Every farm has its own story. No two farms (or farmers) are exactly alike. Everyone got started in a different way, and every farm has a different combination of family and hired staff who make the decisions and keep things running. But, in general, even after you consider all of the details, Prairie farmers are […] Read more
Meet your farming neighbours: Chris and Lora Chapple
This is the story of Chris and Lora Chapple’s farm, near Saskatoon, Sask.
Farm woman creates and restores quilts
Hopes her handmade creations will become family heirlooms
Leeanne Omit feels that increasingly the younger generation is appreciating the value in old-time crafts such as quilting. “Handmade quilts can become heirloom gifts passed down from generation to generation,” she says. Leeanne and her husband Ian and their two children, Kiera and Jayden, hobby farm near Asquith, west of Saskatoon. They have horses, chickens, […] Read more
Artist captures memories of farm life
Growing up on a Saskatchewan farm produced many fond recollections
Growing up on a farm provided artist Dan Reid with a bank of pleasant, nostalgic memories that he can now immortalize on canvas for present and future generations to appreciate. Reid’s parents owned a mixed farm near Crystal Springs, northeast of Wakaw, Saskatchewan. Some of his fondest recollections as a youngster are travelling to school […] Read more
Natural products business flourishing
Goal was to create quality products containing no harmful chemicals
When Mike Zimmer launched his line of natural body care products in 2010, he had already spent several years researching, testing, and fine tuning his salves, soaps, and deodorants. His goal was to create quality products that actually worked, and did not contain harmful chemicals that might jeopardize people’s health or wreak havoc with the […] Read more
Developing the cherry industry in Western Canada
Saskatchewan couple’s venture into growing cherries turns into establishment of on-farm processing plant
When Bruce and Charlene Hill planted 80 sour cherry shrubs on their farmyard near Imperial, Sask. in 2005, they had no idea their venture would result in the establishment of a processing plant on their farm, as well as initiate a nationwide cherry industry. Bruce had been involved in agriculture most of his life but […] Read more
Blazing Star Wildflower Seed Company
Family business grows native wildflowers and heirloom veggies and markets the seeds
When Renny Grilz’s parents started the Blazing Star Wildflower Seed Company as a farm diversification project in 1992, they didn’t anticipate the interest and success the business would generate. “They were one of the first companies offering wildflower seeds native to Western Canada and did extremely well for the first couple of years. Then the […] Read more
Couple’s love of miniature horses began many years ago
En route to a rodeo a detour resulted in the purchase of three minis instead
Gilles and Esther Labelle became acquainted with miniature horses about 15 years ago when they were en route to a rodeo in Saskatoon and decided to make a slight detour to attend an exotic animal sale at the local auction. The couple never made it to the rodeo, but three miniature horses came home with […] Read more
Dexter cattle are easy keepers
Small stature breed has excellent fit for hobbyists and acreage owners
April and May is calving season at Nick and Janice Woodhouse’s acreage near Dalmeny, Sak., but the couple isn’t concerned about getting up in the middle of the night to monitor their herd of Dexter cows. “I’ve never experienced any calving problems or had to assist with any births,” says Nick, who has been raising […] Read more
In praise of the Texas Longhorn
Saskatchewan producers says it s a breed for all reasons
In 1991, three years after they purchased their first four registered Texas Longhorn heifers, Deb Lesyk and Dwight Overlid were in the show ring at the Canadian Western Agribition, in Regina. In 2001, a bull they had raised and dubbed Nebuchadnezzar, or Nezzar for short, won the Canadian circuit championship. Next, they showed Nezzar in […] Read more
The bison industry is on the move
It takes specialized management, but there are opportunities in bison
While North American bison populations are nowhere near where they were 200 years ago, conservation measures and private breeding programs have helped to bring numbers back to support a successful, albeit specialized, agriculture sector. An estimated three to four million bison once roamed freely on the North American continent, providing the aboriginal peoples with many […] Read more
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