The honour recognizes farmers under the age of 40 who also derive at least two-thirds of their income from on-farm sales.
The three nominated couples will be involved in various activities on Wednesday and Thursday, including a presentation and interview. The announcement of the award winner will be made during a luncheon at Canada’s Farm Show on Thursday.
The winner of the Saskatchewan Outstanding Young Farmers Award will represent our province in the national competition later this year.
You can view all three nominees profiles and backgrounds below:
2022-Lee and Ashley Eastmond- Mortlach SK
Wheatland Cattle Company, operated by Lee and Ashley Eastmond, is located at Mortlach. Over the years our operation has changed from being strictly cow/calf, to backgrounding and in 2017 to taking our calves out to finish. We also offer custom feeding, silaging and bale hauling.
On our operation we are always challenging ourselves to become better, think outside the box and ignite changes within the operation. Developing the feedlot and taking our calves to finish has catalyzed our operation to where it is today.
In 2020, we recognized that consumers had a desire for quality, locally-produced beef, and were growing more comfortable with online shopping and direct delivery so we pulled up chairs around the kitchen table and began formulating a plan.
Following considerable research and strategizing, we launched “Kattle Kountry Beef” with Lee’s parents and haven’t looked back. In August 2021 we purchased a local butcher shop and rebranded as Butcher Block on the Prairie. This acquisition made our operation fully vertically integrated. The philosophy of “from our family farm to your fork” is the very essence of Kattle Kountry Beef. Every roast, steak and package of ground beef can be traced back to the animal’s birth on our farm. We are VBP+ (Verified Beef Production) Certified, upholding the highest standards in animal health, welfare, environmental respect, and sustainability.
For more information, contact Ashley and Lee at 306-631-(MEAT). You may also visit our
websites at http://kattlekountrybeef.ca or http://thebutcherblock.ca
2022- Garret and Jocelyn Poletz – Biggar, SK
Garret and Jocelyn Poletz own and operate P Cross Ranch Ltd located near Biggar in west central Saskatchewan. In the last ten years they have built a diverse cattle operation which includes a 3000 head backgrounding feedlot, 500 head cow-calf program and a salt and mineral business. They rely heavily on corn production which gives them the ability to feed large amounts of cattle on minimal acres. They currently operate over 7000 acres of land, owning 3500 acres of that land. They have three daughters Haylee 7, Hannah, 5 and Houstyn 3.
Both Garret and Jocelyn believe it’s critical to be involved in the industry through networking and organizations. Garret is currently on the Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association board and is the group’s representative to the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association. He credits a big part of their success from the relationships they have made in the industry. They are always looking to try new ideas and are constantly “thinking outside of the box”. Jocelyn is currently an agriculture and commercial lender. Since obtaining her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 2009, she has spent her entire career working full time in the agriculture sector. They are both extremely passionate about the industry and strive to help others succeed by sharing their extensive experience and knowledge.
Check them out at P Cross Ranch
2022-Cody Straza and Allison Squires -Wood Mountain, SK
Cody and Allison own and operate a mixed cattle and certified organic grain farm near Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan along with their three boys, Declan, Gavin and Caden. Cody grew up on a farm in the Wood Mountain area and completed an Engineering degree at the University of Saskatchewan. Allison was born in Newfoundland and met Cody while completing her PhD in Toxicology at the University of Saskatchewan. A few years after getting married they realized their goal of owning their own farm in 2010 when they bought their first land together and started Upland Organics.
Being involved with several organizations on the local, provincial, national, and international levels has allowed Cody and Allison to actively give back to their community as well as meet other innovative and successful farmers. Learning from others and through their own on-farm experimentation they have successfully adopted farming techniques that include reduced tillage, intercropping, cover cropping, pollinator strips, and rotational grazing. Using these practices, they have shown it is possible to improve their soil and be excellent stewards of the environment while also realizing financial benefits.
Through their innovation and outreach, Cody and Allison have become leaders in organic agriculture. They have received several awards for their efforts and look forward to continuing to give back to the agriculture sector in Canada. Their ultimate goal is to pass on a thriving operation to the next generation of farmers. To do this they are focused on doing more with less while identifying opportunities to expand their market with value added and diverse enterprises. They see many opportunities within the agriculture industry and are excited about what the future holds for the next generation of farmers.
