For the past 12 summers, the Western Beef Development Centre (WBDC) has held a field day at the Termuende Research Ranch near Lanigan as a way to pass on new information to producers.
This year, StarPhoenix business reporter Cassandra Kyle attended the event in an attempt to lean more about Saskatchewan's cattle industry.
The result? Muddy pants, a close encounter with black Angus yearlings and a new respect for livestock producers.
9:17 a.m. In an effort to reduce my eventual embarrassment at WBDC's field day, my editor explains the difference between different types of cattle before I leave the newsroom. Apparently, cows are breeding females, heifers are non-breeding females, bulls are breeding males and steers are non-breeding males.
My boss grew up in rural Saskatchewan. I grew up in suburban Alberta. She has, and will always have, far more ag cred than me. I take the advice, pack up my notebook and head out.
9:39 a.m. On my way to the site, I see several head of cattle in a pasture alongside Highway 16. It reminds me how excited I actually am to visit an operating ranch. Looking closer, I see two of the animals, well, being animals, if you get my drift. I cross my fingers and hope that's the most unpleasant thing I see all day.
10:47 a.m. I'm starting to think I've missed the turnoff for the Termuende Ranch, so I pull into a driveway to turn around. It's my good luck when a woman drives up to me in the coolest-looking lawn mower I've ever seen and tells me I'm on the right road, I just need to go a little further. Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers.
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