Mellow Yellow ... Yellow Prairie gold for as far as the eye can see greets you with a drive in the country, and the hard work of area farmers is on display as the 2025 crops begin to show. Here’s hoping all farmers hit the jackpot with a bumper harvest. There is still a ways to go, so let’s all hope! (Independent Photo
Brautigam)
by Kevin
They may be a little down on themselves, but Biggar’s 15u Nationals came away with Silver medals this past weekend as Biggar hosted AA Tier 6 Provincial play at the Rec Complex. This is the third year medalling for Biggar, and that is a fantastic accomplishment. The Nats (bottom team picture, middle) fell 11-1 to the eventual winners, the Northeast Knights from Melfort (bottom team picture). No need to hang their heads, that’s Silver - not many players have anything to hang around their neck to prove their championship calibre - YOU DO! Congratulations, Nats! (Independent Photos by Dale Buxton - bottom team pictures, submitted)
Rain welcome, but many areas need more
Over the past week, some areas received welcome rainfall that will benefit most crops, according to the weekly Crop Report for the period of July 8-14. However, this precipitation has delayed haying operations in those areas. Cooler conditions over the past week will benefit some crops by slowing development. Many regions are hoping for additional moisture to help support crop development, reduce crop stress and sustain topsoil moisture conditions.
Many areas across the province received varying amounts of moisture, and a few isolated storms moved through the province and brought hail. The highest rain recorded over the past week was in the Ponteix area at 44 millimetres, followed by the Shaunavon area at 39 millimetres. The Semans and Lafleche areas each received 37 millimetres.
Currently, cropland topsoil moisture across the province is rated as 60 per cent adequate, 32 per cent short and eight per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is reported at 45 per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and 15 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is 43 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and 20 per cent very short. Areas like the southwest have seen improved topsoil moisture levels, while levels in the north regions have declined.
Most crops are in normal stages of development, consistent with what has been reported in previous weeks. Seventy-one per cent of fall cereals
are at normal stages of development with 27 per cent estimated ahead of normal for this time of year. 75 per cent of spring cereals are at normal stages of development, while 17 per cent are ahead of the normal stages of development. 73 per cent of oilseeds are at normal stages of development, while 12 per cent are ahead and 15 per cent are falling behind the normal stages of development. Currently, 79 per cent of pulse crops are at normal stages of development, while 18 per cent are ahead of the normal stages of development. 65 per cent of perennial forages and 72 per cent of annual forages are at the normal stages of development for this time of year.
While crop conditions vary across the province, crops overall are reported to be in good to fair condition. In areas with a lack of moisture, reports indicate that canola and mustard are finishing the flowering stage early. Currently, 40 per cent of the province’s first cut of hay has been baled or silaged with 29 per cent of hay cut and waiting to cure and 31 per cent still standing. Overall hay quality is rated at 11 per cent excellent, 51 per cent good, 31 per cent fair and seven per cent poor. Some producers are moving on to their second cut of hay, but others have indicated they are not anticipating a second cut unless rain is received.
Producers in the southwest, along with some areas in the northwest, are reporting moderate to severe crop
damage due to lack of moisture. Minor to moderate crop damage due to dry conditions, heat and wind is being reported in many areas. Additional crop damage this past week is mainly due to gophers and grasshoppers. Overall, pest pressure is lower throughout many regions, but producers are continuing to monitor their fields for any changes. Fungicides are continuing to be applied to suppress disease that has already developed or proactively to reduce disease development.
Saskatchewan and Manitoba advance Interprovincial Trade
Monday, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on enhancing interprovincial trade between the two jurisdictions.
“Saskatchewan is standing strong through the storm that is our current trade challenges,” Moe said, July 21. “Manitoba and Saskatchewan have been strong trading partners through the New West Partnership Trade Agreement. Together, we are encouraging other jurisdictions to join Canada’s most ambitious domestic trade agreement, and we are building on our economic relationship through further trade collaboration, for example, on direct-to-consumer (DTC) alcohol sales.”
Much like the MOUs Saskatchewan has signed with Ontario and PEI, the agreement includes commitments to move forward on a framework
for DTC alcohol sales and facilitate mutual recognition. Improving labour mobility and trade are at the heart of this MOU, while remaining focused on strengthening public safety and maintaining the role of crown corporations.
“This agreement reflects Manitoba’s ongoing efforts to build a stronger, more unified Canadian economy, one where goods, services and workers can move more freely between provinces, while maintaining the highest standards for health and safety,” said Kinew. “By working with partners across the nation, we are unlocking opportunities for people and businesses and building up this country we all love so much.”
The total value of interprovincial trade between Saskatchewan and Manitoba was over $6 billion in 2021.
This agreement comes on the heels of several new interprovincial trade announcements
for the Government of Saskatchewan. This includes Moe inviting all Canadian premiers to join the New West Partnership Trade Agreement, Canada’s largest barrierfree interprovincial market.
The province continues to take part in the Committee on Internal Trade (CIT), which includes enhancing the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), reducing regulatory and administrative burdens to interprovincial trade and facilitating labour mobility.
On July 8, CIT announced significant progress, including:
• Reducing party-specific exceptions under the CFTA by a further 30 per cent.
• Concluding negotiations
of the financial services chapter.
• Advancing mutual recognition through a pilot project in the trucking sector and negotiating towards a mutual recognition agreement on the sale of goods.
• Cross-Canada commitment to a 30-day service standard for processing labour mobility applications.
An DTC MOU on DTC alcohol sales, co-led by Saskatchewan and Ontario, involving 10 jurisdictions across Canada to support consumers being able to order their favourite Canadian wine, spirit, beer or other alcoholic beverage, directly from the producer, for personal consumption.
Biggar RCMP Report
by Sgt. Dereck Crozier, Biggar Detachment
This past week the Biggar Detachment handled 19 reported occurrences.
In traffic, nine drivers were spoken to about traffic safety. There was an influx of traffic through town for the 15U Provincial Ball, and all moved about orderly with no reported incidents.
Great work by all the volunteers that help put on the event.
A break and enter to a garage up in the RM of Eagle Creek was interrupted. However,
Playing on a GREEN Card
the two male suspects believed to be from the Saskatoon area, fled in a white 2003 Dodge Caravan. The suspects seemed familiar with the area and may have had some local help. The follow-up investigation remains ongoing with leads.
Another report of fraud and theft for lack of service of repair on a boat motor. Owner from Saskatoon area was looking to collect his property.
Stay traffic safety conscious as the warmer summer weather returns to us at the end of the week and remember to always plan for a safe ride home.
Take care out there!
