help. I would like to get up to 250 calves because it is easier to package them for sale. ” “We marketed the heavy end of our steers on TEAM (the electronic auction mart). The heavy steers went to Ontario and the light steers and heifers went to southern Alberta out of Swift Current in 2013. The heavy steers averaged 988 lb. The steers and heifers weighed together that fall and weaned at 500 pounds. Will keeps up on the markets, when we arrived to do the interview he was watching the TEAM sale that morning. He usually watches the sale on Friday mornings. “I have had some guys say they would never sell direct on TEAM because they take a pencil shrink. I challenge them to take the weight of their calves at home and calculate their actual pay weight. They would be shocked to know that if you took a 3-4% on those calves, it would actually be saving you 2% by hauling them to market. I put it out there and let the guys decide for themselves, I don’t try to convince anybody of anything. I work about one day a week with TEAM/Porter & Maclean Livestock and like that it keeps me involved in that side of the industry. I
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“We raise beef for the consumer and we need to educate the consumer about what the industry is about.” try to stay close to home.” “I have seen a lot over the years in the industry and there are things that need to be addressed. I am on the Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders board. We are a beef industry not a cattle business. We raise beef for the consumer and we need to educate the consumer about what the industry is about. The A&W stuff needs to be addressed to dispel some of the myths and balance that opinion with the views of the cattlemen. I would really like to see some of the people come out and see how we do things. It’s more than making a buck. The cattle people I know, like and care
Charolais Connection • February 2015
about animals more than anyone. We can’t always be in reaction mode, we need to be out front and promote and advocate for the industry. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Ag Advocate program is important. Things have been taken so out of context.” Will’s wife, Cindy teaches at Swift Current Composite. Their four children are involved in hockey, soccer and swimming. Ellie (10) was in her first year of 4-H in 2014 and Hailey (9) will be in 4-H this year. Marshall is six and Walker is four, so there will be many busy years ahead. Touring the five miles of waterfront pasture at the Saskatchewan Landing showed the rugged beauty of the prairies. It is home to wild flowers, saskatoons, choke cherries, deer, coyotes and many birds including golden eagles. “We mostly try to use horses when we can to work cattle. At Dundurn we can use quads because it is so flat, but here at home, we have to use horses to get them from some of the areas.” It is definitely land meant for grazing and Will has the passion and interest in learning to keep it profitable.