OLDS, Alta. — Imagine snacking on fresh, locally grown strawberries at Christmas. Wayne and Caroline Lohr and their business partner, Ulf Geerds, hope to do just that with their new venture growing vegetables, herbs and strawberries indoors year round on vertical panels. Based at Olds, Alta., this new technology dovetails well with their seasonal bedding […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Scottish judge likes what he sees at Farmfair
EDMONTON — As William McLaren cuts a path up and down the Farmfair show ring wearing his blue and green family tartan while scuffling through the sawdust, the Scottish Angus breeder always likes what he sees. McLaren comes to Canada almost every year to buy Canadian genetics to take back to Netherton Angus near Perth, […] Read more
New Limousin association head eager to promote breed
EDMONTON — Raising cattle in the forests around Quesnel, B.C., takes special management and dedication. Long-time Limousin breeder Erin Kishkan is willing to take that challenge on. Kishkan, a mother of three, was recently elected president of the Canadian Limousin Association and hopes to help rebuild the breed’s strong reputation for carcass merit. “We have […] Read more
Simmental family wins at Agribition
REGINA — A Simmental family from Lloydminster has continued its winning ways by winning the grand champion bull and female honours at Canadian Western Agribition. Black Gold Simmentals, owned by Randy and Vanessa Noble and their sons, Ryley and Toby, led out the red bull BM captain Scream 63D, also owned with Bohrson Marketing, and […] Read more
Speckle Park has strong sale at Agribition
REGINA — The Speckle Park lit up the night at its annual Canadian Western Agribition sale held yesterday. With an unofficial sale average of $11,839 on 14 females, $5,500 on a bull calf and about $1,800 on 30 embryos, the sale was strong from start to finish before a full house. The high seller from […] Read more
Student finds way to put manure to use
The University of Calgary business student starts a company that uses manure as a concentrated fertilizer and energy source
Growing up on a ranch in the British Columbia interior, Victoria Ross understood that manure disposal is an ongoing challenge. Now a business student at the University of Calgary, she has created Agro Systems, a company using manure as a concentrated fertilizer and energy source. Ross has been working on the project for more than […] Read more
Promoting cattle in the ring, on the page
OLDS, Alta. — When Katie Songer enters the show ring as a volunteer or a participant, she brings with her years of experience. Her family won the grand champion commercial heifer at the Olds Fall Classic livestock show earlier this fall but working with cattle at Lucky Springs Stock Farm at Rocky Mountain House, Alta. […] Read more
VIDEO: Limousin, Charolais in championship ring
EDMONTON — Two families with long histories in the cattle business received the nod at Farmfair when a Limousin bull and a Charolais cow-calf pair were named supreme champions. Greenwood Canadian Impact ET owned by Scott and Jackie Payne of Greenwood Limousin and Angus in Lloydminster, Sask., earned their first supreme championship and a Dodge […] Read more
Farmfair hosts make show a welcoming place
EDMONTON — Every year at Farmfair visitors are treated to a big welcome from two longtime volunteers who keep the shows running smoothly with gentle humour and a heap of enthusiasm. Rob Smith and Tracy Gardner, both of Olds, Alta., have a deep respect for the purebred cattle sector and give everyone equal en-couragement. In […] Read more
Noble family cashes in on double win with Simmentals
EDMONTON — The final winner may come down to one person’s opinion, but at a show like Farmfair, many of the cattle in the show ring have already been champions elsewhere. Some of the owners have captured the supreme banners at big name shows like Farmfair and Canadian Western Agribition. It can make for intense […] Read more