Fond farewell to Father Ed ... St. Gabriel Roman Catholic Church recognized a pretty important fellow this past weekend, Father Edward Gibney. The Father, having guided and led the community for some time will be off to his next calling. Ed Young (left picture) thanked him for his leadership with a gift from the congregation, while Rick Garchinski (right picture) thanked him from St. Gabriel’s School. (Independent Photos by Daryl Hasein)
A wee bird told me ... Taking a breather, these birds look for a meal as the lazy days of summer press on. While we haven’t yet had the oppressive heat that some places of the country have experienced, our summer will inevitably soak us in heat. Still better than minus-30! (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
by David Leis, President and CEO, Frontier Centre
for
Public Policy
Carney was supposed to herald change, but housing and affordability pressures are still hitting Canadians hard Canadians voted for change in April 2025, choosing Mark Carney as prime minister. But months into his leadership, the same old problems - unaffordable housing, rising debt, stagnating wagesremain. Carney, once hailed as a financial saviour, now looks more like a polished steward of the status quo than a reformer.
His background as a former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England earned him a reputation as a steady hand during turbulent times. His global profile and polished demeanour offered the promise of competence and credibility. However, his approach so far suggests continuity rather than change. Many of the policies shaping the current landscape appear to build on, rather than depart from, the Trudeau years.
While his arrival was greeted by many in the
by Sylvain Charlebois, Agri-Food Analytics Lab, Dalhousie University
One in three Canadian adults lives with obesity as food prices soar, diets worsen and prescriptions for weight-loss drugs climb
A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) confirms what many suspected: obesity rates in Canada have surged since the pandemic began.
Before 2020, the increase was steady but gradual. Since April of that year, the pace has quickened - today, one in three Canadian adults lives with obesity.
The implications are serious. Obesity raises the risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. Medical care remains essential,
political and economic establishment as a new chapter, for everyday Canadians grappling with affordability and access to services, the gap between expectations and outcomes remains wide. The question is no longer whether Carney can bring order to complex systems - it’s whether he understands the urgency of tackling structural barriers that weigh down Canadians’ economic prospects.
These concerns became especially clear in a recent conversation I had with Bruce Pardy, professor at Queen’s University, and Dan McTeague, former Liberal MP and president of Canadians for Affordable Energy, about the June 2 First Ministers’ Meeting in Saskatoon, a gathering of the prime minister and provincial premiers to discuss national priorities.
Both voiced concerns about the summit’s impact. Both suggested the gathering leaned more toward symbolism than substantive economic reform.
Carney’s technocratic style, emphasizing top-down economic management, reflects a belief that prosperity can be orchestrated through
but so does access to food people can afford and rely on. Without affordable nutrition, even the best public health guidance rings hollow.
More troubling is the demographic shift: women and young adults - groups historically less affected - are now seeing sharper increases.
Pandemic-era stress, disrupted routines and increased sedentary time, combined with a shift toward ultraprocessed foods, frequent snacking and fewer structured meals, all contributed. The decline in mental wellbeing during this period likely compounded the problem, creating a feedback loop of stresseating and inactivity.
Then came the inflation shock of 2022, driven in part by Russia’s invasion
expert planning. But as Pardy put it, “Whatever you heard at the Saskatchewan meetings doesn’t matter a hill of beans. Governments don’t build economies. People do.”
Government-led initiatives - such as national energy strategies and net-zero mandatesmay be well-intentioned, but critics argue they risk overlooking the importance of local innovation, market freedom and individual enterprise. Too often, these programs are rolled out without proper coordination with the provinces or attention to regional economic differences.
McTeague was equally blunt, describing the summit as “more theatre than it is, in fact, practical or necessary.”
He observed that while premiers issued joint statements, core structural issues like interprovincial trade barriers and regulatory overlap remained unaddressed.
Beyond the lack of substantive reform, even the summit’s slogan, “building one Canadian economy,” a phrase intended to signal unity and collaboration across provinces,
of Ukraine. Food prices soared, straining household budgets and pushing nutritious options further out of reach. In some regions, staples like fresh produce and dairy rose by more than 10 per cent. For many, poor dietary choices aren’t neglect - they’re a necessity.
Across the country, food banks reported record demand, underscoring how economic hardship drives nutritional compromise.
In this context, the usual public health refrain, “eat better, move more” falls flat. It’s not enough to preach healthy habits when the environment undermines them. We must redesign the system to support healthy choices, not shame those who can’t afford them.
For food companies,
sparked debate. For some, it highlighted long-standing barriers that fragment the national market, such as labour mobility and transportation hurdles. These complications continue to frustrate efforts to create seamless economic integration.
This frustration is especially acute in provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan.
“Alberta, in a sense, is the cash cow of Confederation,” said Pardy. “And the people who have power in Confederation are
the pressure is growing. Many are reformulating products and launching “healthier” lines, while others struggle to keep up.
Legacy brands like Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts and Eggo, now part of Kellanova (formerly Kellogg), will need major overhauls to stay relevant.
Canadian consumers increasingly demand simpler ingredients, honest marketing and at least some nutritional credibility, even from indulgent snacks.
Kraft Heinz is responding by splitting its portfolio, investing in better-performing brands and shedding those that can’t adapt. The shift toward health isn’t optional anymore - it’s an economic imperative. Companies that ignore this trend risk being left
INDEPENDENT
not going to be open to the idea that the arrangement has to be fixed.”
Calls for greater autonomy for Western provinces are not rooted in ideology but in years of perceived inequity and exclusion from decisionmaking in Ottawa.
Stepping back from the summit itself, the challenges Canada faces, including housing affordability, immigration pressures and health care delays, are real and pressing. Carney did not create these issues, but his
behind by a generation of consumers more aware of what they eat and more vocal about corporate responsibility.
But the problem goes deeper than product content. It’s also about how food is marketed.
For decades, companies leaned on flashy packaging and slogans to drive impulse buys. That model is under strain.
The CMAJ study links emotion-driven eating to rising obesity. Canadians are signalling a desire to regain control, to plan meals, read labels and make informed choices.
That means a pivot from impulse marketing to intent-based marketing - that is, appealing to deliberate, informed decisions rather than emotional reaction.
Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical industry is moving to fill the
government has yet to offer bold departures from the status quo. A clearer vision for tackling affordability, economic growth and service delivery is still awaited. Canadians don’t just want refined messaging or polished leadershipthey want results. And while new leadership always brings hope, what matters most is whether long-standing issues are being meaningfully addressed. So far, for many, that change still feels out of reach.
gap. In 2023, about one million Canadians were prescribed GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic, a drug developed to treat diabetes but now widely used off-label for weight loss. That number could double by 2030. These drugs aren’t cheap: public plans have already spent more than $660 million on Ozempic alone. This underscores a harsh reality - modern medicine is stepping in where our food system has failed. This isn’t just a public health crisis. It’s a market signal. If Canada doesn’t rethink how it produces, processes, markets and sells food, pharmacies - not grocery stores - will become our primary source of “dietary intervention.”
The human and financial costs will be steep.
Mark Carney’s leadership looks a lot like the last guy’s
Bob Mason Notable Notes
Yellow leaves from the poplar tree, Falling about me as I sit. If some “Heaven and Earth” can be, Surely this is a part of it!
Not being used to technical terms, I looked the word up in my dictionary: Aspen (AS’Pn) N. (O.E.* ae SPe) a kind of poplar tree with leaves that flutter in the slightest breeze. (*OE is Old English)
As a young fellow, and being raised up north of the river in park country, Y.T. (Yours Truly) always thought that a landscape of poplar bluffs was a worldwide thing!
