Bashaw is not so quietly becoming a showcase for top cattle, as witnessed by a pair of recent wins on the show circuit.
Cattle from two local farms — Miller Wilson Angus and Prairie Cove Charolais — came away with the top awards in their categories at Farmfair International in Edmonton Nov. 8 to 12 and it’s a trend that may continue for years to come.
Prairie Cove’s PZC Lily 5013 ET won Farmfair’s top honour of Supreme Champion female in addition to the Charolais show awards of grand champion female, champion two-year-old cow with 2017 calf, champion futurity heifer calf and both champion and reserve 2017 heifer calf futurity.
While Tyler Bullick and Justine Schneider have only been around for just less than two years with about 50 head now, the business has a long family connection.
“My grandfather was one of the first to bring Charolais over from France in 1967,” Bullick said, adding Justine’s family is in the industry and she is Dawn Wilson’s cousin.
“Winning something this prestigious was just unbelievable and hard to explain. The competition was so good. We simply just concentrate on having the best genetics possible and now it’s been proven, so it feels great.”
They decided to make the move, leaving Brooks to open the farm southwest of Bashaw, as Tyler explained. “Even though I still work in the oilfield, this has been my whole life and I just got the bug. We’ll be having our first sale in February and we just want to continue to breed with the goal of selling commercially and to breeders.
Miller Wilson top again
Meanwhile, Miller Wilson Angus saw its DMM Blackbird 105A win grand champion female in the Black Angus Show, along with taking top spot in both mature cow with a natural calf and mature cow born prior to 2015 with a 2017 calf at side.
Although those awards weren’t the only crowns the farm received as it had other animals named reserve grand champion bull, champion intermediate bull, champion intermediate heifer calf, both champion and reserve champion senior heifer calf, reserve champion summer bull calf and the breeder’s herd award.
Lee and Dawn Wilson have been running the farm — which is at around 130 head now — for about three decades, but both came from family run operations so the business is something that has really been their whole lives.
“We’ve been breeding cattle for many years with a focus on really sound cattle that convert feed to pounds very easily and still have an attractive look. We research cattle and pedigrees and drive many miles to find genetics that will enhance what we’ve got already,” Dawn said while at the Regina Agribition, one of the largest cattle shows in western Canada, last week.
“It takes a lot of work, but has paid off many times over the years. We are really fortunate to have kids that are very involved and their spouses who contribute as well. We love to compete and have been really fortunate in the showing with great acceptance of our cattle. We feel very blessed.”
Last Farmfair?
With the CFR disappearing from the scene next year, just what will happen to Farmfair is up in the air. However, Wilson stated it’s simply too important to the industry and feels it will return.
“It’s a show that is really important to us and the beef industry. Along with being a great venue for breeders to showcase their product to Canadian cattlemen, there is a huge International program,” she said, noting breeders from around the world come for the cattle genetics.
“This program has resulted in several million dollars worth of live cattle, semen and embryos being exported. I think we will see Farmfair continue on into the future. We have a real love of this industry and it has been exceptionally good to us.”
