Saskatchewan Stock Growers Riding For The Brand Fundraiser

Feb 25, 2021

The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association has been busy preparing for its Semi-Annual Meeting on Thursday.

President Kelcy Elford says this year's event is going virtual.

The event, which gets underway at 1:30, would normally be held as part of the Beef Industry Conference.

Elford says the meeting provides a great opportunity to update producers on what's happening in the industry and what the organization has been working on.

He notes it's also a time for the membership to bring resolutions forward, there's a lot of challenges out there, and we need to keep moving our message forward.

"Beef is, is one of the best ways to take care of one of the most fragile ecosystems in the world, and it's one of the best products for, for raising our families. You know, it's not a detriment to the environment, it's not a detriment to the economy. It is a benefit. We as producers are doing our jobs to get that product to the world."

Elford says one of the highlights for the organization this week has been their online fundraising auction " Riding for the Brand" which will wrap up Thursday, February 25th at 7 pm.

"We're really excited about the support that we've had for the fundraising auction. Even though it hasn't come to completion, I'm going to call it a success. Just based on the amount of support that we've had, for the generous contribution. There's something in this auction for absolutely everybody, from a pair of pliers to an African Safari."

Elford notes the funds that are raised through this auction, go to their day-to-day operations and the lobbying efforts of its members.

"This would normally be held at our AGM in June and of course, that wasn't possible, so we came up with this idea."

The auction platform is DLMS or farm gate auction which are familiar sites for anyone in the ag sector.

"You can come and bid on coolers, fridges, you know, steak dinners."

He notes you don't have to be a farmer or rancher to take part there's some great items that would be of interest to anyone.

A complete list of the auction items is available here.

Click here to see more...

Video: Alberta Honey: A Day at Molenkamp Honey Farms

When was the last time you read the label on your honey?

We spent a day at Molenkamp Honey Farms with Michael Molenkamp, who has been keeping bees for 17 seasons and runs three to four thousand hives. In mid-September, he was finishing treatments and getting his bees ready for winter, and he walked us through how Alberta honey gets made.

Alberta has just 150 commercial beekeepers running 300,000 colonies, and together they produce 40% of Canada’s honey. Long summer days and golden canola fields give Alberta honey a light flavour that’s hard to match anywhere else.

Molenkamp calls Alberta beekeepers some of the most resilient farmers he knows. There’s plenty of Alberta honey to go around, but a lot on our shelves isn’t from here, so his ask is simple. Give the label a second look and choose honey made by Alberta beekeepers, or buy straight from a beekeeper near you.