People passing through our part of the country told tales of flat open farmlands that seemed almost incredulous to us. Our world consisted of hills and sloughs, fields and swamps, stony ridges and swift flowing creeks that flowed down the ravines to the river. And of course, poplar bluffs, and this is the way it must be all over!
Sorry! It’s not quite that way anymore! When we were kids in the late ‘20’s and early ‘30’s, much of our large pastures were covered with clean, green poplar bluffs. Now there are so many deadfalls in those bluffs that one can hardly walk through them sometimes.
Dad often told us that when he homesteaded, there were very few trees about, and I think that maybe prairie fires had cleaned them upcertainly the deadfall and disease. And fresh new trees had come from the root.
It’s the same with people. We older types turn to ashes, and up
Whispering Aspen
comes a fresh bunch of sprouts!
As school kids, our old buggy trail ran for a mile through the hills where untouched scrub poplars had grown since trees first showed up. And at school itself, jack-knives flashed at recess every spring as the smaller sapfilled poplar branches were fashioned into whistles.
We never did acquire a taste for poplar sap but they say that native people used to make a tea from boiled bark that would cure a headache. No matter how much acetylsalicylic (I can’t find that word in my dictionary, either!) acid is in it, as an experienced whistle maker, Y.T. (Yours Truly) would sure have to have some headache before he drank many sips of that stuff!
Of course in other seasons a lot of tree crotches became slingshots (the red rubber tire tubes seemed to be the best!) and in the cool fall often a young tree - root-runner and
all - would be hewn into a hockey stick to use while we played indoors on the oiled floor of the basement ... “Ouch!”
Physicists and scientists claim that trees use carbon dioxide and give off oxygen, and I like to think that the healthy environment of Great Bend had something to do with our longevity. Of course, some of those cross-eyed snipers in the Axis armies of the Second World War might have had something to do with it, too!
It is a matter of debatable opinion where this photosynthesis idea came from. But as people - even unbelievers - have to admit it sure was a good one!
As we grow older, of course a lot of the appeal of trees was replaced by the appeal of something else. But with all the impressive things that life has to offer, few of us can claim that a stroll through an autumn poplar bluff isn’t one of them.
Indeed, even the
memory of a walk through a yellowing poplar grove in the fall with the smell of it all - even the memory of the smell - so reminds one of their youth. It sometimes gives a person an other-world effect that just can’t be gotten any other way!
So much for the romance of poplar trees!
It seems almost cruel when we mention it now but soon we found ourselves, axe in hand, cutting down tree after tree to keep the home fires burning.
Coal was a lot better at heating the house come winter. But coal cost money (something that we didn’t have much of).
And in many a farm yard you could find a long pile of poles that would later be buzz-sawed up for stove wood.
Those long remembered, unworried days of crows nests and slingshots are now gone, I think, just as that way of life is soon going to disappear. Always there is change and it’s pretty near time for
Castlewood School
by Delta Fay Cruickshank for the Biggar Museum and Gallery SW 27-36-15-W3rd, the section owned by the Moore’s is where the Castlewood School was opened in 1915. The surname Moore was very common in the school’s register. Wallin, Lee, Kelly and Workman were the other names of the first students.
The school was closed in November 1918 for the influenza pandemic. In the ‘30s attendance was poor because many of the students did not have adequate clothing. The school closed in June 1960. The students were bussed to Biggar. The school then became a community centre.
In the Harvest of Memories, Volume 1, Phyllis (Potter) Inglis recounts her time teaching in the Castlewood School. In that year, the names were Haffermehl, Itterman, Smith, and Hildebrandt’s. I may be telling tales out of school, but I had to mention that she wrote how Bill Haffermehl brightened her nights by turning in his books with jokes written all down the margins!
In the Research Library in the museum there is a recollection of the Castlewood area written by L.D. Campbell. It’s called the “Campbell’s of Castlewood”. He recalls farming in the Castlewood are between the years of 1911-1926. They sounded like tough years, opening stony fields with oxen, then drought, then hail and early frosts. When the crop did grow, market prices were so low that the farmer could not get a return on his yields.
But he did express that the Castlewood area and neighbouring communities were friendly, and it was a pleasant place to live. His writings bring to life the hardships the early farmers had not just in the Castlewood area.
One story he recounts is his November trip to North Battleford to exchange his 1914 wheat crop* for flour, wheat bran, shorts**, and 90
pounds of cream of wheat granules. They started out using their team of horses and a sleigh and because there had been an eightto 10-inches snowfall. But by the time they got to Red Pheasant, the snow had disappeared. After unloading and then loading on to a borrowed wagon (they went eight to 10 miles to borrow it) they continued on their way, only to slide down the sleet-soaked hill down to
my generation to move over and let another one dream for awhile. Here and there one hears the virtues of poplars being argued in terms of hardwood or building material.
Very few seem to care anymore about those yellow leaves in the fall. We drive swiftly past them and “ooh” and “ahh” for a few seconds, but rarely get out of our vehicles to let their spell sink in!
Years ago, Phyllis and Y.T. brought a poplar tree from “Crooked Bush” (north of Spears) and planted it in our garden, just to keep in touch! Some of that poplar sap mixed with the ink of one of the local boards and dribbled from his pen: Sweet Septembergoodbye, goodbye, Too soon, too soon does our beauty fly. But, oh, what a thrill it is to see, Those names up there on that Poplar Tree!
the Battle River! It all it took them six days, and their exchanges came by rail to Oban.
What do we have to complain about now?!
* I know nothing about crop yields, but he was very pleased with his first crop on 10 acres, 350-400 bushels of No. 1 Marquis wheat.
** I have no idea what shorts are ... can anyone please help me here?
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Castlewood School (1915-1960) from the Harvest of Memories, Volume I, Page 10. (Submitted Photo)
Christine Ibbotson
Ask The Money Lady
Dear Money Lady, I have two questions - I am turning 71 at the end of this year and I want to know if there is any way I can reduce the taxation on my RRIF? Thanks, Kim H.
Hello Kim! This is a great question, and something that I have talked about quite often recently, if you were at any of my presentations last month. There are only two ways to reduce the taxation on your RRIF (registered retirement income fund) and that is to start a home-based business and write off the expenses or to do an in-kind transfer when stock prices fall.
The ancient practice of saving seeds has in recent years become a feasible and in some cases encouraged practice.
There is a science to saving seeds; one that requires patience, vigilance and dedication but the rewards and satisfaction outweigh the labour costs.
There is far more to saving seed than going out into the garden and selecting one or two plants from each vegetable variety you grow to serve as seed producers. The ancient people, who began to save seed, observed the plants and paid special attention to how the plants grew, when they flowered and the quality and quantity of fruit produced. Seed was selected from plants that showed natural disease resistance, high yields, good to excellent quality and growth that suited the growing environment. The home gardener can take a similar approach.
