After a week of tours and public speaking in Saskatoon, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2006 were chosen Dec. 1.
Two couples from the seven regional winners tied for the top spot. Co-winners were Christoph and Erika Weder of Alberta and Donald and Joanne Russell of Ontario.
The Weders run Spiritview Ranch, a 2,400 acre Angus operation near Rycroft in northern Alberta. In 1993, Christoph started a herd near his parents in Camrose. For the next nine years, he worked as a cow-calf specialist with the Alberta government while building up his operation.
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In 2002, the Weders moved north to their current location. The herd of 250 Red and Black Angus cows calve in May each year. This later calving has reduced the equipment and labour required on the ranch. The cows along with 250 yearlings are rotationally grazed on pastures of perennial legumes for a minimum of eight months each year.
A partnership with Ducks Unlimited has helped the ranch build dams and restore natural habitat. Grass seed and alfalfa seed production is another important part.
The Weders joined with 17 other producers to develop the Prairie Heritage Beef brand, a natural beef sold by Thrifty Foods in British Columbia. Christoph and Erika, who also host tours at the ranch, have two sons.
Donald and Joanne Russell had full-time jobs off the farm but in 1995, were able to buy a dairy herd and quota. The next three years saw them milk cows in a rented barn while still commuting to their full-time jobs. In 1998, the Russells moved to the current home of DoJo Holsteins Ltd., a 150 acre farm at Cobden, Ont.
They hire custom operators to do most of their fieldwork.
The production of the 22 cow milking herd ranks sixth in Renfrew County. Don also worked with his brother on a hoof trimming business that after three years saw them servicing 20,000 cows per year. They have four children.
