Seven-year-old Tucker Toner, son of Cody Toner and Lori Robinson, and member of the Ridpath 4-H Beef Club, stepped up this year to try to make a difference for those suffering from diabetes. Tucker was diagnosed with Type 1 juvenile diabetes in February 2018. This year he decided to sell his steer Unspeakable at the Kerrobert Regional 4-H Show and Sale on June 5 and donate the proceeds at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk For A Cure in Saskatoon on June 9.
What ended up happening far surpassed anything we thought was possible!
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It was decided to sell the steer through Dutch auction and through posts on social media. Donations started coming in, some from complete strangers whose families are affected by diabetes. Tucker’s grandpa, Bob Toner, attended the Livestock Marketing Association of Canada (LMAC) conference and Canadian Auctioneer Championship in Leduc, Alta., and was allowed to get up and talk about Tucker’s project at the banquet on Saturday night. That is when the ball really started rolling!
Henry Thalen, Chance Martin, Dan Skeels, Andy Rock and Rhett Parks stepped up and donated a portion of their Calcutta winnings to the cause, totalling $7,000. More donations kept coming in, and by the end of the night $11,000 had been gathered, thanks to the generosity of those in attendance. On sale day, Unspeakable started the sale by Dutch auction ($500 for 50 chances to win, $250 for 25 chances, etc.), and at the end of the steer sale Henry Thalen of VJV Ponoka was the winner. The steer was then resold to Kindersley Packers, with the money going to Tucker. More donations kept coming in, and by June 9, when Tucker made his presentation, the total was $29,246.
The whole Toner family would like to thank the approximately 200 friends, family, organizations and strangers who helped make this event possible. A special shout-out to LMAC and their members for their generous support and to the Kerrobert Ag Society for allowing Tucker Toner to do this at the Regional 4-H Show and Sale.
Note: Thanks to Bob Toner for submitting this item and congratulations to Tucker for his superb fundraising.
The Ontario Limousin Association, in conjunction with the Canadian Limousin Association, is hosting the 50th anniversary celebration of the Canadian Limousin Association in Ontario in 2019. It will be held at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto from November 1 to 4. Delegates will be invited to attend, as well as participate, in the RAWF Limousin Show and the Royal Elite Sale. The Ontario Limousin Association would like to take this opportunity to invite all cattle producers to participate in this great milestone with Limousin breeders from across Canada.
Ernie Henry Esau of Elm Creek, Man, was inducted into the Manitoba Agriculture Hall of Fame this summer. Esau and his late wife, Irma, married in 1955 and purchased their farm, Ernmore Farms, in 1957. Esau is known for his contributions to the seedstock Shorthorn industry in North America, as well as the Charolais breed. He’s received many awards and honours, including the Builder of the Breed award from the American Shorthorn Association. He also served on the Manitoba Shorthorn Association and Canadian Charolais Association boards, and as a livestock judge and guest lecturer.
Edinburgh, Scotland — Canadian Western Agribition (CWA) and the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) have signed a memorandum of understanding during a CWA trade mission to the Royal Highland Show.
The Royal Highland Show is held each year in Edinburgh, Scotland, and attracts almost 200,000 over four days. RHASS organizes the Royal Highland Show, one of the world’s foremost livestock shows and signature agricultural events in Europe.
The memorandum, signed by CWA CEO Chris Lane and RHASS president and CEO, Alan Laidlaw, outlines several collaborative efforts between CWA and RHASS. The respective organizations have agreed to promote excellence in trade of livestock breeding and beef cattle genetics. CWA and RHASS are aligned in values of supporting public education of agriculture and the growing importance of international trade among producers and breeders. The two organizations commit to free and unfettered trade of the best practices, ideas, and industry communication strategies and agree to co-operate and collaborate wherever possible.
The trade mission also included several promotional meetings with U.K. breeders, breed societies and show organizers as well as the recruitment of international buyers to Agribition. CWA has similar partnership agreements with organizations in Mexico, Argentina and Australia. These partnerships have resulted in an increased number of buyers attending Agribition and record-setting international purchases over the past three years.
The Canadian Speckle Park Association elected its board of directors at its annual meeting in Lloydminster, Sask., on Saturday, June 15. The current board includes: Ken Friesen (president), Abbotsford, B.C.; Wade Meakin, Westlock, Alta.; Andrew Metcalfe, Ingersoll, Ont.; Heather Brundige, Bonnyville, Alta.; Josh Vogel, Theodore, Sask.; Curtis McAleer, Unity, Sask.; and Cory Ducherer, Neilburg, Sask.
The new Canadian Angus history book, The Breed, the Legends, the History — Canadian Angus History Book, 2019 Edition, is now available for purchase for $90 per copy. Books can be picked up at the Canadian Angus Association office in Rocky View County, Alta., or the Canadian Angus Foundation office in Regina, Sask., or can be ordered by phone or email and shipped.
A volunteer committee spent over two-and-a-half years gathering member histories and information and compiling the book, which was launched at the President’s Reception on Thursday, June 6, which kicked off the Canadian Angus National Convention in Drumheller, Alta.
On June 1, the Livestock Markets Association of Canada bestowed Brian Good with its Industry Champion Award. Good is the senior director of business development for the Canadian Angus Association. He is the third recipient of the award. The award presentation took place at the Livestock Market Association of Canada’s convention in Edmonton, Alta.
The same evening, Ontario Livestock Exchange (OLEX) of St. Jacobs and Waterloo, Ont., received the Canadian Angus Association Auction Market of the Year Award. The award was presented by Good, along with Canadian Angus Association CEO Myles Immerkar and director of business development Sask./Man. Bob Tone.
The Canadian Angus Association is pleased to announce the new 2019-20 board executive selected during the Canadian Angus National Convention in Drumheller, Alta. The executive includes: Bob Hahn of Sherwood Park, Alta., president; Trevor Welch of Glassville, N.B., past president; Shawn Birmingham of Brandon, Man., president-elect.
The rest of the board includes: Tom deWaal, Prince George, B.C.; Brian Geis, Barrhead, Alta.; George Baxter, Bassano, Alta.; Brett Wildman, Sangudo, Alta.; Dale Easton, Wawota, Sask.; Mike Howe, Moose Jaw, Sask.; Sheldon Kyle, Redvers, Sask.; Graham McLean, Watford, Ont.; and Ryan Currie, Bristol, Que.
The Canadian Angus Foundation is pleased to announce that the 2019 Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador is Lexi Hicks of Mortlach, Sask. Hicks and her family operate Bluestone Stock Farms. The family created a branded beef program called Bluestone Homegrown Angus Beef with beef that they raised, finished, and then butchered at a locally owned, provincially inspected abattoir. Hicks is also a two-time Saskatchewan High School Rodeo Queen and has been involved in both 4-H and school rodeos.
Charlene Elliott of Kenilworth, Ont., received the Dick Turner Memorial Award. Elliott just finished her third year of agriculture science while also pursuing a certificate in business at the University of Guelph. She is currently president of the Ontario Junior Angus Association and aspires to be a beef nutritionist.
Chad Hollinger of Neudorf, Sask., was selected as the Outstanding Young Angus Breeder. He operates Hollinger Land and Cattle with his family, a 250-head purebred Black Angus, commercial cattle, cereal grain and oilseed operation. Hollinger is passionate about showing cattle, and in 2014, while he was in his late 20s, he won both Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor at Canadian Western Agribition, a significant accomplishment.