Plants that show these
RRSPs and RRIFs are like a double-edged sword. The government knew exactly what they were doing when they first came out in 1957 since Canadian taxation is progressive. Originally, they were designed for the toptier income earners in Canada. However, now they make up a major part of our financial landscape and have worked their way into Canadian culture with everyone being encouraged to use them as a savings tool for their future.
Your financial advisor will want you to only take the minimum withdrawals from your RRIF once you hit the age of 71 to ensure that they keep the bulk of your investment on their books - but this is not a wise idea for the average Canadian. You see, if you die with a balance in your RRIF, regardless of you having named a beneficiary, the balance in your RRIF at the time of your death must be declared on your last
qualities have the potential to be excellent seed sources.
Although the ancient seed savers had no knowledge of plant biology, the home gardener will benefit from a little of this knowledge. The concept that is most important to know is pollination. Pollination differs with each plant family. Some require wind while others are mainly pollinated by insects and still others utilize a combination of the two. Pollination occurs when the pollen from either male flowers or male flower parts (called stamens) is transferred to female flowers or female flower parts (called pistils). The pollen may be from the flower of related plant or it may be from a flower of a plant in the same family. For example, cucumbers and zucchini are part of the squash family. They have monoecious flowers which means they have both male and female flowers on the same plant.
Some plants are dioecious which have male and female flowers on different plants. Some of the most common plants that come to mind are poplar and ash trees. Dioecious plants are extremely important as there might be strong preferences to one sex or another due to al-
tax return and taxed as income upon your estate.
Of course, there is an automatic spousal rollover if your spouse dies before you to avoid the taxation; but what if you are the surviving spouse or a single when you die? In Ontario, the highest marginal tax rate is 53.5 per cent, a far cry from what it was when RRSPs came out in the 50’s at 11.4 per cent.
Let’s look at an example together to get a better understanding as to why you need to drain your RRIF before you die. We will use a scenario of you dying with a balance of $200,000 in your RRIF (while I am sure there are many Canadians with much higher balance).
Your executor will need to file your last tax return and by doing so, will tally up all your income during your last year. So, that would be OAS, CPP, GIS, perhaps a RRIF withdrawal already, pension income, widower pensions, et cetera. Then, they will add the balance of your RRIF at the time
of your death (the $200K balance).
You can now see, it would not be hard for the average retiree to be pushing into the highest marginal tax rate with this inevitable calculation, paying out a hefty chunk of their RRIF balance to the CRA to cover the tax bill. This is why you must withdraw your RRIF before you die to avoid giving half of it to the government.
I know this sounds harsh but it’s the reality many Canadians don’t see coming. And that’s exactly why I’ve been talking about these issues so much lately during my “Vibrant Living Series” presentations. In fact, if you’re someone who likes real-life examples and wants to understand the why behind the rules your advisor never quite explains, you’ll love the presentations I’m giving this fall. If you’re nearby, come out and join us for a free session. Check out my website to learn more at askthemoneylady.ca
Now let’s talk about how
to reduce the taxation.
While it’s unlikely that most retirees want to start a business in retirement just to lower their taxation, some may want to consider an “in-kind-transfer.” This would work great in our current roller coaster stock market if your RRIF is currently invested in securities.
What you will want to do is to wait until the stock market falls (perhaps when Trump says something ridiculous) and then transfer your stock “in-kind” to your TFSA (tax free savings account) if you have the room in your TFSA, or you could choose to transfer to a nonregistered account too. You do not want to cash out the stock at this low market value but instead move it out of your RRIF into another registered account to avoid any further taxation.
Of course, you will need to pay the taxation on the balance that you transfer at that time. However, when the stock rebounds
Saving Seeds
lergies or other landscape concerns like poplar fuzz! Still other plants contain perfect flowers which contain both the male and female parts in each flower itself. For example, our dwarf sour cherries have perfect flowers so there is no cross-pollination with another cherry to produce fruit which means that gardeners will only require one plant for fruit production.
There is one thing that the ancient seed gatherers did not have to contend with and that modern seed gathers do: hybridization. Many plant varieties are hybrids meaning the flowers of two related species have been crosspollinated to produce a new flower or vegetable variety. The seed from hybrid varieties will likely be sterile, however, if it does germinate, it is unlikely that the flowers or vegetables will be like the parent plant. In fact, the plants may be sterile and not produce flowers at all. We have covered the basics of pollination but there is still more to know about seed saving. Pollination is the key to either having fruit or not but it is also the key to whether or not the fruit will be like the fruit of the parents. When a seed is described as “coming true”, it will grow, flower, and produce fruit that looks
in the future and goes up again, you will now have these securities in your TFSA with no taxation or in a nonregistered account with a much lower tax rate. Funds transferred to a non-registered account will only have the growth subject to capital gains tax, which will be much less than RRIF income tax.
If you plan to use this strategy, make sure your advisor calculates all commissions and fees when working out your ACB (adjusted cost base) on the actual portfolio amount you plan to transfer.
Good luck and best wishes!
Written
by Christine Ibbotson, author, finance writer, syndicated national radio host, and now on BNN Bloomberg News, and CTV News. Send your money questions (answered free) through her website at info@ askthemoneylady.ca
exactly like the parent plants.
Seed that does not “come true” will often be seed that has two different parents from the same plant family. For example, green beans will cross-pollinate with yellow beans resulting in beans that can be either green or yellow. When planting a garden to use for seed production, remember that it is important to plant single varieties of those plants you plan to save seed from.
Planting only non-hybrid green beans will mean that you will have green bean seeds that will produce true green beans the following year. Keep in mind that if your neighbour is growing vegetables, there can also be cross-pollination between their varieties of vegetables and yours. Maybe you can go together and each grow different types of vegetables but then share the produce. You’ll have double the garden space, more vegetables
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and new friends for life. Patricia Hanbidge is the Lead Horticulturist with Orchid Horticulture. Find us at orchidhort.com; by e-mail at growyourfuture@gmail.com; on facebook @orchidhort and on instagram at #orchidhort Tune into GROW Live on our Facebook page facebook.com/orchidhort or check out the Youtube channel GROW youtube. com/channel/UCzkiUpkvyv2e2HCQlFl0JyQ?
Patricia Hanbidge Orchid Horiculture
Calvin Daniels Agriculture
by Calvin Daniels
Richardson’s ground squirrels are fertile little critters, and they have a tendency to dig their burrows as populations grow in the most inconvenient places - farmer fields and pastures.
That presents problems from dirt mounds going into machinery, busted and bent gear if it bounced into a large burrow, or livestock injuries from an ill-placed hoof.
So, it’s not surprising many farmers would like the rodents gone.
Typically through the years that has meant putting out strychnine and letting the ground squirrels consume the poison and die.
It’s not a particularly nice thought, a population of little critters dying of poison ingestion, but it is a relatively effective/low cost way of dealing with the pests which the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan suggests is causing some $9 million
Gainer may be popular, but gophers are not a farm favourite
in farm damage in a year. However, strychnine use has not been allowed for some time.
