production Animal Nutrition and Feeding.
After graduating, Abby worked for the University of Lethbridge as a project manager running a research trial investigating the effects of biochar on enteric methane production in beef cattle. In 2020 Abby joined the team at Blue Rock as a ruminant nutritionist, working for cow-calf producers and feedlot operations.
Abby primarily develops rations and custom mineral formulations for producers to achieve production goals while minimizing feed costs. She also enjoys participating in producer education through one-on-one meetings and presentations at producer meetings.
Abby is currently running an applied research trial through Blue Rock, looking at the nutrient content of pastures throughout the province of Alberta. Information generated by this trial will be available to all producers and disseminated by partnering forage associations.
Abby has also been on the board of directors for the Grey Wooded forage association since 2022, she has acted as secretary (2022-2023) and is currently the chair (2023-2024) for the association.
Our Vision
Our vision is to be the preferred nutrition consulting service available to cow-calf producers in Western Canada. We establish strong relationships with individual operations to develop effective and sustainable nutrition programs that are specific to their operation.
Our Misson
Our passion is the cattle industry. We work with innovative producers to fine tune their operation to make them more productive, sustainable and profitable. Our professional and experienced nutritionists can assist in building a robust and feasible nutrition program that will work for you. If there is one thing that is constant with farming and ranching, it's change. We are there to help you adapt your program to weather challenges, feed availability and market conditions.