Saskatchewan’s outstanding young farmers for 2001 say farmers should look within themselves to find their strengths, and then capitalize on them.
John Cote and Barb Stefanyshyn-Cote operate a grain and oilseed farm and an animal nutrition consulting service near Leask.
“There are so many opportunities out there and we can see a lot of them,” Barb said, moments after the couple was named the provincial winner at the Western Canada Farm Progress Show.
“There are a lot of people who can see them, and that’s a good thing. Farming is a wonderful profession.”
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She said agriculture offers people choices they don’t have in other professions.
“We come from a fairly traditional grain farm,” she said. “We’ve expanded into some of the grasses, the rye grasses. We run an animal nutrition consulting service …. So we looked within ourselves, what kind of strengths we have and work on those and try to expand those.”
John said the couple doesn’t consider themselves outstanding.
“It’s an incredible feeling of pride, being able to represent all the farmers out there that are all outstanding.”
He said farmers need a positive attitude and to enjoy what they are doing even though it’s tough to make money. He said there is great honour in producing food to feed families.
The couple has been farming for 11 years and farms nearly 3,900 acres.They direct seed, with minimum till, and grassed some major water run areas because reducing soil erosion was a priority.
John majored in soils at the University of Saskatchewan. Barb has a master’s degree in animal nutrition.
They are raising two sons and two daughters, ages 8, 5, 3 and 1.
Barb said it is a challenge.
“Our life right now is a blur, but it’s a happy blur.”
The couple will represent Saskatchewan at the national Outstanding Young Farmer competition this fall in St. Hyacinthe, Que.