APAS is suggesting the ban needs to be lifted, wanting strychnine reinstated under emergency use provisions. The group has asked the federal agriculture and health ministers to consider the request.
The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities wants the same thing. It suggests Saskatchewan landowners have struggled dealing with the growing population of Richardson’s ground squirrels after the federal ban on strychnine in March of 2024.
SARM has suggested strychnine is a crucial tool used by farmers to control growing gopher populations in rural municipalities.
In my younger days on the farm I dealt with gophers, typically with a .22, so I hold an appreciation they are a pest in the wrong place. But, put them in a city lot near a railroad track and they can be cute and fun to watch too, which
may suggest I am more urbanized in my views today.
And, in that regard I must admit I wonder would happens to coyotes and foxes, hawks and owls and the like - the typical natural controls on ground squirrel populations, which happen to grab a nice lunch which happens to have a strychnine-filled belly?
One also wonders are ground squirrels the only consumers of the poison, or do other rodents and even songbirds become poisoned?
Imagine for a minute that ground squirrels are digging holes in a neighbourhood park in a community and out goes strychnine. Would dog and cat owners be happy with that decision?
It is ultimately a very old debate, where the line between farmers being able to go about their business without interference from animals, and how one protects what overall I a dwindling animal population. It just so happens it’s a gopher in the middle of this battlefield.
Savour the simplicity: A no-fuss gourmet sandwich
by News Canada
As summer days heat up, it’s the perfect time to upgrade your lunch game with easy, gourmet sandwiches that come together in minutes.
You can’t go wrong with the classic duo of
prosciutto and cheese. This combination makes for a simple, satisfying bite that’s big on flavour without a lot of fuss. Layer the ingredients below onto multigrain, a fresh baguette, ciabatta or your favourite bread.
Whether you’re packing for a picnic or whipping up something quick between summer plans, this sandwich brings a touch of effortless European flair to any meal.
Proscuitto Sandwiches with Arugula and Grana Padano (Prep time: 5-10 minutes. Makes: 4 servings)
Ingredients:
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil.
• 8 slices of sandwich bread.
• Sliced Prosciutto di Parma PDO, as required.
• Grana Padano PDO cheese as required.
• Arugula, as needed.
• Honey, to taste.
• Mustard, to taste.
Directions:
• Set your prosciutto and other ingredients aside; cut the cheese into thin flakes.
• For the dressing, mix mustard and honey in a bowl. While stirring, slowly pour in olive oil until mixture is smooth. Refrigerate.
• Remove the bread crust and roll it lightly with a rolling pin to flatten gently. You can also use bread without crusts. Toast it lightly in a frying pan or on a grill.
• Place the prosciutto slices on the bread, followed by arugula and the Grana Padano petals. Finally, add a dollop of dressing, and a second slice of bread.
• Cut the sandwiches into two triangles and serve. If you want to store them to serve later, wrap them in a layer of plastic wrap and leave in the fridge for up to one to two days.
Shopping Tip: If you’re looking for authentic European products, such as Prosciutto di Parma and Grana Padano cheese, look for the PDO label. PDO stands for “protected designation of origin,” meaning that it’s authentic and produced in the region of origin.
Everyday pasta with a seasonal spin
by News Canada
Perfect for sun-soaked afternoons and laidback summer evenings, this pasta brings an easy elegance to any table.
The delicate, ruffled
folds of campanelle pasta cradle the natural sweetness of the peas, allowing each bite to deliver wonderful texture and flavour. This dish pairs well with cured
prosciutto. Made with simple, high-quality ingredients, this pasta celebrates the best of summer: fresh, bright and effortlessly delicious.
Campanelle Pasta with Proscuitto and Peas (Prep time: 20 minutes. Cook time: 15 minutes. Makes: 4 servings.)
Ingredients:
• 12 oz (340 g) campanelle or trofie pasta.
• 1 tsp (5 ml) salt.
• 6 tbsp (90 ml) unsalted butter.
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) finely chopped shallots.
• 3/4 cup (180 ml) frozen green peas.
• 3 ounces thick-cut Prosciutto di Parma, diced into 1/4-inch cubes.
• 1/2 cup (125 ml) chicken broth.
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) good-quality truffle oil.
• 3/4 cup (180 ml) grated Grana Padano.
• 1/2 cup (125 ml) chopped flat-leaf parsley.
• Salt and ground black pepper, to taste.
• 4 thin slices prosciutto.
Directions:
In a 1-quart pot, bring water and salt to a boil. Cook pasta until almost al dente, about 9 minutes.
Drain pasta well, reserving 1 cup (250 ml) of pasta water; transfer pasta to a large bowl.
In a large skillet over medium-low heat, melt 2 tbsp (30 ml) of the butter. Add shallots, sautéing and stirring frequently until translucent, about 3 minutes.
Add peas and diced prosciutto, stirring often, until it begins to brown, about 5 minutes.
Add cooked pasta, chicken broth, and 1/2 cup (125 ml) of reserved cooking liquid to the skillet. Cook until the pasta is al dente and the liquid has reduced to coat the pasta.
Add the truffle oil and remaining 4 tbsp (60 ml) of butter; cook and stir until the butter has melted.
Add more pasta water if the mixture seems dry.
Remove pasta from heat; stir in cheese and parsley; add salt and pepper to taste.
Divide the mixture among four pasta bowls; top each with a slice of prosciutto. Serve warm.
Shopping Tip:
If you’re looking for authentic European products, look for the PDO label. PDO stands for “protected designation of origin,” meaning that it’s authentic and produced in the region of origin. Learn more about the PDO system and the products it covers at distinctlydeliciouslyeuropean.eu
Grampa Mark & Gramma
of
sponsors (attached), diamond prep volunteers, game worker volunteers, Town of Biggar crew, Erin Poitras-rec director, Brett Dorosh & The Oak Tree, Cucina Flora, Brian Fick-drone shots, Donnie Phillips-MC, Abbys Donahue-Oh Canada, Ian Hawkins-Baseball rep, our amazing community for showing
Kim Gartner
The Saskatchewan Traveller ... The Alberta Ride
by Trudy and Dale Buxton
Well, we are on our last leg of this fabulous tour into Alberta ... we wish we could see everything but, in the end, we have to leave something for a return visit in the near future.
Today we are heading east on Highway 12 back
to Saskatchewan, a nice day to just look around and take in the sights. We come to the community of Consort and a population of around 650 people.
As some would believe the name Consort was given in honour of Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, but that was not the case. The name Consort was given by the railway as a sort of parallel to the name of Coronation, which is a nearby town. The name Consort - meaning partner - was chosen.
Consort owes its existence to the Canadian Pacific Railway who set up a stopping post, and from there settlers moved in with agriculture being the biggest industry in the area. Soon after there was the discovery of oil and gas, and with the railway, set the foundation of a good local economy of the village.
Today Consort is still the main agriculture hub for the area and is a focal point for mixed farming operations. It is known for its peaceful atmosphere while maintaining most amenities and recreational facilities.
