A smile flashes across Neil Mooney’s face as he pulls up to the silage pit, his truck rolling over rough, snow-covered earth before coming to a stop. “This looks really good, I am really impressed with myself,” he says, getting out of the truck. He walks to the pit and jumps spryly across the cement […] Read more
Stories by Noel Busse
Rural exchange lets farm kids see the world
For a 24-year-old rural exchange student from southern Brazil, Canadian winters can achieve legendary status. In fact, Edilson Kranz has trouble convincing others back home that his weather stories are true. “It’s terrible, some days,” he said. “Sometimes when I call to talk to my parents, I tell them its – 30, and they don’t […] Read more
Producing sheep in Canada – the Kiwi way
Mark Ritchie is using New Zealand know-how to make the most out of the harsh Canadian climate. Born in New Zealand and raised in Great Britain, Ritchie spent 12 years working on sheep and cattle farms in New Zealand, the world’s top exporter of sheep meat. He moved to Canada 17 years ago with his […] Read more
Theft taints farmer’s view of humanity
A brassy canola theft north of Tuxford, Sask., has taken a toll on a Marquis-area farmer’s belief in human decency. “Your faith in people is sort of shaken. This type of theft … it’s not like losing luxury items or other things like that. There’s more to it, they’re stealing from your livelihood,” said Doug […] Read more
Certification urged for farrier industry
When Paula Morch and her husband moved to Prince Albert, Sask., eight months ago, she made a surprising discovery. They had just doubled the number of farriers from Saskatchewan who belong to the 250-member Western Canadian Farriers Association (WCFA). And that, she said, despite the fact that Saskatchewan has the third largest horse herd in […] Read more
Program provides safe sledding
ROSTHERN, Sask. – As he steers a snow groomer through the ditch, John Popoff notes the path he is carving is called the Duck Lake Swoop. The path’s official name is trail 112-B. It begins in Rosthern, Sask., and heads north to Duck Lake, where it becomes trail 112-A and leads south back to where […] Read more
Gov’ts make economic data easier for communities to find
An easier way to dig out federal government information was shown to rural participants at a seminar Jan. 28 in Saskatoon. During the session entitled Making Data and Information Count for Communities, attendees were shown what government resources were available to Saskatchewan residents and how the information can be used for community planning. “I think […] Read more
Pimp my tractor
Senior students at the University of Saskatchewan’s agricultural engineering program are building a quarter scale tractor that cultivates minds instead of land. For engineers, starting a career in the field can be a rude awakening. Many engineers come out of school with a lot of knowledge but little experience in putting it to use. Companies […] Read more
Distressed horse helps farrier strut his stuff
Gruenthal, Sask. – Casey’s new shoes were the centre of attention recently at a farrier demonstration in Gruenthal. Adam Degenstein, winner of the 2007 National Farriers Competition, used the tall registered Paint horse to demonstrate how to solve chronic hoof problems. Casey has a toed out left foot and because this affects its overall gait, […] Read more
Gypsy memories sought
If you know any prairie gypsy history, then freelance writer Linda Ungar wants to talk to you. Ungar wants to write a book on the subject, but there’s only one problem. While some older residents remember gypsies coming through town and setting up camps, no one knows much about the people themselves. “My parents can […] Read more
