Our belated condolences to the family of Donald Gillespie, Swift Current, Sask., who passed away last year at age 92.
Gillespie and his late wife Norah raised Herefords from 1964 onwards at their Mankota ranch. He began raising registered Herefords in 1977 with the DONORAH prefix. For the next 40 years, Gillespie showed and sold his cattle across Saskatchewan, gathering up championships and topping production sales.
However, until the mid-1990s, Gillespie may have been better known as the 30-year manager of the Mankota Stockmen’s Weigh Company. At that auction market, he began the process of grading calves into carload lots in order to receive better prices. He was also well known and respected as the “Barn Boss” for Canadian Western Agribition for 20-some years.
Read Also
Growing Canada’s beef herd: CCA’s priorities working with new federal government
This is my first column since the federal election. The Canadian Cattle Association works with all elected officials and parliamentarians, regardless…
Gillespie was a lifelong member of the Saskatchewan Stockgrowers Association and served as a director for 16 years. In 2011, he and Norah retired to Swift Current, where Norah passed away a year later. Gillespie spent many enjoyable days heading out to Donnie Wayne Gillespie’s place near Lac Pelletier to check on the cows.
Gillespie’s four children survive him: Doug (Colleen), Lois (Bob) Cameron, Don (Beverly) and Darwin (Chanti); eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