Did you know that country artist Kathryn Dawn Lang, also known as KD Lang, was born in
Consort? KD Lang has had a great career in the music world capturing not only a Juno award but also a Grammy award in the U.S. Another notable from Consort is Riley Nash who made it to the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets.
After filling up with fuel we took a little adventure around the village.
Consort has a really nice downtown and wide streets, one interesting business that we came upon was the Washbarn.
The Washbarn is not your average car wash, with packages like Chicken Little Wash, Dirty Pig Wash, Betsy the Cow Wash, and my favourite, Whole Barn Yard Wash.
If you think they only wash cars you are wrong, they even have a Dog Wash for pets - I have to believe that this business is one of a kind. This
is a really nice looking business, and from further investigation was just recently built. Interesting things you run into while on the road.
After a great little stop in Consort we continued on east and into the community of Kerrobert on the Saskatchewan side. We noticed that the highways have vastly improved from previous trips.
We stopped at one of our favourite places to eat, the Bold Raven Pub and Grill. We have never had a bad meal at the Bold Raven and always recommend it to anyone passing through Kerrobert.
We land at home still in the daylight. I have to say our trip to Alberta was very good, except for a few windy days, but it is always nice to get on the bike.
Stay tuned as we ride on to a new adventure.
“Welcome to Consort”, Alberta
The Washbarn - Consort, Alberta
We have a Winner…. Bob Bourk is the latest winner in our Newspaper Bingo. Bob wins all by himself the prize of $400 to be spent at local retailers. Congratulations Bob. The next edition of Newspaper Bingo will start on July 31 with the first 15 numbers. The prize for blackout will remain $400, get your tickets at The Independent. (Photo by Dale Buxton)
Hawkins shuts down batters in longest consecutive streak
Biggar’s Garret Hawkins is burning up the diamond with the Fort Wayne TinCaps this season.
The Biggar native, San Diego Padres pick (drafted in 2021) and University of British Columbia T-bird alum recently set a record. Twenty-nine innings over 22 outings dating back to April 23 for the longest consecutive inning and outing streak in Major or Minor ball.
Hawkins, son of Biggar’s Ian and Erin, has come storming back from injury with the Fort Wayne TinCaps, the Padres affiliate, and is currently sporting a 1.62 ERA and a 0.77 WHIP, with batters at a paltry .129 when facing the Biggar product. He recorded his seventh win of the season versus the Lake County Captains, an affiliate of the Washington Guardians, July 19 for the record.
Congratulations, Garret!
3 tips for setting a realistic wedding budget
by News Canada
When it comes to making a wedding budget, couples can easily google the cost of venues, tuxedos and late-night poutine trucks, or ask ChatGPT.
But wedding planner
Valary Chrisman says that information can be misleading because it doesn’t take into account where the wedding they searched took place, how many guests there were or what kind of food they served.
Generic budget advice might also not accurately convey how Canada’s rapid rate of inflation has increased the costs of goods and services.
Here are some
additional tips to help create a custom wedding budget that can work for you: Reach out to vendors
Don’t guess what a sit-down dinner for 150 people costs. Start sending e-mails or pick up the phone and ask vendors. Quotes can help you understand if a particular option is truly more budget-friendly.
For example, you may think a wedding held at home or on private property is the budgetfriendly option. However, you also need to account for the costs of getting permits, renting items and hiring staff.
Defy wedding convention
It’s important to be realistic about your budget and the cost of vendors in your area.
For example, if you plan to host 100 people for a wedding in a major city for $10,000 you may be disappointed.
Staying on budget is an opportunity to be creative, whether you opt for a smaller wedding party or a 25-person guest list.
“If you’re finding the cost of hosting a traditional wedding a little bit expensive, it’s helpful to think of alternative options,” Chrisman said. Track wedding spending
Once couples have settled on a budget and picked their vendors, it’s
time to start sending out deposits.
It’s important to track the wedding money going out, while putting
aside funds for the event. Using a banks online spending tools can help you categorize your spending with your deposit accounts or any credit cards, set specific savings goals and track your progress.
You don’t have to break the bank to throw a wedding party you and your guests will never forget - it just takes some creativity, good advice and the right planning to start happily ever after, on budget.
Fort Wayne TinCaps pitcher, and Biggar native, Garret Hawkins is impressing in the Show, recently recording the longest consecutive inning and outing streak in Major or Minor pro ball. The San Diego Padres draft pick set the record, July 19. (Submitted Photo)
When Kyle Schwarber blasted three home runs on three swings in the mini home-run derby to break a tie in Major League Baseball’s annual all-star game in mid-July, it just confirmed that of all the major sports in North America, baseball
Long before home brewing kits became popular, there were always do-it-yourselfers determined to brew their own adult beverages, aiming to have a little fun and save some money on beer or other alcoholic spirits.
Many years ago, my grandma on my mother’s side had an aunt and uncle who brewed their own beer. When Grandma, Grandpa, and the kids visited them in the far north for a week of summer vacation, brewing their own beer became part of the grand social event of the week.
Our mother recalls the big potato pot on the stove cooking the barley, and the happy conversations in the kitchen surrounded by family as the women worked and gossiped while the men sat around the kitchen table telling tall tales and occasionally taste-testing the barley concoction. Meanwhile, the kids played underfoot as the big potato pot bubbled on the stove. When it was finally finished, they would put the freshly made beer into washed-out ginger ale bottles, capping them with corks, and store the beer for a few weeks to carbonate.
After supper, Grandma’s aunt would go into their previously
Baseball’s mid-season fun is the best
does it best when it comes to mid-season (or end-ofyear) classics.
Baseball may no longer be the most popular professional sport in North America, but its mid-season all-star game is by far better than the exhibition efforts put forth by the National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association and the National Football League.
Most sports fans would probably agree that if they could pick only one sport’s mid-season exhibitionthe NHL or NBA All-star game, baseball’s Home Run Derby and all-star game; and the NFL’s Pro
stored reserves and get out enough ‘barley pops’ for the grown-ups to enjoy as they socialized for the evening. Because the contents of the stored bottles were under pressure, the foam would often come pouring out of the top when they were uncorked, and the corks would sometimes pop off with such force that they almost bounced off the ceiling!
To manage this, they usually dug out a large pot from the cupboard with a handle on one side and a spout on the other, setting it on the table to pour the pressurized contents into after opening the bottles. This way, they could save as much beer as possible for drinking that night.
However, the contents were usually under such pressure that if they opened the bottles too far away from the pot, the foam would spill out and end up all over the place before they could get it into the pot, similar to opening a champagne bottle. Everyone had to move quickly to get as much beer into the pot as they could.
The men-folk in the family could move pretty fast when they were trying to save their beer!
Once all the bottles for the evening were emptied into the pot, they would then evenly dole out the contents into everyone’s glasses. As much a social occasion as anything else, the week of vacation and visitation was always a happy time for kinfolk to catch up, reconnect, and share a few homemade pints together.
