REGINA – It may be exciting to win champion banners, but the proof of a winning program is in the money. “Banners don’t pay the bills,” said Peter Boake after he sold a half interest in a bull for $20,000, to a consortium of buyers at the Canadian Western Agribition Shorthorn sale. They obtained half […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Ontario high-selling Angus bull heads to Alberta
REGINA – Having the high selling animal at Canadian Western Agribition remains a thrill even for the seasoned breeders who have stepped into the spotlight more than once. Dave Hasson and his family of Ariss, Ont., have known that excitement with their Red Angus cattle that come to Agribition every year. The family switched to […] Read more
Breeder pleased Sweetheart goes to friendly home
REGINA – A yearling Gelbvieh heifer named Ston Miss Paradee 64R was the apple of Leila Hickman’s eye when she was approached to sell. It took some gentle persuasion to convince her and husband Darrell to offer the bred female for sale at the Canadian Western Agribition. The red heifer caught everyone else’s eye when […] Read more
Scottish judge appreciates Canadian influence
REGINA – After living on the windswept hills of Scotland all his life, one of Duncan Maxwell’s first decisions upon landing in Regina was to buy a Canadian-made parka to handle the bone numbing wind chill of a Saskatchewan winter. Invited to judge the Galloway show at Canadian Western Agribition, Maxwell experienced the cold but […] Read more
Dusty barns harm some workers, not others
CANMORE, Alta. – Workers on eight hour shifts caring for thousands of pigs are exposing their lungs to a bombardment of harmful particles clinging to dust. Physician James Dosman of the University of Saskatchewan has been studying the health of hog barn workers since 1990 and has noticed an array of respiratory problems. However, it […] Read more
The joys of a winning animal
REGINA – One of the best sounds in the world for a purebred cattle producer is the slap of a judge’s hand on your animal’s rump at the Canadian Western Agribition Supreme beef challenge. As the grand finale to the 36-year-old winter agricultural fair, the stadium stands were full to watch the best of Canada’s […] Read more
Energy guidelines aimed at reducing conflict
Landowners concerned with the effects of energy company activity near Ponoka, Alta., have helped to outline practices they believe will ease conflicts. Larry Walton, a local landowner, told the annual meeting of the Canadian Society of Unconventional Gas that farmers wanted more public discussion on wells, pipelines, compressor stations and future development plans. Open house […] Read more
Energy industry gets course in farming
A new course called Agriculture 101 may help ease conflicts between farmers and energy companies. Tensions are growing over water protection, access to land and cumulative impacts on farmland when oil rigs, gas wells, compressors, roads and pipelines crisscross the Alberta landscape. “Many producers are losing control over the very resource they have relied upon […] Read more
Limo breeders watch commercial trade
REGINA – Rob and Tim Matthews may be producing superstars at Highland Stock Farms, but they still keep their eye on the commercial bull industry. “The bread and butter of our business is commercial buyers,” said Rob Matthews after the Canadian Western Agribition Limousin sale where they sold semen rights to their big, black bull […] Read more
Charolais genetics could head Down Under
For first-time visitors to Canada attending the World Charolais Congress it was a chance to study North American style cattle, experience the bite of winter and feel a chinook wind. About 180 international guests representing 18 countries gathered at Edmonton’s Farmfair International for tours held before and after the congress. Deals were sealed and friends […] Read more