A good friend of mine once told me a story about his own father and a buddy brewing their own beer on an old hot plate
Bowl, which happens not at mid-season but following the Super Bowl - baseball’s version would win hands down.
Occasionally, hockey will dump its boring 3-on3 hockey tournament and play something spectacular like the 4-Nations Face-Off in the middle of the season, but that happens only once in a while. The NBA’s all-star game is a joke, with no defence played and players shooting from long range all game long. Some of the scores in recent years have been 211-185, 184-175 and 163160. Fans might see some great shooting, but not
much else. The NFL’s Pro Bowl has always been lambasted for its lack of hitting, shoddy defence and general fooling around by the players, who treat it as nothing more than a vacation and a nice paycheque.
But baseball’s all-star game festivities have been worth it for fans of the sport. The Home Run Derby on the evening preceding the actual game gets great ratings. Fans love the long ball and some of Major League Baseball’s top sluggers go head to head to see how many dingers they can send into orbit.
This year, Cal Raleigh of
Seattle Mariners bashed 54 home runs in various stages of the competition to win the top prize.
As for the actual game, it’s a legitimate competition. Players do not slough off, as happens in the NBA, NHL and NFL games. MLB’s best pitchers use their best stuff while trying to fool hitters. Hitters do their best to show off their prowess at the plate. And this year, because the game ended in a 6-6 tie, a very entertaining homerun-hitting tie-breaker - baseball’s answer to hockey’s shootout - was held. Three players from each team were
The Home Brewed Beer
in the family basement. Wanting to have a little fun and save money, they followed all the directions they had for brewing beer. When they deemed it ready for bottling, they capped it in old beer bottles washed out from previous weekends of socializing and stored it in the basement to let it properly age. They were supposed to let it carbonate for two or three weeks, but one Sunday, maybe a week in, they were completely out of beer, and all the beer stores were closed on Sundays back then. They decided they could no longer wait for their concoction to properly age and made the decision to drink their handiwork right then and there. With the anticipation of master brewers sampling a fresh new batch, they held a couple of bottles over the kitchen sink to catch the spillage and proceeded to open them. As the foam rushed out of the top, they quickly took a sampling sip of their new barley creation. By all accounts, it tasted horrible! But when you’re poor, you eat your mistakes, if you know what I mean, and following the philosophy of ‘waste not, want not,’ they toasted each other and proceeded to down the remainder of their skunky-tasting beer.
Since it didn’t make them sick, they considered it a success! Hey, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right? And since one beer is never enough to quench the thirst of the serious beer drinker, they opened up all of their homemade witches’ brew over the kitchen sink, toasted each other,
braced themselves, and quaffed their horribletasting home-brewed beer until it was finally all gone.
More recently, my late best friend once tried brewing his own beer, buying a home brewing kit and doing everything from scratch. While the end result tasted a little skunky but was certainly drinkable, the time and effort he spent making it
did not really justify the results. In his opinion, you would have to be a serious hobbyist and devote significant time and effort to make it worth your while. While it was fun to try once, it was just easier and less time-consuming for him to go to the beer store and simply buy whatever brand he wanted.
Some current-day adult alcohol aficionados will
TAX ENFORCEMENT LIST
selected to take part in a mini home-run derby, with each being allowed three ‘swings’ - not three pitches, but three actual swings. The National League, thanks to Schwarber’s three-forthree effort, won the tiebreaker.
• Former MLB manager Whitey Herzog, snipped from sportscurmudgeon. com: “The only thing bad about winning the pennant is that you have to manage the All-Star Game the next year. I’d rather go fishing for three days.”
Care to comment? E-mail brucepenton2003@ yahoo.ca
keep trying to brew their own home beverages in an attempt to have a little fun and save a little money, but honestly, I don’t think that any of the major brewers and the emerging microbrewery industries in the country are going to have much to worry about. But hey, it’s always fun to have a hobby! Cheers!
Rural Municipality of Rosemount No. 378 Province of Saskatchewan
Notice is hereby given under the Tax Enforcement Act that unless the arrears and costs appearing opposite the land described in the following list are fully paid before the 24th day of September, 2025, an interest based on a tax lien will be registered against the land.
Note: A sum for costs in an amount as prescribed in the regulations is included in the amount shown against each parcel (Section 4(3) Tax Enforcement Act).
Dated at Landis, Saskatchewan, this 24th day of July, 2025
Kara Kirilenko, Administrator
Bruce Penton Penton on Sports
Keith Schell Remember When
Business & Professional …
ARIES –
Mar 21/Apr 20
Aries, the week kicks off with a surge of vitality and determination. You’re eager to take action, and the universe backs you. It’s a perfect week to push ahead with goals.
TAURUS –
Apr 21/May 21
Creative energy flows in and a long-dormant idea may spark back to life, Taurus. You’re in the right mindset to pursue something artistic and innovative. Reconsider a refreshing hobby.
GEMINI –
May 22/Jun 21
Gemini, you’re in your element this week and buzzing with charm and curiosity. Engaging conversations abound. Opportunities to connect, both socially and professionally, come easily.
CANCER –
Jun 22/Jul 22
Cancer, a small act of courage pays off in a big way, and you’ll find that trusting yourself leads to a fulfilling outcome this week. Embrace your instincts.
LEO –
Jul 23/Aug 23
Love and joy surround you, and this week is ideal for connecting with someone special or deepening an important bond, Leo. Your heart feels open, and good things are flowing your way.
VIRGO –
Aug 24/Sept 22
A chance to help or support someone brings a deeper sense of purpose. Kindness flows easily from you now, Virgo, and the gratitude you receive in return is both touching and inspiring.
GAMES PAGE …
BRETT’S DECORATING & DESIGN
FLOWER SHOP
Brett…
–
Sept 23/Oct 23
This week your relationships are in harmony, Libra. You’re feeling strongly supported. Conversations flow with ease, and people are drawn to your warm personality.
SCORPIO –
Oct 24/Nov 22
A milestone is within reach, and the progress you’ve made starts to emerge this week, Scorpio. Your persistence and inner fire have been guiding you forward.
SAGITTARIUS –
Nov 23/Dec 21
Sagittarius, a fresh perspective allows you to release old worries or doubts. This is a week of clarity and growth during which inspiration meets personal freedom.
CAPRICORN –
Dec 22/Jan 20
Practical matters — especially career or finances — are looking up, Capricorn. A smart decision made now could lead to something even better down the line.
AQUARIUS –
Jan 21/Feb 18
Aquarius, you’ve had your eye on the prize for some time now, and the good news is that the finish line is within arm’s length. Stick with things for just a little longer.
PISCES –
Feb 19/Mar 20
Pisces, you have been making some changes this week. Your perspective and surroundings at home have changed. This can be a refreshing endeavor.
independent 122 Main Street, Biggar, Sask. tip@sasktel.net
-Forever missed by wife Kay Sons - David, William, Michael, Kenneth & families
DID YOU KNOW!!
The Biggar Independent is a
We can offer you all the great products that you would find at a Staples Store without making the drive, and in most cases can sell to you CHEAPER. Contact us today at 948-3344
WEDDING SHOWER
by Rev. Bev Dyck, former pastor, Biggar Church of God Romans 1: 18 – 20 NIV:
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
We just returned from a trip to Nanaimo. We spent a lot of time on the ocean beaches. The weather was hot, but by the ocean, there were cool breezes.
Our grandchildren were busy finding little creatures. They were especially fond of little crabs. We would go out when the tide was low and walk along the shore and through the tide pools. There was all sorts of ocean vegetation as well as the little wildlife on the beaches.
There was ocean vegetation that looked like
In Honor of Danielle Desrosiers --August 16th at 2:00pm-608 7th Street West, Biggar Sk
Please bring your own lawn chair. RSVP to Kelsey U at 306.361.8177 Please respond by August 1st
pieces of white plastic and some that were bright green, some kind of seaweed. There were hair-like strands growing off the end of small rocks. There was a jelly fish. There were shells of all kinds. Above in the blue sky, there were eagles in flight. Some beaches were sandy, others were rocky or like they had gravel. And the ocean was vast, very blue and always moving.
I kept thinking, “And people try to say that evolution did this? This certainly could not have just evolved. There most certainly is a Creator who took great delight in designing all of this.”
And that is exactly what the Apostle Paul was saying in this passage of Scripture. God has given us creation. Everywhere around the world, we have the demonstration of a loving, designer God. This points us to the eternal God that made the world, and made us. And Scripture let us know how we can come to know this wonderful God.
St. Gabriel roman CatholiC ChurCh 109 - 7th Ave.W, Biggar Father Edward Gibney Parish Phone: 306-948-3330 Saturday Mass.......7:00p.m. Sunday Mass....... 11:00a.m. our lady of fatima CatholiC ChurCh, Landis Sunday Mass.......9:00a.m.
Presbyterians, Anglicans and Lutherans
St.Pauls Anglican Redeemer Lutheran 205 4th Ave. E 319 7th Ave. E NEXT SERVICE
AUGUST 24 10:30am Regular Worship (Redeemer) Have a Safe Summer Rev. Daphne Bender Pastor’s cellular Phone: 1-306-621-9559 Office Phone: 306-948-3731 (Messages are forwarded to Pastor’s phone immediately)
Biggar associated gospel church 312 - 8th Ave.W. and corner of Quebec St., Biggar Sunday Service 10:30 a.m.
All are welcome to come and join us Biggar United ChUrCh 907 Quebec St./corner Turnbull Ave., Biggar REGULAR SERVICES Next Service August 10, 2025 Minister Dale Worrall Inquires Call Church Office 306-948-2280 Leave Message
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH SATURDAY SERVICES BIBLE STUDY 10:00a.m. CHURCH SERVICE 11:00a.m. 320 - 6th ave.east contact: 306-951-8445 3 abn www.amazingfacts.org
NEW BEGINNINGS
CHURCH
...In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope...1Pe 1:3 You are Invited Sunday Tea and Coffee -10:15am Worship - 10:30am 323 MAIN STREET, Biggar For more info - Philip Watson - 250-487-8476
by Trudy Buxton
July 19 was another road trip for me (Trudy) and mom (Iris) to see what is new on the Prairie Road Trip. We started off at Prairie Fire Alpacas which is located outside of Perdue. She has beautiful products like shawls, rugs, wool, mitts and blankets. It started out to be a lovely drive - how I enjoy doing this with my mom. As we drove into the yard you can see the alpacas in their pens with their mommy and babies. Out we got and walked to the shed. I think you can call it more then a shed ... maybe a small barn would be better!
The first booth was Kari’s Sourdough Baking from Langham. We bought a sourdough loaf and an apple fritter pullaparts.
My Bonny Farms from Saskatoon, raw, unpasteurized honey and handmade tallow soaps, lotion and lip balm, so I bought raw honey with walnuts and lip balm.
JB Crafts from Perdue is a husband and wife team where you can buy handmade products, baking and Yard Yahtzee. Sunnydale Hutterite Colony from Sonningdale had vegetables, baking, jerky, sausage and pepperoni sticks. Flowers & Flocks Farmstand
from Shellbrook selling concentration lemonade, dried dill and wild flowers.
Then it was back on the road to Arelee to the studio of Ric Pollock with his metal art - very interesting products! If you can not make it out to Arelee you can go to Manitou Beach where he will have some of his art there later in the year.
Then it was off the Cindy Hoppe. Her products are amazingabstracts and colourful products that you can wear or hang on your walls. She uses knitting, sewing and embroidery, and was featuring a new product, bookmarks.
Diane Larouche Ellardwhat can you say about her work! Landscapes, flowers and skies make you feel you are in the field or smelling the flowers, perhaps walking down a path.
Next is Imagine Yarn by Anel Meerholz where she has yarn or doll that you can design, and needle felting supplies. Deb’s Pottery by Deb McLeod featured beautiful pottery, while Sunday Morning Artisans, a son and mother team, had quilts, table runners, bags and bookmarkers.
Chokecherry Forge by J.M. Gerlinsky from Wilkie, a blacksmith, showed off his metal sculptures. A Prairie Bouquet from Asquith offers a great selection of
hardy native seedling and plants. She also had wild flower bouquets to buy. We bought two bouquets. Fetch Farms, Battleford, have family raised, grown and pastured meat, eggs, crafts and artisanal soap, hand rendered lard and tallow, with vegetarian and vegan option. At Cindy’s place we could get hamburgers, hot dogs and a drink, all barbecued, so I bought two hot dogs with a drink for me and mom and it was delicious! Thanks Ernie!
We left there but up the road from the Hoppe’s were two kids with their mom, selling lemonade, brownies, puffed wheat cake and coffee. The little girl gave me a description of the product they were selling, so I gave a donation to them.
Continuing on, we headed to Prairie
Keepsakes by Sandi’s Custom Creations of Biggar. Her yard is amazing with a waterfall coming out of old truck into a pond and many other decor and plants outside. She has a little shop off to the side of the pond with her beautiful products.
Upon leaving the Hoppe’s, it was raining, and after leaving Prairie Keepsakes, it was pouring.
As we were driving back to town, in a field of canola we saw a moose, so we pulled over and watch it for awhile.
Well mom was done for the day, I find that she tires out faster now, so I took her home and settled her in for the rest of the day, and talked about the trip. She said that her best part was the hot dog.
So I didn’t make it to some of the vendors this
year, Michaela Hoppe, artist from Biggar. She has stunning ideas of capturing a moment and preserving it through paints. Also at her venue were her two daughters and a niece with their handiwork. Carrie Gosselin, also from Biggar, with fascinating products, Dean R Taylor Art from Saskatoon - he does landscape and abstract painting, wood sculpture and drawing, and they are exquisite, Mackenna Berg, a developing artist using acrylic paint, oil, pastels and charcoal, and Holly Enchanted books, she makes quality handmade, articles that are unique like Blind Books and handmade bookmarks. Overall it was another enjoyable day with my mom and I hope that I can do these trip with her for many more years.
